IAI Crime Scene Processing Book
Crime Scene Processing and Investigation authors – answer Ross M. Gardner &
Donna R. Krouskup
Evidence - answer Something legally submitted to a competent trier of fact as a means
of ascertaining the truth
Proves or disproves fact in contention
Types of Evidence - answer Testimonial & real/physical
Testimonial Evidence - answer Given in the form of a statement under oath, usually in
response to questioning
Physical/Real Evidence - answerAnything with size, shape, and dimension
Evidence with an objective existence
Can prove a crime has been committed or establish key elements of a crime
More reliable than testimonial evidence (humans are subjective)
Not always collected (overturned table)
Types of Physical Evidence - answerDirect Evidence & Circumstantial Evidence
Direct Evidence - answerEvidence that supports a conclusion of fact without inference
Circumstantial Evidence - answerEvidence that requires inference to connect it to a
conclusion of fact
In situ - answerCondition of the item as found/as seen
Purpose of Processing a Scene - answerRecover physical evidence and document
scene as found
Six Basic Steps of Examining a Crime Scene - answerAssessing, Observing,
Documenting, Searching, Collecting, Analyzing - must be done in order
Two basic goals of police - answerPrevention of crime/disorder (preservation of peace)
& protection of life, liberty, and property
Crime Prevention - answerEffort to keep crime from occurring
Crime Repression - answerActive investigation and the identification of those
responsible for the crime (CSI work)
, Controlling General Behavior Patterns - answerRegulating non-criminal conduct (traffic
regulations/city ordinances)
Provision of Services - answerScope of services provided by police
Constitutional Issue - answerProtection of personal liberties
Justice - answerDefined by society in the form of judges and juries
Fair Justice - answerNeeds victim, accused, and society
Predictable Effects - answerChanges to scene that occur with some regularity/rhythm
(onset of rigor mortis, insect activity, etc)
Transitory Effects - answerFleeting & easily go unnoticed - can be destroyed by
environment/time (ie: odors, presence of ice in glass, heat of a coffee mug)
Relational Effect - answerManifest through ability to physically place items on scene -
establish correlation between items (ie: moving an item of evidence from one location to
another, cluster of FCCs, void patterns)
Unpredictable Effect - answerAltering of scene causing misinterpretation (ie: haphazard
opening of a revolver cylinder/turning lights on/opening door)
Timing - answerAllow us to place time of crime in some form or fashion
Sequencing - answerHelp CSI decide what order the crime occurred
Forensic Linkage Triangle - answerIllustrates items of evidence are used to establish
links between the victim, suspect, and scene
Functional Detail - answerManifests in the operating conditioning of items on scene (ie:
whether door can lock successfully)
Scene Integrity Issues - answerAddition, destruction, and movement of material in the
scene
Crime Scene Processing Methodology - answerDemands knowledge, flexibility, skills
and tools, methodological approach, and coordinated effort
Fracture Matching - answerMechanical fit; an individual characteristic
Locard's Exchange Principle - answerEvery contact leaves a trace
Class Characteristics - answerPlacing an item within a group and eliminating
possibilities
Crime Scene Processing and Investigation authors – answer Ross M. Gardner &
Donna R. Krouskup
Evidence - answer Something legally submitted to a competent trier of fact as a means
of ascertaining the truth
Proves or disproves fact in contention
Types of Evidence - answer Testimonial & real/physical
Testimonial Evidence - answer Given in the form of a statement under oath, usually in
response to questioning
Physical/Real Evidence - answerAnything with size, shape, and dimension
Evidence with an objective existence
Can prove a crime has been committed or establish key elements of a crime
More reliable than testimonial evidence (humans are subjective)
Not always collected (overturned table)
Types of Physical Evidence - answerDirect Evidence & Circumstantial Evidence
Direct Evidence - answerEvidence that supports a conclusion of fact without inference
Circumstantial Evidence - answerEvidence that requires inference to connect it to a
conclusion of fact
In situ - answerCondition of the item as found/as seen
Purpose of Processing a Scene - answerRecover physical evidence and document
scene as found
Six Basic Steps of Examining a Crime Scene - answerAssessing, Observing,
Documenting, Searching, Collecting, Analyzing - must be done in order
Two basic goals of police - answerPrevention of crime/disorder (preservation of peace)
& protection of life, liberty, and property
Crime Prevention - answerEffort to keep crime from occurring
Crime Repression - answerActive investigation and the identification of those
responsible for the crime (CSI work)
, Controlling General Behavior Patterns - answerRegulating non-criminal conduct (traffic
regulations/city ordinances)
Provision of Services - answerScope of services provided by police
Constitutional Issue - answerProtection of personal liberties
Justice - answerDefined by society in the form of judges and juries
Fair Justice - answerNeeds victim, accused, and society
Predictable Effects - answerChanges to scene that occur with some regularity/rhythm
(onset of rigor mortis, insect activity, etc)
Transitory Effects - answerFleeting & easily go unnoticed - can be destroyed by
environment/time (ie: odors, presence of ice in glass, heat of a coffee mug)
Relational Effect - answerManifest through ability to physically place items on scene -
establish correlation between items (ie: moving an item of evidence from one location to
another, cluster of FCCs, void patterns)
Unpredictable Effect - answerAltering of scene causing misinterpretation (ie: haphazard
opening of a revolver cylinder/turning lights on/opening door)
Timing - answerAllow us to place time of crime in some form or fashion
Sequencing - answerHelp CSI decide what order the crime occurred
Forensic Linkage Triangle - answerIllustrates items of evidence are used to establish
links between the victim, suspect, and scene
Functional Detail - answerManifests in the operating conditioning of items on scene (ie:
whether door can lock successfully)
Scene Integrity Issues - answerAddition, destruction, and movement of material in the
scene
Crime Scene Processing Methodology - answerDemands knowledge, flexibility, skills
and tools, methodological approach, and coordinated effort
Fracture Matching - answerMechanical fit; an individual characteristic
Locard's Exchange Principle - answerEvery contact leaves a trace
Class Characteristics - answerPlacing an item within a group and eliminating
possibilities
