MPTC CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS STUDY GUIDE #7
RESPECT model when conducting Criminal Investigations - correct answer Respond
and make it safe, Emergency care for injured, Separate and remove people, Protect
crime scene, Evidence collection, Corroborate evidence with M.G.L., Take
action/Testify,
Best practices securing Inner Perimeter - correct answer Make at least TWICE the size
of actual crime scene, Clearly mark perimeters with line tape, Only allow authorized
investigators to the inner perimeter, ID pathway through inner perimeter that minimizes
evidence contamination, establish single entry and exit point, Establish crime scene log,
document all who go in and out, date/time in/out and reason
Best practices in establishing Outer Perimeter - correct answer Staging area for support
personnel and equipment, Store equipment and supplies, have a log of equipment,
assets, and supplies.
Documenting the crime scene - correct answer Rough Sketch- basic overview of the
crime scene, conducted after initial walkthrough, include date,time, not to scale, symbol
legend, relevant measurements and dimensions.
Photographing Crime Scene - Do not use personal camera or phone, photograph
evidence in natural state. Use a planned system to document, start with an overall
perspective, then a midrange perspective, the close up of any evidence, injuries, serial
numbers or impression evidence, do not delete any photos or use editing software.
Direct evidence - correct answer Evidence that directly links a person to a crime without
the need of any additional evidence or inference
Circumstantial Evidence - correct answer Evidence relies on a inference to connect a
conclusion or fact.
Physical Evidence - correct answer tangible items that tend to prove some material fact;
also called real evidence
Testimonial Evidence - correct answer It includes first-hand statements made by
victims, witnesses, suspects or police. May be direct or circumstantial.
Exculpatory evidence - correct answer evidence that suggests the defendant's
innocence, or clears them from the crime
Relevant evidence - correct answer Tendency to make a fact more or less probable
than it would be without the evidence
, Reliable evidence - correct answer That has not been tampered with and in
substantially the same condition as evidence originally seized by police when presented
in court.
Chain of custody - correct answer the chronological documentation, or paper trail,
showing the seizure, custody, control, transfer, of evidence collected. Must show all who
come in contact with the evidence.
Physical Evidence - correct answer Is the most compelling because it is tangible and
harder to dispute. Examples: Money, drugs, clothing
Trace Evidence - correct answer Is transferred from one surface to another during
physical contact between people, places and objects. Examples: soil, minerals, gunshot
residue, human/animal hair, textile, wood, glass an paint fibers
DNA Evidence - correct answer Evidence includes human hair, tissue, bone, teeth,
blood, saliva, semen, or other bodily fluids. Highly susceptible to contamination.
Types of Fingerprint evidence - correct answer Plastic - can be seen with naked eye
when left on a mailable surface
Patent - can be seen with naked eye and left behind when materials on finger is
transferred to another surface
Latent - cannot be seen with the naked eye and is left behind when oil and sweat on
finger is transferred to a smooth, nonporous surface.
Impression Evidence - correct answer Created when one object presses against
another with enough force to leave a matching imprint. Examples: shoe prints, tire tread,
human bite marks, can be found in snow, blood, dirt and human skin
Packaging of Clothing, Bedding and Linen evidence - correct answer Wet evidence
must be aired dried before storing
WET clothing, bedding, linens - use a nonporous container to temporarily collect
DRY - paper bags, cardboard boxes
Package evidence separately by source to prevent cross contamination
Weapons Evidence Collection - correct answer Includes firearms, knifes, ammunition
baseball bats etc used to commit a crime
Process for DNA and Trace Evidence first
Refrain form touching, unless there is a risk of safety. IE: Loaded weapon
DO NOT insert anything into barrel of firearm
Unload firearm and use plastic Zip Tie to make device inoperable
Document total number of unspent rounds in firearm chamber, cylinder or magazine
Currency Evidence - correct answer Includes coins, cash and stock/bond certificates.
ID total amount for each denomination
Use a second person to verify and witness count by name and signature
RESPECT model when conducting Criminal Investigations - correct answer Respond
and make it safe, Emergency care for injured, Separate and remove people, Protect
crime scene, Evidence collection, Corroborate evidence with M.G.L., Take
action/Testify,
Best practices securing Inner Perimeter - correct answer Make at least TWICE the size
of actual crime scene, Clearly mark perimeters with line tape, Only allow authorized
investigators to the inner perimeter, ID pathway through inner perimeter that minimizes
evidence contamination, establish single entry and exit point, Establish crime scene log,
document all who go in and out, date/time in/out and reason
Best practices in establishing Outer Perimeter - correct answer Staging area for support
personnel and equipment, Store equipment and supplies, have a log of equipment,
assets, and supplies.
Documenting the crime scene - correct answer Rough Sketch- basic overview of the
crime scene, conducted after initial walkthrough, include date,time, not to scale, symbol
legend, relevant measurements and dimensions.
Photographing Crime Scene - Do not use personal camera or phone, photograph
evidence in natural state. Use a planned system to document, start with an overall
perspective, then a midrange perspective, the close up of any evidence, injuries, serial
numbers or impression evidence, do not delete any photos or use editing software.
Direct evidence - correct answer Evidence that directly links a person to a crime without
the need of any additional evidence or inference
Circumstantial Evidence - correct answer Evidence relies on a inference to connect a
conclusion or fact.
Physical Evidence - correct answer tangible items that tend to prove some material fact;
also called real evidence
Testimonial Evidence - correct answer It includes first-hand statements made by
victims, witnesses, suspects or police. May be direct or circumstantial.
Exculpatory evidence - correct answer evidence that suggests the defendant's
innocence, or clears them from the crime
Relevant evidence - correct answer Tendency to make a fact more or less probable
than it would be without the evidence
, Reliable evidence - correct answer That has not been tampered with and in
substantially the same condition as evidence originally seized by police when presented
in court.
Chain of custody - correct answer the chronological documentation, or paper trail,
showing the seizure, custody, control, transfer, of evidence collected. Must show all who
come in contact with the evidence.
Physical Evidence - correct answer Is the most compelling because it is tangible and
harder to dispute. Examples: Money, drugs, clothing
Trace Evidence - correct answer Is transferred from one surface to another during
physical contact between people, places and objects. Examples: soil, minerals, gunshot
residue, human/animal hair, textile, wood, glass an paint fibers
DNA Evidence - correct answer Evidence includes human hair, tissue, bone, teeth,
blood, saliva, semen, or other bodily fluids. Highly susceptible to contamination.
Types of Fingerprint evidence - correct answer Plastic - can be seen with naked eye
when left on a mailable surface
Patent - can be seen with naked eye and left behind when materials on finger is
transferred to another surface
Latent - cannot be seen with the naked eye and is left behind when oil and sweat on
finger is transferred to a smooth, nonporous surface.
Impression Evidence - correct answer Created when one object presses against
another with enough force to leave a matching imprint. Examples: shoe prints, tire tread,
human bite marks, can be found in snow, blood, dirt and human skin
Packaging of Clothing, Bedding and Linen evidence - correct answer Wet evidence
must be aired dried before storing
WET clothing, bedding, linens - use a nonporous container to temporarily collect
DRY - paper bags, cardboard boxes
Package evidence separately by source to prevent cross contamination
Weapons Evidence Collection - correct answer Includes firearms, knifes, ammunition
baseball bats etc used to commit a crime
Process for DNA and Trace Evidence first
Refrain form touching, unless there is a risk of safety. IE: Loaded weapon
DO NOT insert anything into barrel of firearm
Unload firearm and use plastic Zip Tie to make device inoperable
Document total number of unspent rounds in firearm chamber, cylinder or magazine
Currency Evidence - correct answer Includes coins, cash and stock/bond certificates.
ID total amount for each denomination
Use a second person to verify and witness count by name and signature
