MidtermyReview:yCrimeySceney&yCrimeyLab
Chaptery1yQuestions:
1. Whatyisytheybasicygoalyofycrimeysceneyprocessing?
Consistsyofyanyexaminationyandyevaluationyofytheysceneyforytheyexpressypurposey
ofyrecoveringyphysicalyevidenceyandydocumentingytheyscene’syconditionyinysitu.
2. Theypoliceyutilizeyfiveybasicyobjectivesyinyseekingytheirygoalsy
ofypreventingycrimeyandydisorderyandyprotecting ytheylifeyandyli
bertyyofytheiryfellowycitizens.yWhichytwoyofytheyfiveyobjectivesy
areymoreycloselyyrelatedytoytheycrimeysceneyinvestigationyandy
why?
CrimeyRepression:ypoliceymustyrepressytheycriminalybyyactivelyyinvestigatingycrimes
yandyattemptingytoyidentifyythoseyresponsible;yandyProtectionyofyPersonalyLiberty:yp
oliceyhaveyaymandateytoyprotectycitizensyfromyunwarrantedypoliceyinterferenceyofyth
eirypersonalyliberties.yTheypoliceymustyproactivelyyinvestigateytheycrimesyreportedyt
oythemyandydoysoyinyaymannerythatyisyconsistentyandyrespectfulyofytheylawyandytheyl
ibertiesyofythoseythatytheyyencounter.
3. Whyyisyphysicalyevidenceymoreyobjectiveythanytestimonialyevidenc
eysuchyasyeye-ywitnessyaccounts?
Physicalyevidenceytakesytheyformyofyspecificyitemsythatyareyfoundyatyaysceneyofyaycri
me.yItyisymoreyobjectiveyasyityisyreal,yandytangibleyevidenceythatycannotybeydefined.y
Physicalyevidenceyalsoyneverylies.yPhysicalyevidenceyestablishesyayframeworkyofyfact
sythatyareyirrefutableybyyanyone.yTestimonialyevidenceycanybeyflawedybyyhumanyper
ception.
4. Theyinterpretiveyvalueyofyevidenceyisyayfunctionyofywhat?
Theymeaningyofyevidenceyisyayfunctionyofytimeyandytheyitemsysurroundings.yTheyvalueyisyfarymoreyanyissuesyofycont
ectythanyofymereycontent.
5. RynearsonyandyChisumy(1989)yidentifiedyfiveywaysyinywhichycon
textymanifestsyitselfyinytheycrimeyscene.yWhatyareythey?
Predictableyeffects,yunpredictableyeffects,ytransitoryyeffects,yrelationalydetails,yandyf
unctionalydetails.
6. BevelyandyGardnery(2001)ydefinedythreeyquestionsythatytheyinves
tigatoryshouldyaskyaboutyevidence.yWhatyareythey?
1.yWhatyisyit?y2.yWhatyfunctionydidyityserve?
y3.yWhatyrelationshipydoesyityhaveytoyanyyotheryitemsyofyevidenceyorytoytheysceneyit
self?yAndy4.yWhatydoesyitytellyusyaboutytimingyandysequencingyaspects?
7. Describeyandyexplainytheyforensicylinkageytriangle.
Theyforensicsylinkageytriangleyisytoyremindytheyinvestigatorythatyeachyitemydiscove
redymustybeyconsideredyasyaymechanismyofylinkingytheyscene,ytheyvictim,yorytheys
uspectyinysomeyformyoryfashion.yEveryypieceyofyevidenceyisyconsideredyagainstythi
syconceptytoydetermineywhether
,anyylinksyexistyandyifytheyyareyofyevidentiaryyvalue.yEveryyitemyofyevidenceymusty
beyconsideredytoyseeyifysomeylinkybetweenytheythreeyentitiesyisypossible.
8. Anyygoodycrimeysceneyexaminationyrequiresyfiveykeyyingredie
nts.yWhatyareythey?
Knowledge,ySkillsyandytools,yAymethodicalyapproach,yflexibility,yandyaycoordinatedye
ffort
9. Describeyandyexplainythey3-crimeyscene-
integrityyissuesythatytheyinvestigatoryconsiders.
1.yTheyadditionyofymaterialsytoytheyscene:ypostyincidentyartifacts—
canyobscureytheyinvestigatorsyunderstandingyofytheycrimeyandyareyoftenyusedysucc
essfullyybyydefenseycounselytoycastydoubtyaboutytheyguiltyofyaysuspect.yEveryycont
actydoesyleaveyaytrace.y2.yTheydestructionyofymaterialyinytheyscene:yresultsyinytheyl
ossyofyanyitem’syevidentiaryyvalue.yEx.yOfficersyarrivingyatyburglaryysceneyearlyyinyt
heymorningyareylikelyytoyencounteryaydewytrailycausedybyysuspect,ybutyinvestigator
sywillynotyseeytheydewytrail.y3.yTheymovementyofymaterialyinytheyscene:ymovementy
isyoftenytheyresultyofyinvestigativeyprocessingytechniques,ybutywhenysuchy moveme
nty isy NOTy checkedy andy unrecognized,y ity cloudsy they investigator’syunderstandingy
ofytheycrimeyscene.
10. Whatyisytheystandardythatytheyinvestigatoryusesywhenypursu
ingyaysolutionytoycrime,yandywhyyisythisystandardynecessary?
Theyprofessionalyinvestigator’systandardyhasyalwaysybeenytoyinvestigateytoytheypo
intyofybeyondyreasonableydoubtyThatyisytheystandardyofytheycourt.yTruthyisyonlyyac
hievedythroughydetailedystudyyandyanalysis,yandyinvestigatorsymayynotyachieveyth
atystandardyinyeveryyinvestigationydueytoylackyofyevidence.
Chaptery2yQuestions:
1. Describeytheydifferencesybetweenyclassyandyindividualychar
acteristicsyofyevidence.
Classycharacteristicsydescribeytraits/
characteristicsyofyevidenceythatyallowytheyitemytoybeycomparedywithyaygroup.yOry“ch
aracteristicythatyareycommonytoyseveralyobjects”.yTheyyserveyforensicsybestyinyelimi
natingypossibilities—
dependingyuponytheysimilaritiesyorydifferencesyofyclassycharacteristics,yitemsycanyoft
enybeyexcludedy(size,ycolor,ycommonymanufacturingypatterns).
Individualycharacteristicsyallowyforensicsytoycompareytheyitemywithyayspecificyobjecty
ofypersonyandyincludeyoryexcludeyityasyhavingyoriginatedyfromyit.yIndividualycharacte
risticsyarey“unique”,yresultingyfromynaturalyvariation,ydamage,yorywear.
2. OfytheyavailableymethodsyforyDNAyanalysis,ywhichyisy
theybestyforyindividualizationyinyforensicyworkyandywhy
?
TheydevelopmentyofyShortyTandemyRepeaty(STR)ytechnology;ypermittingydegradedy
andysmallysamplesytoybeyexaminedytoytheypointyofyindividualization.
3. Describeyhowytapeyisyusedytoycollectyhairyandyfiberyevidenceyatyth
eycrimeyscene.
, Inytaping,ywideyclearyadhesiveytapeyisycut,ythenytheytechnicianyappliesytheyadhesi
veysideyofytheytapeytoytheysurfaceyinyquestionyandylightlyyappliesypressure.yTheyta
peyisyusedytoycoveryayspecificyareayuntilytackinessyisyreduced;ythenyisyappliedyface
ydownytoyaypieceyofytransparentyplastic.
4. Whenyevaluatingyglassyfracturesyforydirectionyofyforce,ywhichyfra
gmentsycanybeyusedyinytheyevaluation?
PrimaryyRadialyFragments-
radialyfragmentsyfromytheyinteriorymostytier.yRadiatesyoutyfromytheycentralypointyinyt
heyfracture.
5. Howyisypaintylayeringyusedytoydifferentiateytwoypaintysamples,
ysuchyasywhenycomparingyaypaintysampleyfromyayhit-and-
runytoyaysuspectyvehicle?
Theysequenceyandynumberyofylayersy(primers,ybase-
coats,yandyclearycoats)ycanybeyusedytoydifferentiateybetweenysamples.
6. Comparisonyofysoilysampleyisybasedyonyenvironmentalyvariationsyf
romyoneysampleytoytheynext.yWhatyareysomeyofytheymostysignificant
yformsyofyenvironmental yvariation?
Variationsybetweenysamplesycanyincludeyinorganicyandyorganicysubstancesysuchya
symineralyandyplantypollens.yAyusefulyapproachyisytoyevaluateypollensycontainedyin
yaysample.yPlantypollensyareyeasilyyidentifiedybyytheirystructure,yandytheypresencey
oryabsenceyofyayspecificypollenytypeymayyallowyexaminersytoyexcludeytheysoilyasyh
avingyoriginatedyfromyayparticularysource.
7. Howywouldyevaluatingycrimeysceneyevidenceyinvolvingyaypistolyd
ifferyfromythatyinvolvingyayrevolver?
Whenypistolsyareyinvolved,yinvestigatorsywillysearchyforycasingsythatyareyejectedyfro
mytheyweapon.yForyrevolvers,ycasingsyfromyammunitionyareyretainedyinytheycylinder.
8. Riflingyrefersytoywhatytwoymanufacturedycomponentsyofyaybarrel?
Riflingyrefersytoyayseriesyofygroovesymanufacturedyinytheybarrelyofytheyweaponythatygiveytheyprojectileyspin.yTheyspi
nystabilizesytheybulletyinyflight,ymakingyitymoreyaccurate.yTheyriflingyonytheyinterioryofytheybarrelyisymadeyupyofyproj
ectionsy(lands),yandydepressionsy(grooves)ythatywillytwistyeitheryrightyoryleft.
9. Howyareybulletsymarkedyforyevidenceyandywhy?
Bulletsyareypackagedyinyanyindividualyfashionysoythatytheyydoynotymoveyaroundywhe
nytransported.yPackagingyshouldybeylabeledyandyannotatedyasytoywhereyinytheyscen
eyitywasyrecovered.
10. Ofytheytwoymethodsyusedytoycollectytool-
markyevidencey(collectionyofytheyentireyitemyorycastingyofythey
mark),ywhichyisybetteryandywhy?
Theytoolymarkyitselfyshouldybeycollectedyasyevidence.yToolymarkyevidenceyisyusuallyy
theypurviewyofytheyfirearmsyexaminer.yPoorycastingyofyayquestionedytookymarkymayy
orymayynotycaptureygoodyinformation—
thusytheytoolymarkyitselfyshouldybeycollectedyasyevidence.yCasting
Chaptery1yQuestions:
1. Whatyisytheybasicygoalyofycrimeysceneyprocessing?
Consistsyofyanyexaminationyandyevaluationyofytheysceneyforytheyexpressypurposey
ofyrecoveringyphysicalyevidenceyandydocumentingytheyscene’syconditionyinysitu.
2. Theypoliceyutilizeyfiveybasicyobjectivesyinyseekingytheirygoalsy
ofypreventingycrimeyandydisorderyandyprotecting ytheylifeyandyli
bertyyofytheiryfellowycitizens.yWhichytwoyofytheyfiveyobjectivesy
areymoreycloselyyrelatedytoytheycrimeysceneyinvestigationyandy
why?
CrimeyRepression:ypoliceymustyrepressytheycriminalybyyactivelyyinvestigatingycrimes
yandyattemptingytoyidentifyythoseyresponsible;yandyProtectionyofyPersonalyLiberty:yp
oliceyhaveyaymandateytoyprotectycitizensyfromyunwarrantedypoliceyinterferenceyofyth
eirypersonalyliberties.yTheypoliceymustyproactivelyyinvestigateytheycrimesyreportedyt
oythemyandydoysoyinyaymannerythatyisyconsistentyandyrespectfulyofytheylawyandytheyl
ibertiesyofythoseythatytheyyencounter.
3. Whyyisyphysicalyevidenceymoreyobjectiveythanytestimonialyevidenc
eysuchyasyeye-ywitnessyaccounts?
Physicalyevidenceytakesytheyformyofyspecificyitemsythatyareyfoundyatyaysceneyofyaycri
me.yItyisymoreyobjectiveyasyityisyreal,yandytangibleyevidenceythatycannotybeydefined.y
Physicalyevidenceyalsoyneverylies.yPhysicalyevidenceyestablishesyayframeworkyofyfact
sythatyareyirrefutableybyyanyone.yTestimonialyevidenceycanybeyflawedybyyhumanyper
ception.
4. Theyinterpretiveyvalueyofyevidenceyisyayfunctionyofywhat?
Theymeaningyofyevidenceyisyayfunctionyofytimeyandytheyitemsysurroundings.yTheyvalueyisyfarymoreyanyissuesyofycont
ectythanyofymereycontent.
5. RynearsonyandyChisumy(1989)yidentifiedyfiveywaysyinywhichycon
textymanifestsyitselfyinytheycrimeyscene.yWhatyareythey?
Predictableyeffects,yunpredictableyeffects,ytransitoryyeffects,yrelationalydetails,yandyf
unctionalydetails.
6. BevelyandyGardnery(2001)ydefinedythreeyquestionsythatytheyinves
tigatoryshouldyaskyaboutyevidence.yWhatyareythey?
1.yWhatyisyit?y2.yWhatyfunctionydidyityserve?
y3.yWhatyrelationshipydoesyityhaveytoyanyyotheryitemsyofyevidenceyorytoytheysceneyit
self?yAndy4.yWhatydoesyitytellyusyaboutytimingyandysequencingyaspects?
7. Describeyandyexplainytheyforensicylinkageytriangle.
Theyforensicsylinkageytriangleyisytoyremindytheyinvestigatorythatyeachyitemydiscove
redymustybeyconsideredyasyaymechanismyofylinkingytheyscene,ytheyvictim,yorytheys
uspectyinysomeyformyoryfashion.yEveryypieceyofyevidenceyisyconsideredyagainstythi
syconceptytoydetermineywhether
,anyylinksyexistyandyifytheyyareyofyevidentiaryyvalue.yEveryyitemyofyevidenceymusty
beyconsideredytoyseeyifysomeylinkybetweenytheythreeyentitiesyisypossible.
8. Anyygoodycrimeysceneyexaminationyrequiresyfiveykeyyingredie
nts.yWhatyareythey?
Knowledge,ySkillsyandytools,yAymethodicalyapproach,yflexibility,yandyaycoordinatedye
ffort
9. Describeyandyexplainythey3-crimeyscene-
integrityyissuesythatytheyinvestigatoryconsiders.
1.yTheyadditionyofymaterialsytoytheyscene:ypostyincidentyartifacts—
canyobscureytheyinvestigatorsyunderstandingyofytheycrimeyandyareyoftenyusedysucc
essfullyybyydefenseycounselytoycastydoubtyaboutytheyguiltyofyaysuspect.yEveryycont
actydoesyleaveyaytrace.y2.yTheydestructionyofymaterialyinytheyscene:yresultsyinytheyl
ossyofyanyitem’syevidentiaryyvalue.yEx.yOfficersyarrivingyatyburglaryysceneyearlyyinyt
heymorningyareylikelyytoyencounteryaydewytrailycausedybyysuspect,ybutyinvestigator
sywillynotyseeytheydewytrail.y3.yTheymovementyofymaterialyinytheyscene:ymovementy
isyoftenytheyresultyofyinvestigativeyprocessingytechniques,ybutywhenysuchy moveme
nty isy NOTy checkedy andy unrecognized,y ity cloudsy they investigator’syunderstandingy
ofytheycrimeyscene.
10. Whatyisytheystandardythatytheyinvestigatoryusesywhenypursu
ingyaysolutionytoycrime,yandywhyyisythisystandardynecessary?
Theyprofessionalyinvestigator’systandardyhasyalwaysybeenytoyinvestigateytoytheypo
intyofybeyondyreasonableydoubtyThatyisytheystandardyofytheycourt.yTruthyisyonlyyac
hievedythroughydetailedystudyyandyanalysis,yandyinvestigatorsymayynotyachieveyth
atystandardyinyeveryyinvestigationydueytoylackyofyevidence.
Chaptery2yQuestions:
1. Describeytheydifferencesybetweenyclassyandyindividualychar
acteristicsyofyevidence.
Classycharacteristicsydescribeytraits/
characteristicsyofyevidenceythatyallowytheyitemytoybeycomparedywithyaygroup.yOry“ch
aracteristicythatyareycommonytoyseveralyobjects”.yTheyyserveyforensicsybestyinyelimi
natingypossibilities—
dependingyuponytheysimilaritiesyorydifferencesyofyclassycharacteristics,yitemsycanyoft
enybeyexcludedy(size,ycolor,ycommonymanufacturingypatterns).
Individualycharacteristicsyallowyforensicsytoycompareytheyitemywithyayspecificyobjecty
ofypersonyandyincludeyoryexcludeyityasyhavingyoriginatedyfromyit.yIndividualycharacte
risticsyarey“unique”,yresultingyfromynaturalyvariation,ydamage,yorywear.
2. OfytheyavailableymethodsyforyDNAyanalysis,ywhichyisy
theybestyforyindividualizationyinyforensicyworkyandywhy
?
TheydevelopmentyofyShortyTandemyRepeaty(STR)ytechnology;ypermittingydegradedy
andysmallysamplesytoybeyexaminedytoytheypointyofyindividualization.
3. Describeyhowytapeyisyusedytoycollectyhairyandyfiberyevidenceyatyth
eycrimeyscene.
, Inytaping,ywideyclearyadhesiveytapeyisycut,ythenytheytechnicianyappliesytheyadhesi
veysideyofytheytapeytoytheysurfaceyinyquestionyandylightlyyappliesypressure.yTheyta
peyisyusedytoycoveryayspecificyareayuntilytackinessyisyreduced;ythenyisyappliedyface
ydownytoyaypieceyofytransparentyplastic.
4. Whenyevaluatingyglassyfracturesyforydirectionyofyforce,ywhichyfra
gmentsycanybeyusedyinytheyevaluation?
PrimaryyRadialyFragments-
radialyfragmentsyfromytheyinteriorymostytier.yRadiatesyoutyfromytheycentralypointyinyt
heyfracture.
5. Howyisypaintylayeringyusedytoydifferentiateytwoypaintysamples,
ysuchyasywhenycomparingyaypaintysampleyfromyayhit-and-
runytoyaysuspectyvehicle?
Theysequenceyandynumberyofylayersy(primers,ybase-
coats,yandyclearycoats)ycanybeyusedytoydifferentiateybetweenysamples.
6. Comparisonyofysoilysampleyisybasedyonyenvironmentalyvariationsyf
romyoneysampleytoytheynext.yWhatyareysomeyofytheymostysignificant
yformsyofyenvironmental yvariation?
Variationsybetweenysamplesycanyincludeyinorganicyandyorganicysubstancesysuchya
symineralyandyplantypollens.yAyusefulyapproachyisytoyevaluateypollensycontainedyin
yaysample.yPlantypollensyareyeasilyyidentifiedybyytheirystructure,yandytheypresencey
oryabsenceyofyayspecificypollenytypeymayyallowyexaminersytoyexcludeytheysoilyasyh
avingyoriginatedyfromyayparticularysource.
7. Howywouldyevaluatingycrimeysceneyevidenceyinvolvingyaypistolyd
ifferyfromythatyinvolvingyayrevolver?
Whenypistolsyareyinvolved,yinvestigatorsywillysearchyforycasingsythatyareyejectedyfro
mytheyweapon.yForyrevolvers,ycasingsyfromyammunitionyareyretainedyinytheycylinder.
8. Riflingyrefersytoywhatytwoymanufacturedycomponentsyofyaybarrel?
Riflingyrefersytoyayseriesyofygroovesymanufacturedyinytheybarrelyofytheyweaponythatygiveytheyprojectileyspin.yTheyspi
nystabilizesytheybulletyinyflight,ymakingyitymoreyaccurate.yTheyriflingyonytheyinterioryofytheybarrelyisymadeyupyofyproj
ectionsy(lands),yandydepressionsy(grooves)ythatywillytwistyeitheryrightyoryleft.
9. Howyareybulletsymarkedyforyevidenceyandywhy?
Bulletsyareypackagedyinyanyindividualyfashionysoythatytheyydoynotymoveyaroundywhe
nytransported.yPackagingyshouldybeylabeledyandyannotatedyasytoywhereyinytheyscen
eyitywasyrecovered.
10. Ofytheytwoymethodsyusedytoycollectytool-
markyevidencey(collectionyofytheyentireyitemyorycastingyofythey
mark),ywhichyisybetteryandywhy?
Theytoolymarkyitselfyshouldybeycollectedyasyevidence.yToolymarkyevidenceyisyusuallyy
theypurviewyofytheyfirearmsyexaminer.yPoorycastingyofyayquestionedytookymarkymayy
orymayynotycaptureygoodyinformation—
thusytheytoolymarkyitselfyshouldybeycollectedyasyevidence.yCasting
