COMPLETE VERIFIED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
(2025–2026)
1. what could be physical evidence?
: objects that can:
- establish that a crime has been committed
- make associations (crime to victim, victim to perpetrator)
2. recognition: - of not just what but where
- situation of items relative to each other
3. where to start searching: consider paths of contamination from:
- perpetrator activity
- first responders
- emergency response
- look out for media interference
4. how do you search a crime scene? - lane/strip search
- line search
- circle/spiral search
- zone search
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, 5. what are some other search tools canine units
metal detectors
heavy machinery
thermal imaging
ground penetrating radar
6. search method is based on factors such as: - indoor/outdoor
- size
- urgency
- lighting available
- what is being searched for
- what evidence was already found
- concentration of material
- people available
7. lane/strip search: good for large areas
good for uneven terrain
8. line search limit: must remain in a super straight line with everyone else as you move across crime scene, at
the same pace
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, 9. circle/spiral search benefits: good for locating additional items associated to an existing piece of
evidence
typically done indoors - too diflcult to do outdoors
10. circle/spiral limits: diflcult to stay in a perfect spiral path to ensure nothing is missed
11. zone search benefits: good for where other patterns won't work - typically in a house divided by rooms
- used where scene is already broken up into zones
12. how is evidence collection selective?: - selectivity is determined by collector
- need knowledge about crime lab techniques, capabilities, limitations
- lack of this knowledge can lead to evidence being overlooked or collected improperly
13. why do you need a reference sample?: to compare unknown samples to it
14. control/known samples include:: - standard/reference - ex. hair/blood/DNA
- substrate control - ex. oil, carpet
- elimination samples
15. how do you prevent contamination?: - use proper PPE
- clean tools between collection of ditterent samples
- change gloves frequently
- package items separately to avoid cross contamination
16. things that are commonly used to collect evidence: - plastic pill bottles
- manila envelopes
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