Criminal Investigation Exam Questions With
Correct Answers.
What is criminal investigation? - answer✔✔is the process of discovering, collecting, preparing,
identifying and presenting evidence to determine what happened and who is responsible.
What are the major goals of criminal investigation? - answer✔✔Determine whether a crime has
been committed. Legally obtain information and evidence to identify the responsible person.
Arrest the suspect. Recover stolen property. Present the best possible case to the prosecutor.
What basic functions do investigators perform? - answer✔✔Provide emergency assistance.
Secure the crime scene. Photograph, videotape and sketch. Take notes and write reports. Search
for, obtain and process physical evidence. Obtain information from witnesses and suspects.
Identify suspects. Conduct raids, surveillance, stakeouts and undercover assignments. Testify in
court.
What do effective investigators do? - answer✔✔Obtain and retain information; apply technical
knowledge; and remain open-minded, objective and logical.
What characteristics are important in investigators? - answer✔✔They are emotionally well
balanced, detached, inquisitive, suspecting, discerning, self-disciplined and persevering. They
are physically fit and have good vision and hearing.
Who usually arrives at a crime scene first? - answer✔✔Patrol officer assigned to the area where
a crime has occurred.
What should be done initially? - answer✔✔Handle emergencies first. Secure the scene.
Investigate.
What do you do if a suspect is still at a crime scene? Has recently fled the scene? -
answer✔✔Any suspect should be detained, questioned and then released or arrested, depending
on circumstances. If a suspect has recently left the scene, officers obtain descriptions of the
suspect, any vehicle, direction of travel and any items taken. The information is dispatched to
headquarters immediately.
, ©THEBRIGHT EXAM STUDY SOLUTIONS 8/22/2024 12:54 PM
How are the crime scene and evidence protected and for how long? - answer✔✔All necessary
measures to secure the crime scene must be taken--including locking, roping, barricading and
guarding--until the preliminary investigation is completed.
What responsibilities are included in the preliminary investigation? - answer✔✔Questioning the
victims, witnesses and suspects. Conducting a neighborhood canvass. Measuring, photographing,
videotaping and sketching the scene. Searching for evidence. Identifying, collecting, examining
and processing physical evidence. Recording all statements and observations in notes.
What is the meaning and importance of res gestae statements? - answer✔✔Spontaneous
statements made at the time of a crime concerning and closely related to actions involved in the
crime. They are often considered more truthful than later, planned responses.
How do you determine whether a crime has been committed? - answer✔✔Know the elements of
each major offense and the evidence that supports them and ascertaining whether they are
present. Officers also try to determine when the event occurred.
Who is responsible for solving crimes? - answer✔✔Police personnel. It must be a cooperative,
coordinated departmental effort.
With whom do investigators must relate? - answer✔✔Using a community policing orientation,
investigators interrelate with uniformed patrol officers, dispatchers, the prosecutor's staff, the
defense counsel, supervisors, physicians, the coroner or medical examiner, laboratories and
citizens, including witnesses and victims.
How do you avoid a civil lawsuit? - answer✔✔Effective policies and procedures clearly
communicated to all. Thorough and continuous training. Proper supervision and discipline.
Accurate, thorough police reports.
Civil liability - answer✔✔person's risk of being sued. Any person acting under the authority of
law who violates another person's constitutional rights can be sued.
Community policing - answer✔✔philosophy that the police must work with the community
through partnerships and problem solving to address problems of crime and disorder; a belief
that by working together, the police and the community can accomplish what neither can
accomplish alone.
Crime - answer✔✔act or omission forbidden by law and punishable bu a fine. imprisonment or
even death. Crimes and their penalties are established and defined by state and federal statutes
and local ordinances.
Crime mapping - answer✔✔focuses on the location of crimes--the hot spots where most crimes
occur--rather than on the criminal.
criminal intent - answer✔✔performing an unlawful act on purpose, knowing the act to be illegal.