IAI STUDY EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE 2026

IAI STUDY EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE 2026 The express purpose of processing a scene is to - Answers Recover physical evidence and document the scene as found T/F In situ means the condition of the item once in the laboratory - Answers False In a free society, the police have how many basic goals? - Answers 2 Crime prevention refers to - Answers Efforts to keep crime from occurring Crime repression refers to - Answers Active investigation and the identification of those responsible for the crime Regulating non-criminal conduct refers to - Answers Controlling general behavior patterns Provision of services refers to - Answers The scope of services provided by the police Justice is defined by society in the form whom - Answers Judges and juries T/F Testimonial evidence is more reliable than physical evidence - Answers False An example of a predictable effect is - Answers Onset of rigor mortis An example of an unpredictable effect is - Answers The haphazard opening of a revolver cylinder An example of a transitory effect is - Answers The presence of ice in a glass Relational detail examples include - Answers The presence of a void pattern on a wall surrounded by spatter, a clustering of shell casings on the ground, and the presence of a weapon in close proximity to the victim T/F If wax paper is found in a kitchen at an arson scene, it does not need evaluation - Answers False Timing and sequencing are two distinct concepts - Answers True The forensic linkage triangle shows links between - Answers Victim, suspect, and scene A good crime scene processing method demands - Answers Knowledge, flexibility, skills, tools, methodological approach, coordinated effort Addition, destruction, and movement of material are examples of - Answers Scene integrity issues T/F Investigators at trial should state the facts even if unhelpful to prosecution - Answers True Class characteristics best serve by - Answers Placing an item within a group and eliminating possibilities T/F If evidence is individualized, you do not need to consider context - Answers False Locard's Exchange Principle implies what? - Answers Every contact leaves a trace Putting suspect and victim in the same chair can result in - Answers Cross contamination Another name for Mechanical fit - Answers Fracture matching Fingerprints begin to develop when - Answers Before birth Loops make up approximately what percent of fingerprints? - Answers 65% In 1973 it was determined that minutiae agreement minimum for a print to be individualized is - Answers Not required Crime scene fingerprints include - Answers Latent, patent, and plastic T/F If someone touches evidence post-incident, fingerprint processing is still needed - Answers True Wet bench serology provides what type of characteristic - Answers Class characteristics Acid phosphatase test and microscopic evaluation test for - Answers Semen Saliva presence is indicated by - Answers Amylase or starches T/F Red blood cells are a nuclear DNA source - Answers False How many chromosome pairs are in a nucleus - Answers 23 What are the two pairings of nitrogenous bases in DNA - Answers Adenine and Thymine The downfall of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) is: - Answers Needs large amounts of un-degraded genetic material The downfall of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is - Answers The resulting statistics (widely misused and poorly understood) Benefits of Short Tandem Repeat (STR) - Answers Needs small sample size and provides strong statistics Difference between nuclear and mitochondrial DNA - Answers The number of base pairs, its structure, and it is inherited from only the mother Best test for hair without root - Answers mDNA Fiber classification includes - Answers Natural, synthetic, and manufactured T/F Hair evidence can lead to individualization - Answers True Comparing glass fragments to determine source is - Answers Fracture matching Evaluating radial fractures in concentric ring relates to - Answers Direction of force determination Evaluating multiple bullet defects in glass relates to - Answers Sequence determination Mechanical fit in glass/plastic can lead to - Answers Individualization Direction of force method - Answers 4R Rule T/F Ridge lines on radial fractures form right angles to force side - Answers False Trace examiners use all of these to analyze paint - Answers Infrared spectrometry, gas chromatography, and scanning electron microscopes (SEM) T/F Soil should be left on items until properly collected - Answers True Firearm evidence can show what characteristics - Answers Class and individual A full, unfired round is a - Answers Cartridge The primer is struck by the - Answers Firing pin Cartridges are inserted into the barrel by the - Answers Slide T/F Shotgun barrels have rifling - Answers False Fires one round per trigger pull, auto-feeds - Answers Semi-automatic T/F Caliber and grooves can identify possible weapons - Answers True Striations come from - Answers Lands and grooves Casings may show marks from - Answers Firing pin, breech face, extractor Tool marks from sliding contact are - Answers Striation marks Opposed jaws create - Answers Compression marks T/F Tool mark evidence can allow fracture matches - Answers True Shoe/tire impressions can be ___ dimensional - Answers Two and three dimensional Tire class characteristics include - Answers Tread design, noise treatment, tread-wear bars Key class discriminator in shoe marks are - Answers Tread pattern T/F Photos provide better comparison than casts - Answers True Best scale for bite marks - Answers American Board of Forensic Odontology (ABFO) Conscious effort to copy writing is - Answers Forgery Best tool to see writing alterations - Answers Alternate Light Source (ALS) T/F Deleted files on computers should be recovered - Answers True T/F Open bays in powered-off computers should be taped - Answers True T/F If a computer is on, do not power it down before collection - Answers False Manner of death categories include - Answers Homicide, suicide, accidental, natural, undetermined Interaction among personnel is dictated by - Answers Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Officer goals at a scene - Answers Bring site under control and coordinate resources Most critical factor in locating a scene - Answers Documentation of the location T/F Investigators can initiate a warrant on dispatch info - Answers False T/F Officers should note sights, sounds, smells - Answers True Safety threats may include - Answers Suspects remaining on scene; natural hazards; and man-made hazards T/F Lifesaving takes priority over evidence - Answers True T/F If evidence will be destroyed an officer may collect - Answers True T/F EMS can delay entry and treatment under legal exceptions - Answers True T/F Anyone present can declare death - Answers False T/F Officers should avoid riding in ambulances - Answers False Responders order of responsibility - Answers Safety, lifesaving, scene control Considerations when establishing primary scene includes - Answers Primary focal points; natural entry and exit points; and secondary scenes T/F Focal points tell the whole story - Answers False Quickest perimeter setup - Answers Barrier tape Important group to manage for entry - Answers Other police officers T/F CSI can refuse scene access to the Police Chief - Answers True T/F Responder actions are critical - Answers True "Photography" literally means - Answers Writing with light Photography was invented by - Answers Joseph Niepce "Photography" was coined by - Answers Sir John Frederick William Herschel Photogrammetry was developed by - Answers Aime Laussedat Stokes' Law supports - Answers Fluorescent photography Court case allowing photo evidence instead of originals - Answers Luco v. U.S. Crime scene photography began in - Answers 1867 Videotapes used as evidence began in - Answers 1967 T/F Chain of custody for digital photos is not required - Answers True T/F There are guidelines that dictate the one correct way to process a crime scene - Answers False T/F Collection of evidence is collecting physical evidence, cataloguing interrelationships, noting layout, and documenting observations of non-collectible evidence - Answers True T/F Scene assessment is an ongoing process that begins the processing task and defines what procedures will be employed - Answers True T/F Observation is always non-intrusive - Answers False T/F Documentation can be intrusive - Answers True T/F Documentation of observations always precedes photography / close-up photography and special techniques are always the last actions taken - Answers True T/F Because of its intrusive nature, any physical search of the scene always follows initial documentation efforts - Answers True T/F Unless dealing with fragile evidence, the technician always collects evidence after the observation and documentation phases - Answers True T/F Once collected, an item can be placed back into the scene for documentation - Answers False T/F Processing techniques for various items of evidence are almost always the last actions taken by the technician in the overall scene processing methodology - Answers True T/F The crime scene technician must constantly consider every method and process employed at the scene in an effort to determine where in the overall sequence it belongs - Answers True The six basic crime scene actions are - Answers assessing, observing, documenting, searching, collecting and processing T/F More intrusive actions will be completed prior to the less intrusive - Answers False Initially, the investigator must make note of - Answers Who called, what was reported, and how the caller became aware of the info T/F The first responding officer makes notes of the environmental conditions and verifies the scene location; therefore, there is no need for the first responding investigator to repeat these efforts - Answers False T/F As an investigator on scene, it is appropriate to be skeptical of EMS, ME investigator and doctors' opinions regarding the nature of injuries and reasons for death - Answers True What type of photographs define the condition of the scene - Answers Overall T/F The best method of documenting observations is with a recording device - Answers False T/F It is permissible to move items at the time the crime scene sketch is being completed - Answers True A ______ involves another visual observation during which the investigator checks for any items or critical observations that may have been overlooked - Answers Re-check T/F The body should be removed from the scene as soon as possible to be taken to the morgue - Answers False T/F Physical examination of the body for evidence must be completed prior to its release - Answers True T/F If any evidence is discovered during an on-scene examination of the body, it should be documented and left for collection by the medical examiner's office during autopsy - Answers False T/F Placing the body in a body bag can destroy blood patterns and gunshot residue - Answers True When can you move items to collect evidence - Answers Last T/F Re-checks of the scene should be continued until the results are negative - Answers True T/F If something was not done during scene processing, it is important articulate why it was not done - Answers True T/F Once the scene is released, the crime scene technician can return without a warrant as long as it is within the first 24 hours - Answers False When does the crime scene team perform an assessment - Answers Before beginning processing T/F The crime scene team needs to reassess the scene boundary even though it has already been defined by the first responding officer - Answers True Assessment of scene boundary can be more effective through - Answers Visual survey; suspect/victim statements; and identifying focal points T/F Everything outside of the outer perimeter is unsecure and uncontrolled; therefore, the outer boundary will require the greatest level of effort on the part of the officers securing the scene - Answers True T/F The distance between each crime scene perimeter should be at least 20 feet - Answers False (no set boundary) T/F It is far better to have one perimeter that no one can violate than to have three perimeters manned by weak security - Answers True Entry and exit points are defined by - Answers Ease of access; avenues of approach/departure; exposure concerns; and availability T/F In the functional approach to scene processing, several different individuals / teams perform different, specialized activities - Answers True The approach to processing in which a single team handles all activities is called - Answers Area The sketch and measurement team generally requires how many members? - Answers 3 T/F The specific search method a crime scene team selects is not important so long as it is methodical and systematic - Answers True T/F A search should not be held over until daylight hours since evidence needs to be collected as soon as possible - Answers False The critical consideration when performing the spiral search is - Answers Managing the pace The search method during which the searcher moves down an area and at the end, reverses direction and moves down the adjacent area is called - Answers Strip The search method best suited for uneven terrain is - Answers Zone The search method for which an area is divided into two sets of lanes that run at 90-degree angles to each other is called - Answers Grid T/F When using the zone search method on a large scene, it is typically used in conjunction with another search method such as the spiral search - Answers True T/F Point to point search methods are the most common in the United States - Answers False (it's the least systematic) The primary biohazard exposures associated with crime scene work are - Answers HIV; AIDS; and Hepatitis Which virus can survive in dried blood at room temperature for up to a week - Answers Hepatitis B Decontamination can be achieved with this ratio of bleach to water - Answers 1:10 T/F It is up to the crime scene technician to be able to assess the safety of a structure in fire / explosion scenes - Answers False T/F If the crime scene technician happens upon a suspected meth lab, they should immediately back out until those specially trained to deal with such scenes can respond - Answers True Goggles, particle masks, Tyvek suits, gloves and booties are all examples of PPE which stands for - Answers Personal Protective Equipment T/F Access is more difficult to control during a multi-jurisdictional mass crime scene response and a system of identification needs to be developed ahead of time - Answers True The following should be pre-event considerations for mass crime scenes - Answers Available specialty skills; resources; and staging areas Two primary concerns when dealing with a mass crime scene are - Answers Team formation and standardization of techniques T/F If media editors feel that graphic video serves a function in telling a story, then they reserve the right to show any video that was shot in a public setting - Answers True T/F A public information officer must follow standard operating procedures which provide guidelines as to how the jurisdiction will handle news releases - Answers True T/F The media, just like the police department, has a public service role that must be fulfilled - Answers True The most critical element of scene processing is - Answers Documentation T/F If a crime scene technician is used to working with a film camera, but another individual on scene has a digital camera for use, it would be best to go digital - Answers False T/F Photography identification problems can best be resolved with evidence establishing and close-up photographs - Answers True T/F Orientation issues are often significant because the orientation of an item has the potential to change conclusions - Answers True Confusion created by photographs of altered scenes can best be eliminated by - Answers A photo log T/F Evidence establishing photographs are also referred to as close-up photographs - Answers False (mid-range are evidence establishing) T/F Every item of evidence or point of interest can be adequately captured with one overall, one midrange and one close-up photograph - Answers False T/F In terms of using a wide-angle lens, the distortion increases with an increase in the field of view - Answers True T/F Placing scales and evidence markers into the scene is considered scene alteration - Answers True T/F Evidence establishing photographs are those that depict items that have been identified with placards - Answers False T/F Close-up photos need to be taken without a scale to avoid attacks by defense counsel reference material alteration of the scene - Answers True Roadmapping is used to document - Answers Bullet trajectories and bloodstain patterns Documentation of bloodstain patterns is difficult because - Answers They look very similar and are hard to differentiate T/F If items are located during the later stages of processing, it may be necessary to take additional overall photographs even though the scene has been significantly altered - Answers True T/F The primary purpose of crime scene photographs is to illustrate the scene condition to the court - Answers False T/F All photographs taken at the crime scene will be admissible in order to illustrate every aspect of the scene - Answers False T/F When taking close-up photographs of evidence, the camera lens must be perpendicular to the plane of the evidence - Answers False Most crime scene photography can be accomplished with this size lens - Answers 50 mm T/F Operating a camera with a focal length of 55 mm and under, the technician will be able to control the camera without a tripod for shutter speeds of 1/60th of a second or more - Answers True T/F No matter what the lighting conditions, a flash should always be employed when photographing the crime scene - Answers True In order to correct and eliminate overexposure and bleached-out photos when conducting close-up photography, the technician must - Answers Move the flash away and hold at 45-degrees Which f-stop value results in a smaller aperture - Answers Higher A large aperture allows ___ light into the camera - Answers More T/F A lower f-stop value results in a larger depth of field - Answers False T/F Depth of field relates to the amount of the scene that is illuminated - Answers False Most single lens reflex (SLR) digital cameras focus modes include - Answers Single point; Multiple point; Area; and Dynamic area What camera setting keeps the aperture open as long as the shutter release is depressed - Answers Bulb What technique using white light is effective for nighttime / low light photography - Answers Paint with light T/F Video can be used as an alternative to photography at the crime scene - Answers False T/F The "primary subject" of a photograph refers to a single object within the composition - Answers False T/F Sometimes the most effective exposure is an "incorrect" exposure - Answers True The best means of optimizing crime scene photography is - Answers Fill the frame; maximize depth of field; and keep film plane parallel Eliminating irrelevant subject matter in the photograph composition refers to - Answers Fill the frame If it appears impossible to eliminate your shadow, the best alternative is to - Answers Fill the entire area with shadow The best way to "soften" a "hard" shadow created by an oblique flash is to - Answers Bounce the flash from a reflective surface What is the optical effect when the sun is directly in front of the camera - Answers Lens flare T/F The use of a large aperture setting results in a larger depth of field - Answers False T/F Hyperfocal focus involves a finite background in the composition - Answers False T/F Keeping the film plane parallel refers to keeping the length of the lens perpendicular to the subject - Answers True T/F When taking midrange photographs, the photographer should form a right triangle with the subject and a fixed feature - Answers False T/F For close-up / comparison quality photographs, a diagonal view is appropriate - Answers False T/F Crime scene mapping and crime scene sketching are interchangeable terms - Answers False The primary factors in deciding effort level are - Answers Suspect custody; crime severity; and evidence interrelationships The formal sketch elements include heading, diagram, title block, scale/direction, and - Answers Notation of nearest fixed landmark T/F The crime scene technician can simplify a sketch by removing items considered less important - Answers True T/F The sketch heading provides important information relevant to location and creator - Answers True T/F The sketch should always be created with north facing the top of the page - Answers False The type of sketch giving horizontal views only - Answers Bird's eye view The type of sketch laying down vertical surfaces (walls etc) to depict evidence on them - Answers Cross projection The type of sketch offering a realistic perspective - Answers Three-dimensional The type of sketch drawn to depict a side view of a portion of the scene - Answers Elevation T/F When mapping the scene, items of evidence are fixed before measurements of static elements - Answers True