Forensics Exam Set 2 Questions and Answers with
100% Correct Answers
Question 1.
expert witness
Correct Answer: an individual whom in the court determines to posses knowledge
relevant to the trial that is not expected of the average layperson
Question 2.
Locard's exchange principle
Correct Answer: when two objects come into contact with one another, there is an
exchange of materials between them
Question 3.
scientific method
Correct Answer: a process that uses strict guidelines to ensure careful and
systematic collection, organization, and analysis
Question 4.
define forensic science and list the major disciplines it emcompasses
Correct Answer: forensic science is the application of science to criminal and civil
laws that are enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system.
(Criminalistics, digital and multimedia sciences, engineering sciences, general,
jurisprudence, odontology, pathology/biology, physical anthropology,
psychiatry/behavioral sciences, questioned documents, toxicology)
Question 5.
Account for the rapid growth of forensic laboratories in the past 40 years
Correct Answer: -Supreme Court decisions put an emphasis on securing
scientifically evaluated evidence -increase of crime rates in the US -drug related
arrests -DNA profiling
Question 6.
Describe the services of a typical comprehensive crime laboratory in the criminal justice
system
Correct Answer: -physical science unit: incorporates the principles of chemistry,
physics, and geology to identify and compare physical evidence -biology unit:
investigate blood samples, body fluids, hair, and fiber samples -firearms unit:
investigates discharged bullets, cartridge cases, shotgun shells, and ammunition
-document unit: handwriting analysis and other questioned document issues
-photographic unit: recording and examining physical evidence -toxicology unit:
examines body fluids and organs for presence of drugs and poisons -latent
fingerprint unit: processes and examines evidence for latent(invisible) fingerprints
-polygraph unit: conducts lie detector tests -voiceprint analysis: attempts to tie a
recorded voice to a particular suspect -evidence collection unit: dispatches
, specially trained personnel to the crime scene to collet and preserve physical
evidence
Question 7.
Compare and contrast the Frye and Daubert decisions relating to the admissibility of
scientific evidence in the courtroom
Correct Answer: FRYE: set guidelines for determining the admissibility of evidence
into the courtroom. to meet the FRYE standard, the evidence must be "generally
accepted" by the scientific community (use the scientific method) DAUBERT: FRYE
is not reliable. the judges are gatekeepers for the admissibility and validity of
evidence as well as all expert testimonies.
Question 8.
Explain the role and responsibilities of the expert witness
Correct Answer: an expert witness is called on to evaluate evidence based on
specialized training and experience that the court lacks the expertise to do. express
an opinion as to the significance of the findings
Question 9.
List the specialized forensic services, aside from the crime laboratory, that are generally
available to law enforcement personnel
Correct Answer: Psychiatry: relationship between human behavior and legal
proceedings is examined Odontology: involves using teeth to provide information
about the identification of victims when a body is left in an unrecognizable state,
also look at bite marks Engineering: concerned with failure analysis, accident
reconstruction, and causes and origins of fires or explosions Computer science:
involves the examination of digital evidence
Question 10.
algor mortis
Correct Answer: -results in a loss of heat by a body -beginning about an hour after
death, the body loses heat by 1 to 1.5 degrees F' per hour until the body reaches the
environmental temperature
Question 11.
autopsy
Correct Answer: a surgical procedure performed by a pathologist on a dead body to
ascertain the cause of death
Question 12.
buccal swab
Correct Answer: method for obtaining a DNA standard reference, cotton swabs are
placed in the subject's mouth and the inside of the cheek is vigorously swabbed
100% Correct Answers
Question 1.
expert witness
Correct Answer: an individual whom in the court determines to posses knowledge
relevant to the trial that is not expected of the average layperson
Question 2.
Locard's exchange principle
Correct Answer: when two objects come into contact with one another, there is an
exchange of materials between them
Question 3.
scientific method
Correct Answer: a process that uses strict guidelines to ensure careful and
systematic collection, organization, and analysis
Question 4.
define forensic science and list the major disciplines it emcompasses
Correct Answer: forensic science is the application of science to criminal and civil
laws that are enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system.
(Criminalistics, digital and multimedia sciences, engineering sciences, general,
jurisprudence, odontology, pathology/biology, physical anthropology,
psychiatry/behavioral sciences, questioned documents, toxicology)
Question 5.
Account for the rapid growth of forensic laboratories in the past 40 years
Correct Answer: -Supreme Court decisions put an emphasis on securing
scientifically evaluated evidence -increase of crime rates in the US -drug related
arrests -DNA profiling
Question 6.
Describe the services of a typical comprehensive crime laboratory in the criminal justice
system
Correct Answer: -physical science unit: incorporates the principles of chemistry,
physics, and geology to identify and compare physical evidence -biology unit:
investigate blood samples, body fluids, hair, and fiber samples -firearms unit:
investigates discharged bullets, cartridge cases, shotgun shells, and ammunition
-document unit: handwriting analysis and other questioned document issues
-photographic unit: recording and examining physical evidence -toxicology unit:
examines body fluids and organs for presence of drugs and poisons -latent
fingerprint unit: processes and examines evidence for latent(invisible) fingerprints
-polygraph unit: conducts lie detector tests -voiceprint analysis: attempts to tie a
recorded voice to a particular suspect -evidence collection unit: dispatches
, specially trained personnel to the crime scene to collet and preserve physical
evidence
Question 7.
Compare and contrast the Frye and Daubert decisions relating to the admissibility of
scientific evidence in the courtroom
Correct Answer: FRYE: set guidelines for determining the admissibility of evidence
into the courtroom. to meet the FRYE standard, the evidence must be "generally
accepted" by the scientific community (use the scientific method) DAUBERT: FRYE
is not reliable. the judges are gatekeepers for the admissibility and validity of
evidence as well as all expert testimonies.
Question 8.
Explain the role and responsibilities of the expert witness
Correct Answer: an expert witness is called on to evaluate evidence based on
specialized training and experience that the court lacks the expertise to do. express
an opinion as to the significance of the findings
Question 9.
List the specialized forensic services, aside from the crime laboratory, that are generally
available to law enforcement personnel
Correct Answer: Psychiatry: relationship between human behavior and legal
proceedings is examined Odontology: involves using teeth to provide information
about the identification of victims when a body is left in an unrecognizable state,
also look at bite marks Engineering: concerned with failure analysis, accident
reconstruction, and causes and origins of fires or explosions Computer science:
involves the examination of digital evidence
Question 10.
algor mortis
Correct Answer: -results in a loss of heat by a body -beginning about an hour after
death, the body loses heat by 1 to 1.5 degrees F' per hour until the body reaches the
environmental temperature
Question 11.
autopsy
Correct Answer: a surgical procedure performed by a pathologist on a dead body to
ascertain the cause of death
Question 12.
buccal swab
Correct Answer: method for obtaining a DNA standard reference, cotton swabs are
placed in the subject's mouth and the inside of the cheek is vigorously swabbed
