ABMDI CHAPTER 5 IDENTIFYING AND PRESERVING
EVIDENCE STUDY GUIDE FORENSIC PRINCIPLES Questions
with Correct Answers (Grade A+)
Question 1: What should you look for when discovering evidence at a crime scene?
Answer: Objects that are unrelated or foreign to the scene, unusual in location or number, damaged or
broken, or suggest a pattern that fits the crime.
Question 2: What are common errors in collecting evidence?
Answer: 1. Not collecting enough of the sample 2. Not obtaining standards of comparison 3. Not
maintaining the integrity of the evidence.
Question 3: What is the first step in processing physical evidence?
Answer: Discovering or Recognizing Evidence.
Question 4: How should evidence be packaged for transport?
Answer: Each item should be packaged separately in a durable container, without mixing or
cross-contaminating items.
Question 5: What must be documented for each piece of evidence?
Answer: Ownership, location, and disposition of the evidence.
Question 6: What criteria ensure the admissibility of evidence in court?
Answer: Identify the evidence as found at the crime scene, describe where it was found, establish its
custody, and explain any changes.
Question 7: What is the Daubert standard?
Answer: It states that expert testimony must be reliable and relevant.
Page 1
, Question 8: What types of evidence are commonly found in criminal investigations?
Answer:
1. Fingerprints
2. DNA
3. blood
4. hair
5. shoe and tire prints
6. tools and tool marks
7. firearms
8. glass
9. soils
10. drugs
11. documents
12. and skeletal remains.
Question 9: What are latent fingerprints?
Answer: Fingerprints that are not visible to the naked eye and require processing to be seen.
Question 10: What can DNA evidence determine?
Answer: Biological sex, ethnicity, eye and hair color, and can match to a known profile to identify an
individual.
Question 11: How effective is DNA in identifying suspects compared to fingerprints?
Answer: DNA is twice as effective in identifying suspects as fingerprints.
Question 12: What is the significance of individual characteristics in forensic evidence?
Answer: They distinguish one item from another, such as chips on a screwdriver.
Question 13: What is the purpose of packaging evidence?
Answer: To preserve its integrity and prevent contamination during transport.
Question 14: What should be included in the written request for evidence analysis?
Answer: It should be on department letterhead/form and include details about the evidence.
Question 15: What happens to evidence that is no longer needed?
Answer: It may be returned, sold, or retained for training purposes.
Question 16: What are class characteristics in forensic evidence?
Answer: Features that place an item into a specific category, like the size and shape of a tool mark.
Page 2
EVIDENCE STUDY GUIDE FORENSIC PRINCIPLES Questions
with Correct Answers (Grade A+)
Question 1: What should you look for when discovering evidence at a crime scene?
Answer: Objects that are unrelated or foreign to the scene, unusual in location or number, damaged or
broken, or suggest a pattern that fits the crime.
Question 2: What are common errors in collecting evidence?
Answer: 1. Not collecting enough of the sample 2. Not obtaining standards of comparison 3. Not
maintaining the integrity of the evidence.
Question 3: What is the first step in processing physical evidence?
Answer: Discovering or Recognizing Evidence.
Question 4: How should evidence be packaged for transport?
Answer: Each item should be packaged separately in a durable container, without mixing or
cross-contaminating items.
Question 5: What must be documented for each piece of evidence?
Answer: Ownership, location, and disposition of the evidence.
Question 6: What criteria ensure the admissibility of evidence in court?
Answer: Identify the evidence as found at the crime scene, describe where it was found, establish its
custody, and explain any changes.
Question 7: What is the Daubert standard?
Answer: It states that expert testimony must be reliable and relevant.
Page 1
, Question 8: What types of evidence are commonly found in criminal investigations?
Answer:
1. Fingerprints
2. DNA
3. blood
4. hair
5. shoe and tire prints
6. tools and tool marks
7. firearms
8. glass
9. soils
10. drugs
11. documents
12. and skeletal remains.
Question 9: What are latent fingerprints?
Answer: Fingerprints that are not visible to the naked eye and require processing to be seen.
Question 10: What can DNA evidence determine?
Answer: Biological sex, ethnicity, eye and hair color, and can match to a known profile to identify an
individual.
Question 11: How effective is DNA in identifying suspects compared to fingerprints?
Answer: DNA is twice as effective in identifying suspects as fingerprints.
Question 12: What is the significance of individual characteristics in forensic evidence?
Answer: They distinguish one item from another, such as chips on a screwdriver.
Question 13: What is the purpose of packaging evidence?
Answer: To preserve its integrity and prevent contamination during transport.
Question 14: What should be included in the written request for evidence analysis?
Answer: It should be on department letterhead/form and include details about the evidence.
Question 15: What happens to evidence that is no longer needed?
Answer: It may be returned, sold, or retained for training purposes.
Question 16: What are class characteristics in forensic evidence?
Answer: Features that place an item into a specific category, like the size and shape of a tool mark.
Page 2
