Chapter 5: Identifying and Preserving Evidence exam with 100% correct answers

evidence any item or material that contributes to the cause and manner of death and is considered important in supporting the facts of the case exemplar an original item of evidence that serves as a model or example personal property property on or near the body and belonging to the decedent and can be returned to NOK chain of custody documentation of the accountability for property or evidence, which allows one to trace the individuals who have had possession of it, the date and time of transfer, and where the material was secured while in the individuals' or agencies' custody when packing items for the laboratory, you should place items in separate containers partial cremains were recovered from a local funeral home. what would be the best evidence to collect for DNA testing to establish ID? partial femur bone regarding chain of custody -the chain should be kept to a minimum -the chain must not be broken -the chain is a "paper" trail of documentation -the chain is broken when evidence is lost -item may be inadmissible in court if chain is not properly maintained After you have completed an investigation at a private residence, the family calls your office to report the theft of personal property from their residence. How should you handle the situation? refer the caller to your immediate supervisor common errors investigators make when collecting evidence -removal of evidence before photographing -not collecting enough evidence -not collecting a standard of evidence -not recognizing evidentiary value Can investigators collect too much evidence? NO why is it necessary, when in a residence or apartment, or when going through personal belongings of the decedent, to do this in the presence of an independent witness? to avoid accusations of theft and prevent the family from challenging the process of the investigation at a later date You are at the scene of a sudden and unexpected death of a 16-month-old child. The family members want to hold the child. What should you do? Consider the evidence you have discovered to the point and make a professional decision based on those facts, always taking the family into consideration immediately upon arriving at the scene of a death, the MDI should identify and contact the LEO in charge the first priority at a homicide death scene is usually administering first-aid to any injured persons evidence can be any item the investigator deems important in explaining the circumstances of death true examples of evidence commonly encountered in death investigations ligatures ammunition medications suicide notes when precautions have been taken to protect evidence, such as bagging hands or feet, this fact should be documented in writing examples of evidence recovered from the body recovered bullets hair samples primer swabs clothing how would you describe jewelry/personal property at the scene and on the decedent? yellow metal ring with clear stone white metal earring with clear stone physical evidence evidence recovered from the body and scene, or during autopsy examples of evidence recovered from the scene insect casings and maggots clothing pill containers weapons transferring evidence in person (versus mail) reduces links in the chain of custody ensures prompt delivery of perishab