FSC100: The Real CSI Final Exam – Questions &
Answers
What could be physical evidence? Right Ans - objects that can:
- establish that a crimme has been committed
- make associations (crime to victim, victim to perpetrator)
Recognition Right Ans - - of not just what but where
- situation of items relative to each other
Where to start searching Right Ans - consider paths of contamination from:
- perpetrator activity
- first responders
- emergency response
- look out for media interference
How do you search a crime scene? Right Ans - - lane/strip search
- line search
- circle/spiral search
- zone search
What are some other search tools? Right Ans - canine units
metal detectors
heavy machinery
thermal imaging
ground penetrating radar
Search method is based on factors such as: Right Ans - - indoor/outdoor
- size
- urgency
- lighting available
- what is being searched for
- what evidence was already found
- concentration of material
- people available
Lane/strip search Right Ans - good for large areas
good for uneven terrain
,Line search limit Right Ans - must remain in a super straight line with
everyone else as you move across crime scene, at the same pace
Circle/spiral search benefits Right Ans - good for locating additional items
associated to an existing piece of evidence
typically done indoors - too difficult to do outdoors
Circle/spiral limits Right Ans - difficult to stay in a perfect spiral path to
ensure nothing is missed
zone search benefits Right Ans - good for where other patterns won't work
- typically in a house divided by rooms - used where scene is already broken
up into zones
How is evidence collection selective? Right Ans - - selectivity is determined
by collector
- need knowledge about crime lab techniques, capabilities, limitations
- lack of this knowledge can lead to evidence being overlooked or collected
improperly
Why do you need a reference sample? Right Ans - to compare unknown
samples to it
Control/known samples include: Right Ans - - standard/reference - ex.
hair/blood/DNA
- substrate control - ex. oil, carpet
- elimination samples
How do you prevent contamination? Right Ans - - use proper PPE
- clean tools between collection of different samples
- change gloves frequently
- package items separately to avoid cross contamination
Things that are commonly used to collect evidence Right Ans - - plastic pill
bottles
- manila envelopes
- tinfoil 'boats'
- cardboard pillboxes
, - sealable plastic bags
- paper bags of various sizes
what is the druggist's fold used for? Right Ans - to collect trace evidence
what do you do with wet or bloodstained materials? Right Ans - air dry
them before packaging and/or place into paper bags so they have room to
breathe and dry off
what should be done with items soiled with biological fluid that cannot be
dried? Right Ans - should be placed in a cooler with ice packs
how do you seal packaged evidence? Right Ans - with tamper-proof tape,
then initial the seal
how do you document evidence? Right Ans - - case number
- item number
- location
- name of collector
- date and time of discovery
- date and time of collection
- description of item
why might a sample not be submitted for analysis? Right Ans - - item type
has low success rate/expectation of obtaining reliable results
- not the most relevant to address allegations
- no probative value
- an individual is already associated with the item
- item has previously been tested for body fluids or fingerprints
sequential processing Right Ans - use of as many developmental
techniques as necessary to process a piece of latent evidence, applying least
invasive to most invasive
what are the systems in place to prioritize samples/cases? Right Ans - -
severity of offense
- type of evidence
- probative value of evidence
- urgency/risks to public
Answers
What could be physical evidence? Right Ans - objects that can:
- establish that a crimme has been committed
- make associations (crime to victim, victim to perpetrator)
Recognition Right Ans - - of not just what but where
- situation of items relative to each other
Where to start searching Right Ans - consider paths of contamination from:
- perpetrator activity
- first responders
- emergency response
- look out for media interference
How do you search a crime scene? Right Ans - - lane/strip search
- line search
- circle/spiral search
- zone search
What are some other search tools? Right Ans - canine units
metal detectors
heavy machinery
thermal imaging
ground penetrating radar
Search method is based on factors such as: Right Ans - - indoor/outdoor
- size
- urgency
- lighting available
- what is being searched for
- what evidence was already found
- concentration of material
- people available
Lane/strip search Right Ans - good for large areas
good for uneven terrain
,Line search limit Right Ans - must remain in a super straight line with
everyone else as you move across crime scene, at the same pace
Circle/spiral search benefits Right Ans - good for locating additional items
associated to an existing piece of evidence
typically done indoors - too difficult to do outdoors
Circle/spiral limits Right Ans - difficult to stay in a perfect spiral path to
ensure nothing is missed
zone search benefits Right Ans - good for where other patterns won't work
- typically in a house divided by rooms - used where scene is already broken
up into zones
How is evidence collection selective? Right Ans - - selectivity is determined
by collector
- need knowledge about crime lab techniques, capabilities, limitations
- lack of this knowledge can lead to evidence being overlooked or collected
improperly
Why do you need a reference sample? Right Ans - to compare unknown
samples to it
Control/known samples include: Right Ans - - standard/reference - ex.
hair/blood/DNA
- substrate control - ex. oil, carpet
- elimination samples
How do you prevent contamination? Right Ans - - use proper PPE
- clean tools between collection of different samples
- change gloves frequently
- package items separately to avoid cross contamination
Things that are commonly used to collect evidence Right Ans - - plastic pill
bottles
- manila envelopes
- tinfoil 'boats'
- cardboard pillboxes
, - sealable plastic bags
- paper bags of various sizes
what is the druggist's fold used for? Right Ans - to collect trace evidence
what do you do with wet or bloodstained materials? Right Ans - air dry
them before packaging and/or place into paper bags so they have room to
breathe and dry off
what should be done with items soiled with biological fluid that cannot be
dried? Right Ans - should be placed in a cooler with ice packs
how do you seal packaged evidence? Right Ans - with tamper-proof tape,
then initial the seal
how do you document evidence? Right Ans - - case number
- item number
- location
- name of collector
- date and time of discovery
- date and time of collection
- description of item
why might a sample not be submitted for analysis? Right Ans - - item type
has low success rate/expectation of obtaining reliable results
- not the most relevant to address allegations
- no probative value
- an individual is already associated with the item
- item has previously been tested for body fluids or fingerprints
sequential processing Right Ans - use of as many developmental
techniques as necessary to process a piece of latent evidence, applying least
invasive to most invasive
what are the systems in place to prioritize samples/cases? Right Ans - -
severity of offense
- type of evidence
- probative value of evidence
- urgency/risks to public
