SERGEANT EXAM NFLST COMPLETE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 2025-2026 REVISED COMPREHENSIVE
UPDATE
Impressions - Answer-prints left in something moldable like clay, dirt,
snow, etc.
Plastic prints - Answer-prints left in something "tacky" like silly putty,
fatty foods, caulking
Patent/contaminated/visible - Answer-fingers contaminated with an oily
substance touch a clean surface
Latent/invisible - Answer-unseen or hidden prints that are developed to
expose them
Forensic ondontology - Answer-intersection of dentistry and criminal
law, i.e. bite mark analysis and identification.
Signature - Answer-The striations on a bullet after passing through the
bore of the barrel of a rifle or pistol
Touch DNA - Answer-small amounts of DNA evidence left from
suspect skin shavings after touching something.
, Handwriting samples - Answer-15 to 20 samples should be collected
from suspects
Objective of interrogation: (importance goes up as the difficulty goes
up) - Answer-Obtain valuable facts, Eliminate the innocent, Identify the
guilty, Obtain a confession
Proximity - Answer-distance between you and subject during interview
(optimal proximity 27 in. for middle class white males)
Expectancy - Answer-Bias when witness is not completely positive of
an answer. They'll give an answer they would expect, or assume.
Coerced - internalized confession - Answer-False confession where
innocent suspect made to believe they committed the crime where
people develop a distrust of their own memory.
Voluntary confession - Answer-Give false confession without
provocation
Coerced compliant confession - Answer-Confess after lengthy
interrogation process and think the short term outweighs long term
(being released on bail and getting high vs. having to go to prison later)
, Free and voluntary rule - Answer-can't beat a suspect into a confession,
or threaten violence
McNabb v. United States - Answer-Must not be "unnecessary delay" in
the production of the suspect before a magistrate. Confession was gained
during this delay, and the subsequent confession was inadmissible
despite it being given freely and voluntarily. From this case came the
"delay in arraignment" rule.
Berghuis v. Thomkins - Answer-5th amendment case involving
Miranda v. Arizona. Suspect was advised of rights, didn't sign the form,
but agreed to speak with detectives. Confession given, and was later
admissible by Supreme Court.
Algor mortis - Answer-body cooling - inaccurate way of determining
time of death
Ocular change - Answer-cornea becomes cloudy within 2 hours of less
if eyes are open
Ocular change (closed) - Answer-if eyes closed, 12-24 hours, 3rd
postmortem day, eyes become opaque
Rigor mortis - Answer-rigidity occurs within 1-3 hours. Complete rigor
in 10-15 hours after jaw and knee locked. After 24-36 hours the muscles
begin to relax in the same order they stiffened.
AND ANSWERS 2025-2026 REVISED COMPREHENSIVE
UPDATE
Impressions - Answer-prints left in something moldable like clay, dirt,
snow, etc.
Plastic prints - Answer-prints left in something "tacky" like silly putty,
fatty foods, caulking
Patent/contaminated/visible - Answer-fingers contaminated with an oily
substance touch a clean surface
Latent/invisible - Answer-unseen or hidden prints that are developed to
expose them
Forensic ondontology - Answer-intersection of dentistry and criminal
law, i.e. bite mark analysis and identification.
Signature - Answer-The striations on a bullet after passing through the
bore of the barrel of a rifle or pistol
Touch DNA - Answer-small amounts of DNA evidence left from
suspect skin shavings after touching something.
, Handwriting samples - Answer-15 to 20 samples should be collected
from suspects
Objective of interrogation: (importance goes up as the difficulty goes
up) - Answer-Obtain valuable facts, Eliminate the innocent, Identify the
guilty, Obtain a confession
Proximity - Answer-distance between you and subject during interview
(optimal proximity 27 in. for middle class white males)
Expectancy - Answer-Bias when witness is not completely positive of
an answer. They'll give an answer they would expect, or assume.
Coerced - internalized confession - Answer-False confession where
innocent suspect made to believe they committed the crime where
people develop a distrust of their own memory.
Voluntary confession - Answer-Give false confession without
provocation
Coerced compliant confession - Answer-Confess after lengthy
interrogation process and think the short term outweighs long term
(being released on bail and getting high vs. having to go to prison later)
, Free and voluntary rule - Answer-can't beat a suspect into a confession,
or threaten violence
McNabb v. United States - Answer-Must not be "unnecessary delay" in
the production of the suspect before a magistrate. Confession was gained
during this delay, and the subsequent confession was inadmissible
despite it being given freely and voluntarily. From this case came the
"delay in arraignment" rule.
Berghuis v. Thomkins - Answer-5th amendment case involving
Miranda v. Arizona. Suspect was advised of rights, didn't sign the form,
but agreed to speak with detectives. Confession given, and was later
admissible by Supreme Court.
Algor mortis - Answer-body cooling - inaccurate way of determining
time of death
Ocular change - Answer-cornea becomes cloudy within 2 hours of less
if eyes are open
Ocular change (closed) - Answer-if eyes closed, 12-24 hours, 3rd
postmortem day, eyes become opaque
Rigor mortis - Answer-rigidity occurs within 1-3 hours. Complete rigor
in 10-15 hours after jaw and knee locked. After 24-36 hours the muscles
begin to relax in the same order they stiffened.
