Page 1 of 141
ABMDI PRACTICE REGISTRY TEST 2027
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTION BANK
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS &
RATIONALES
250+ MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS |
UPDATED FOR 2026-2027 GUIDELINES |
GRADED A+
# TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Section | Domain | Questions |
|---------|--------|-----------|------|
| **Section 1** | Interacting with Federal, State, and Local Agencies | 1-35 |
| **Section 2** | Communicating (Written and Oral) | 36-70 |
| **Section 3** | Interacting with Families | 71-105 |
| **Section 4** | Investigating Deaths – Scene Response | 106-145 |
| **Section 5** | Investigating Deaths – Body Assessment & Documentation | 146-180 |
| **Section 6** | Identifying and Preserving Evidence | 181-215 |
| **Section 7** | Medicolegal Jurisdiction & Authority | 216-240 |
| **Section 8** | Forensic Pathology & Scientific Knowledge | 241-260+ |
,Page 2 of 141
# SECTION 1: INTERACTING WITH FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL AGENCIES
## Questions 1-35
**Question 1**
When a death occurs on a federally recognized Native American reservation, which agency
typically has primary jurisdiction?
A. Local county coroner
B. State medical examiner's office
C. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
D. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Deaths occurring on Native American reservations fall under federal jurisdiction
pursuant to the Major Crimes Act and other federal statutes. The FBI and BIA typically have
primary investigative authority, though tribal law enforcement may also be involved. Local or
state agencies generally do not have jurisdiction on federal reservations unless specifically
authorized by federal law.
---
**Question 2**
Which federal agency publishes the "Death Investigation: A Guide for the Scene Investigator"
that serves as a foundational document for the ABMDI exam?
A. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
B. National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
C. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
D. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
,Page 3 of 141
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) publishes the "Death Investigation: A
Guide for the Scene Investigator," which is a primary reference for the ABMDI Registry
Certification Exam content. This guide establishes national standards for death scene
investigation protocols and is foundational to the exam's content outline.
---
**Question 3**
In a jurisdiction with a coroner system, who typically has primary jurisdiction over the death
scene and the body?
A. The state medical examiner
B. The county sheriff's department
C. The local police department
D. The fire department
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** In coroner-led counties, the coroner works closely with the county sheriff, who
has primary jurisdiction over the scene and the body. The sheriff's department typically provides
scene security and initial response coordination while the coroner oversees the medicolegal
investigation.
---
**Question 4**
The ABMDI Registry Certification exam consists of how many multiple-choice questions?
A. 150
, Page 4 of 141
B. 200
C. 240
D. 300
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** The ABMDI Registry Certification Exam consists of 240 multiple-choice
questions, which candidates have up to 4 hours to complete. The exam is criterion-referenced,
and candidates must achieve a passing score (commonly cited as 70-75%) to earn certification.
---
**Question 5**
What is the minimum passing score typically required for the ABMDI Registry Certification
Exam?
A. 65%
B. 70%
C. 80%
D. 90%
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** The ABMDI Registry Certification Exam requires a passing score of 80%. This
criterion-referenced standard ensures that all certified investigators have demonstrated the same
minimum level of competency in medicolegal death investigation.
---
**Question 6**
ABMDI PRACTICE REGISTRY TEST 2027
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTION BANK
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS &
RATIONALES
250+ MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS |
UPDATED FOR 2026-2027 GUIDELINES |
GRADED A+
# TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Section | Domain | Questions |
|---------|--------|-----------|------|
| **Section 1** | Interacting with Federal, State, and Local Agencies | 1-35 |
| **Section 2** | Communicating (Written and Oral) | 36-70 |
| **Section 3** | Interacting with Families | 71-105 |
| **Section 4** | Investigating Deaths – Scene Response | 106-145 |
| **Section 5** | Investigating Deaths – Body Assessment & Documentation | 146-180 |
| **Section 6** | Identifying and Preserving Evidence | 181-215 |
| **Section 7** | Medicolegal Jurisdiction & Authority | 216-240 |
| **Section 8** | Forensic Pathology & Scientific Knowledge | 241-260+ |
,Page 2 of 141
# SECTION 1: INTERACTING WITH FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL AGENCIES
## Questions 1-35
**Question 1**
When a death occurs on a federally recognized Native American reservation, which agency
typically has primary jurisdiction?
A. Local county coroner
B. State medical examiner's office
C. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
D. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Deaths occurring on Native American reservations fall under federal jurisdiction
pursuant to the Major Crimes Act and other federal statutes. The FBI and BIA typically have
primary investigative authority, though tribal law enforcement may also be involved. Local or
state agencies generally do not have jurisdiction on federal reservations unless specifically
authorized by federal law.
---
**Question 2**
Which federal agency publishes the "Death Investigation: A Guide for the Scene Investigator"
that serves as a foundational document for the ABMDI exam?
A. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
B. National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
C. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
D. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
,Page 3 of 141
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) publishes the "Death Investigation: A
Guide for the Scene Investigator," which is a primary reference for the ABMDI Registry
Certification Exam content. This guide establishes national standards for death scene
investigation protocols and is foundational to the exam's content outline.
---
**Question 3**
In a jurisdiction with a coroner system, who typically has primary jurisdiction over the death
scene and the body?
A. The state medical examiner
B. The county sheriff's department
C. The local police department
D. The fire department
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** In coroner-led counties, the coroner works closely with the county sheriff, who
has primary jurisdiction over the scene and the body. The sheriff's department typically provides
scene security and initial response coordination while the coroner oversees the medicolegal
investigation.
---
**Question 4**
The ABMDI Registry Certification exam consists of how many multiple-choice questions?
A. 150
, Page 4 of 141
B. 200
C. 240
D. 300
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** The ABMDI Registry Certification Exam consists of 240 multiple-choice
questions, which candidates have up to 4 hours to complete. The exam is criterion-referenced,
and candidates must achieve a passing score (commonly cited as 70-75%) to earn certification.
---
**Question 5**
What is the minimum passing score typically required for the ABMDI Registry Certification
Exam?
A. 65%
B. 70%
C. 80%
D. 90%
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** The ABMDI Registry Certification Exam requires a passing score of 80%. This
criterion-referenced standard ensures that all certified investigators have demonstrated the same
minimum level of competency in medicolegal death investigation.
---
**Question 6**
