CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION PRACTICE EXAM 2025/2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS MARKED A+
✔✔Through relational details, the investigator is able to establish a correlation between
various objects. Examples of these types of details are:
a. the presence of void patterns on a wall surrounded by spatter
b. clustering of shell casings on the ground
c. presence of a weapon in close proximity to the victim
d. all of the above - ✔✔d. all of the above
✔✔A functional detail is one that may manifest itself in the operating condition of items
in the scene. An example of this is whether the door was locked at the time of a break
in. (T/F) - ✔✔False
✔✔If a wax paper roll is discovered in the kitchen of an arson scene, it would not be
necessary to evaluate its function since it is not unusual to find a wax paper roll in a
kitchen. (T/F) - ✔✔False - this should definitely be looked at
✔✔Timing and sequencing are two distinct concepts. (T/F) - ✔✔true
✔✔The forensic linkage triangle illustrates that items of evidence are used to establish
links between:
a. the victim and suspect
b. the suspect and scene
c. the victim and scene
d. the victim, suspect, and scene - ✔✔d. the victim, suspect, and scene
✔✔Any good crime scene processing methodology will demand which of the following?
a. Knowledge/flexibility
b. Skills and tools
c. A methodological approach/coordinated effort
d. All of the above
e. A & C only - ✔✔d. all of the above
✔✔A checklist is useful when processing a scene and should always be followed step
by step. (T/F) - ✔✔false - steps may go out of order sometimes
✔✔The addition, destruction, and movement of material in the scene are considered to
be what kind of issues?
a. scene integrity
b. scene placement
c. constitutional
d. collection - ✔✔a. scene intgerity
, ✔✔Probable cause is the investigative standard (T/F) - ✔✔False
✔✔It is appropriate to exclude exculpatory information from reports in the early stages
of an investigation (T/F) - ✔✔False
✔✔At trial, the investigator should state the facts even if it is not supportive of the
prosecution's arguments (T/F) - ✔✔true
✔✔Class characteristics best serve the forensic professional by:
a. placing an item within a group
b. linking a specific individual to the crime
c. eliminating possibilities
d. all of the above
e. a and c only - ✔✔e. a and c only
✔✔Individual characteristics are those that are unique based upon natural variation,
damage, or wear. (T/F) - ✔✔true
✔✔If an item of evidence is individualized, there is no longer a need to consider its
context. (T/F) - ✔✔false
✔✔Locard's Exchange principle can be generally summarized as:
a. gunshot wounds result in high impact spatter patterns
b. every contact leaves a trace
c. insect succession can assist with time of death determinations
d. fingerprints are unique and permanent - ✔✔b. every contact leaves a trace
✔✔Placing a victim in a chair for an interview than placing the suspect in the same chair
with no additional measures being taken can result in:
a. mechanical fit
b. cross contamination
c. an arrest of the wrong individual
d. the loss of a job - ✔✔b. cross contamination
✔✔Mechanical fit is another term for:
a. the appropriate person for the job
b. the appropriate tools to do the job
c. fracture match
d. fitting a weapon into a wound - ✔✔c. fracture match
✔✔Fracture matching is a class characteristic (T/F) - ✔✔false
✔✔Fingerprints do not begin to develop until after birth (T/F) - ✔✔False
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS MARKED A+
✔✔Through relational details, the investigator is able to establish a correlation between
various objects. Examples of these types of details are:
a. the presence of void patterns on a wall surrounded by spatter
b. clustering of shell casings on the ground
c. presence of a weapon in close proximity to the victim
d. all of the above - ✔✔d. all of the above
✔✔A functional detail is one that may manifest itself in the operating condition of items
in the scene. An example of this is whether the door was locked at the time of a break
in. (T/F) - ✔✔False
✔✔If a wax paper roll is discovered in the kitchen of an arson scene, it would not be
necessary to evaluate its function since it is not unusual to find a wax paper roll in a
kitchen. (T/F) - ✔✔False - this should definitely be looked at
✔✔Timing and sequencing are two distinct concepts. (T/F) - ✔✔true
✔✔The forensic linkage triangle illustrates that items of evidence are used to establish
links between:
a. the victim and suspect
b. the suspect and scene
c. the victim and scene
d. the victim, suspect, and scene - ✔✔d. the victim, suspect, and scene
✔✔Any good crime scene processing methodology will demand which of the following?
a. Knowledge/flexibility
b. Skills and tools
c. A methodological approach/coordinated effort
d. All of the above
e. A & C only - ✔✔d. all of the above
✔✔A checklist is useful when processing a scene and should always be followed step
by step. (T/F) - ✔✔false - steps may go out of order sometimes
✔✔The addition, destruction, and movement of material in the scene are considered to
be what kind of issues?
a. scene integrity
b. scene placement
c. constitutional
d. collection - ✔✔a. scene intgerity
, ✔✔Probable cause is the investigative standard (T/F) - ✔✔False
✔✔It is appropriate to exclude exculpatory information from reports in the early stages
of an investigation (T/F) - ✔✔False
✔✔At trial, the investigator should state the facts even if it is not supportive of the
prosecution's arguments (T/F) - ✔✔true
✔✔Class characteristics best serve the forensic professional by:
a. placing an item within a group
b. linking a specific individual to the crime
c. eliminating possibilities
d. all of the above
e. a and c only - ✔✔e. a and c only
✔✔Individual characteristics are those that are unique based upon natural variation,
damage, or wear. (T/F) - ✔✔true
✔✔If an item of evidence is individualized, there is no longer a need to consider its
context. (T/F) - ✔✔false
✔✔Locard's Exchange principle can be generally summarized as:
a. gunshot wounds result in high impact spatter patterns
b. every contact leaves a trace
c. insect succession can assist with time of death determinations
d. fingerprints are unique and permanent - ✔✔b. every contact leaves a trace
✔✔Placing a victim in a chair for an interview than placing the suspect in the same chair
with no additional measures being taken can result in:
a. mechanical fit
b. cross contamination
c. an arrest of the wrong individual
d. the loss of a job - ✔✔b. cross contamination
✔✔Mechanical fit is another term for:
a. the appropriate person for the job
b. the appropriate tools to do the job
c. fracture match
d. fitting a weapon into a wound - ✔✔c. fracture match
✔✔Fracture matching is a class characteristic (T/F) - ✔✔false
✔✔Fingerprints do not begin to develop until after birth (T/F) - ✔✔False
