ABMDI- Chapter 5 questions and answers

Personal Property Property on or near the body that belongs to the decedent and can be returned to the next-of-kin. Evidence any material that contributes to the cause or manner of death and is considered important in supporting the facts of the case. Types of evidence commonly encountered : ligatures, weapons and ammunition, medication, suicide notes Four crucial issues regarding evidence : recognition, collection, packaging, storage Evidence that cannot be removed from the scene (context of the scene, relationship of evidence to the body or vehicles) should be : documented visually by photography or sketching Evidence such as ligatures, drug containers, and paraphernalia should be : logged on a chain of custody form Evidence cannot be removed from a scene without it being .... Altered Evidence on the body should remain ..... in its original position and be protected while the body is being transported to the morgue. The hands of gunshot victims should be..... placed in paper bags to protect them from contamination and prevent potential destruction of evidence. When precautions have been taken to protect evidence- such as bagging hands or feet, thsi should be ..... documented in writing. The presumptive manner of death will indicate the distinction between : Evidence and personal property and how it should be managed. In homicide deaths, the investigating law enforcement agency has custody of evidence from the _______________, and the coroner has jurisdiction over evidence from the ___________. Scene, Body Evidence from the body, such as recovered bullets, hair samples, primer swabs, and clothing is usually turned over to the ____________following the autopsy examination police At any scene where law enforcement officers are present, the investigator must contact : the officer in charge upon arriving at the scene. To establish a cooperative working relationship, take into consideration the law enforcement agencies _________________&__________ authority & needs When arriving on scene , determine what was observed before you arrived and whether anything has been moved or otherwise disturbed. Personal property removed from the scene should be : inventoried and documented on the proper form in the presence of a witness. Money should be counted and the amount listed, preferably with types of currency. Descriptions of watches and metal jewelry or settings should be generic rather than specific The property form should include the _____________&_______________, and should be signed by both the ______________&_________________. date & case number, witness & investigator Seal property in a bag or envelope to ensure that it is not tampered with until it can be handled at the office. Handling of personal property is one area in which perceptions of misconduct can have serious consequences for the MDI and draw negative attention to the agency. Evidence is often held by one or another investigating agency and thus requires : a proper chain of custody. Chain of custody is : documentation of possession of property or evidence. Chain of custody allows on to : trace individuals who have had custody of it, the date of transfer, and where it was stored. Chain of custody provides _______________ and ensures that evidence has not been ________________ of _________________. accountability, tampered with , substituted. Whenever possible , you should ___________ the links in the chain of custody. minimize When evidence is released to another agency or individual, appropriate ____________ and ______________ must be completed. forms, inventories You should obtain verification from the proper source (pathologist, law enforcemnt ) to ensure that is is ______________ to release the evidence permissable Chain of custody form should be made in ____________. The copy goes with the ___________, and the original stays with _________________. duplicate, evidence, person facilitating the transfer. Essential parts of a chain of custody form are (4) : 1. Case number, 2. Description of the articles being transferred, 3. Date/timed signature and printed name of individual releasing property and his agency, and 4. Date/timed signature and printed name of individual receiving the property and his agency.