MPTC Criminal Investigations Exam with
correct Answers (Graded A)
RESPECT model when conducting Criminal Investigations - Answer- Respond and make it safe, Emergency care for injured, Separate and remove people, Protect crime scene, Evidence collection, Corroborate evidence with M.G.L., Take action/Testify,
Best practices securing Inner Perimeter - Answer- Make at least TWICE the size of actual crime scene, Clearly mark perimeters with line tape, Only allow authorized investigators to the inner perimeter, ID pathway through inner perimeter that minimizes evidence contamination, establish single entry and exit point, Establish crime scene log,
document all who go in and out, date/time in/out and reason
Best practices in establishing Outer Perimeter - Answer- Staging area for support personnel and equipment, Store equipment and supplies, have a log of equipment, assets, and supplies.
Documenting the crime scene - Answer- Rough Sketch- basic overview of the crime scene, conducted after initial walkthrough, include date,time, not to scale, symbol legend, relevant measurements and dimensions. Photographing Crime Scene - Do not use personal camera or phone, photograph evidence in natural state. Use a planned system to document, start with an overall perspective, then a midrange perspective, the close up of any evidence, injuries, serial numbers or impression evidence, do not delete any photos or use editing software.
direct evidence - Answer- Evidence that directly links a person to a crime without the need of any additional evidence or inference
Circumstantial Evidence - Answer- Evidence relies on a inference to connect a conclusion or fact.
Physical Evidence - Answer- tangible items that tend to prove some material fact; also called real evidence
Testimonial Evidence - Answer- It includes first-hand statements made by victims, witnesses, suspects or police. MAy be direct or circumstantial.
exculpatory evidence - Answer- evidence that suggests the defendant's innocence, or clears them from the crime relevant evidence - Answer- Tendency to make a fact more or less probable than it would be without the evidence
Reliable evidence - Answer- That has not been tampered with and in substantially the same condition as evidence originally seized by police when presented in court.
Chain of custody - Answer- the chronological documentation, or paper trail, showing the
seizure, custody, control, transfer, of evidence collected. Must show all who come in contact with the evidence.
Physical Evidence - Answer- Is the most compelling because it is tangible and harder to
dispute. Examples: Money, drugs, clothing
Trace Evidence - Answer- Is transferred from one surface to another during physical contact between people, places and objects. Examples: soil, minerals, gunshot residue, human/animal hair, textile, wood, glass an paint fibers
DNA Evidence - Answer- Evidence includes human hair, tissue, bone, teeth, blood, saliva, semen, or other bodily fluids. Highly susceptible to contamination.
Types of Fingerprint evidence - Answer- Plastic - can be seen with naked eye when left on a mailable surface
Patent - can be seen with naked eye and left behind when materials on finger is transferred to another surface
Latent - cannot be seen with the naked eye and is left behind when oil and sweat on finger is transferred to a smooth, nonporous surface.
Impression Evidence - Answer- Created when one object presses against another with enough force to leave a matching imprint. Examples: shoe prints, tire tread, human bite marks, can be found in snow, blood, dirt and human skin
Packaging of Clothing, Bedding and Linen evidence - Answer- Wet evidence must be aired dried before storing
WET clothing, bedding, linens - use a nonporous container to temporarily collect
DRY - paper bags, cardboard boxes
Package evidence separately by source to prevent cross contamination
Weapons Evidence Collection - Answer- Includes firearms, knifes, ammunition baseball bats etc used to commit a crime
Process for DNA and Trace Evidence first
Refrain form touching, unless there is a risk of safety. IE: Loaded weapon
DO NOT insert anything into barrel of firearm
Unload firearm and use plastic Zip Tie to make device inoperable Document total number of unspent rounds in firearm chamber, cylinder or magazine