Forensics-Exam 1 chapters 1-4 - Flashcards

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Forensic science is the application of science to

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both criminal and civil laws

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Which area of science is involved in criminalistics?

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All of these

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The fictional character of Sherlock Holmes was created by

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Doyle

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Who is known as the "father of forensic toxicology"?

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Orfilia

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Who developed the system known as anthropometry?

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Bertillon

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Who undertook the first definitive study of fingerprints as a method of personal identification?

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Galton

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Who devised a technique for determining the blood group of a dried bloodstain, which he applied to criminal investigations?

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Lattes

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Who established the comparison microscope as the indispensable tool of the modern firearms examiner?

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Goddard

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Who wrote the first treatise describing the application of science to the field of criminal investigation?

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Gross

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Who established the first workable crime laboratory?

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Locard

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The exchange of evidence principle was?

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Locard

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The oldest forensic laboratory in the United States is that of the

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Los Angeles Police Department

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Approximately how many operating crime labs are there in the United States (federal, state and country)?

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300+

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Which of the following can be rightfully cited as an explanation for the rapid growth of crime labs during the last 25 years?

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All of these

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Which entity maintains the largest crime laboratory in the world?

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FBI

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Which would not be included in the work of the biology unit of a crime lab?

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fingerprint analysis

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Which unit has the responsibility for the examination of body fluids and organs for the presence of drugs and poisons?

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toxicology unit

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The concept of "general acceptance" of scientific evidence relates to the

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Frye standard

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In the case of Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceutical, Inc., the U.S. Supreme Court advocated that a "gatekeeper" determine the admissibility and reliability of scientific evidence. This gatekeeper is the

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trial judge

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Which of the following is NOT true? An expert witness must be able to demonstrate:

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formal degree in forensic science

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The final evaluator of forensic evidence is the

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jury

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What is the LEAST important consideration in the gathering of evidence at a crime scene?

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guilt of the suspect(s)

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Which matter is NOT the province of civil litigation? The determination of competency to

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stand trial for burglary

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Bite marks would be LEAST likely to be found in cases involving

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arson

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Forensic odontology refers to the study of

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teeth

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Which of the following services are typically provided to law enforcement crime laboratories?

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criminalistics

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Which of the following individuals was not an earlier contributor to the field of forensic toxicology?

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Alphonse Bertillon

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The case of Coppolino v. State highlights issues dealing with

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the acceptability of new scientific tests

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The scientific method requires that scientific evidence be validated by

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All of these

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The ten sections of The American Academy of Forensic Science include all of the following EXCEPT

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Arson/Explosives

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The tendency of the public to believe that every crime scene will yield forensic evidence and their unrealistic expectations that a prosecutor's case should always be bolstered and supported by forensic evidence is known as

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the CSI Effect

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What is the major problem facing the forensic DNA community?

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backlog of unanalyzed DNA samples

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The wide variation in which services are offered in different crime laboratories is due to

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variations in local laws and budgetary and staffing limitations only

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The ________ unit applies principles and techniques of chemistry, physics, and geology to the identification and comparison of crime-scene evidence.

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physical science

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Which specialized area of forensic science examines the relationship between human behavior and legal proceedings?

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forensic psychiatry

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A crime scene which involved the collapse of a structure would be analyzed by specialists in the area of

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forensic engineering

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What factor(s) do(es) the court usually take into consideration as sufficient grounds for qualification as an expert witness?

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All of these

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Specially trained personnel called ________ are employed by some crime laboratories on 24-hour call to retrieve evidence and have all the proper tools and supplies for proper collection and packaging of evidence at their disposal.

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evidence technicians

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The first officer arriving at a crime scene, after providing or obtaining medical assistance for the injured and effecting an arrest of suspects (if possible), should immediately

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secure the scene

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The first responding officer must make attempts at the crime scene to detain and question:

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both witnesses and suspects

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Police barricades, and the strategic positioning of guards, will prohibit access to the crime scene for

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all unauthorized personnel

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The conditions at a crime scene can be compromised by all of the following actions EXCEPT

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taking photographs at the crime scene

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The size and location of the crime scene as well as the events that occurred there will determine

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the kind of search pattern that is used to locate evidence

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Which search pattern would be best suited for a crime scene where many investigators are available to search a large area?

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zone

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The purpose of the crime scene search is to locate

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all physical evidence

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The most basic methods of crime scene recording do NOT include

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infrared analysis

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If the crime scene includes a dead body, the photographer should

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depict injuries and weapons at scene

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A rough sketch need NOT include a

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sketch of the suspect(s)

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CAD programs enhance the ability to

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produce a finished crime scene sketch

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Which statement about note taking is NOT true?

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Note taking is done after all crime scene processing has been completed.

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Which crime scene search pattern would absolutely require more than one investigator?

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zone

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Physical evidence at a hit-and-run scene could include

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All of these

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The crime scene notes must accurately record:

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the tasks assigned each investigator, personnel arrivals and departures from the scene, and descriptions of evidence present at the crime scene

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The advantages of tape-recording crime scene notes on an audio tape include all of the following EXCEPT

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the notes can be recorded at the crime laboratory instead of at the crime scene

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In digital photography, light is recorded as a specific charge on millions of tiny

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pixels

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Digital crime scene photographs require special measures to assure their admissibility in court due to

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the ability to manipulate the images

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Videotapes of the crime scene:

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must be complemented by a hard copy of notes and separate still photographs

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Crime scene sketches serve a unique purpose in permanently documenting the location of evidence

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collected and removed from the crime scene

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From the choices below, select the one correct physical evidence collection procedure.

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Bloodstained garments should be packaged separately in paper bags.

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Investigators should collect possible carriers of trace evidence which may include

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All of these

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Changes to evidence, such as contamination, can be prevented by handling evidence with

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latex gloves and disposable forceps

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Charred debris from an arson scene should be

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packaged in air tight glass jar

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A victim's fingernail scrapings would be correctly packaged in

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a druggist fold

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The successful outcome of a criminal investigation is almost always directly related to

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the manner in which the evidence is collected and preserved

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A properly maintained chain of custody is NOT the responsibility of the

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trial judge

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Success in the recognition and collection of physical evidence is determined primarily by the

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skill of personnel processing the crime scene

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The collection of standard reference samples at the crime scene is important because they

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permit comparisons to be made with the evidence

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The presence of blood and semen at crime scenes exposes investigators to

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both hepatitis B and AIDS

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The removal of any evidence from a person or from the scene of a crime must be done in conformity with the privileges of which amendment to the Constitution?

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Fourth

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The police are not required to obtain a search warrant if they are

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in the process of a legal arrest

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A U.S. Supreme Court decision which dealt with the impropriety of the warrantless collection of physical evidence at a homicide scene?

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Mincey v. Arizona

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Which type of evidence must be packaged separately from other evidence?

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All of these

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Which of the following items is likely to contain DNA evidence?

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a bedsheet

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The evidence collector must take extraordinary care to avoid potential contamination by transferring DNA onto objects of evidential value by

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wearing a face mask

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A properly maintained chain of custody is NOT the responsibility of the

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trial judge

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The best way to guarantee that the evidence will withstand inquiries about what happened to it from the time of its finding to its presentation in court is to

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All of these

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When biological samples of unknown origin are discovered at a crime scene, investigators:

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should assume pathogens are present and treat the sample as such

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Special circumstances at a crime scene may require the use of all of the following for evidence collection EXCEPT:

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All of these may be required

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"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizure" is a provided for in the United States by the

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Fourth Amendment

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Warrantless searches are permitted under law in all of the following situations EXCEPT:

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the injury or death of a police officer or law enforcement employee

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The manner of collecting and preserving physical evidence at a crime scene is determined by

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the nature of the evidence

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Physical evidence may be obtained from

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All of these

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All of the following items may be placed in an airtight container EXCEPT

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bloodstained clothing

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The evidence collector is not concerned with

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determining the natural variations that exist in physical evidence

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Evidence with individual characteristics can lead to a determination of common origin (single source).Which type of evidence CANNOT yield such results?

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single-layer paints

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The likelihood of finding class physical evidence is ________ the likelihood of finding physical evidence with individual characteristics.

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greater than

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Physical evidence is considered to have ________ as that of eyewitness (testimonial) evidence.

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greater value

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The corroborative use of physical evidence means that it can be used to

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support other investigative findings

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Physical evidence can be used to exonerate or exclude a person from suspicion if

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the standard reference sample (control) does not share characteristics with evidence at the crime scene

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Evidence of tampering with the position of a body after death can be obtained by evaluating the

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livor mortis

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Forensic databases are maintained for all of the following EXCEPT:

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dental impressions

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The Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) became fully operational in what year?

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1998

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A component of the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network is called

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IBIS

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When a forensic analyst determines the chemical composition of preparations that may contain illicit drugs such as heroin, cocaine, or barbiturates, this is an example of

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identification

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The examination of a paint chip found on a hit-and-run victim's garment side-by-side with paint removed from a vehicle suspected of being involved in the incident is an example of

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comparison

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Rigor mortis refers to the

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stiffness of death

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A corpse was discovered in an apartment last November. It was that of a 50-year-old male who died of a heart attack. At the time of discovery, the body temperature was determined to be 89°F. What is the most probable post mortem interval?

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7 hours

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The rate of cooling of a dead body can be influenced by all BUT the

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gender of victim

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As the post mortem interval increases, the concentration of potassium in the vitreous humor of the eye

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increases

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Which is NOT a manner of death?

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drowning

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According to forensic entomologists, which "witness" is the first to arrive at the crime scene?

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blow fly

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Which of the following techniques can be used to estimate the time of death?

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All of these

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What part of a decedent's body resists rapid decomposition and is used by forensic anthropologists to provide information about the decedent?

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bones

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A forensic anthropologist may help to create a(n) ________ to help with the identification of the victim.

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facial reconstruction

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The collection of evidence from a "tomb" site by a forensic anthropologist must include

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All of these

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Estimations of the postmortem interval (PMI) using entomological evidence must take into account:

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All of these

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Insect evidence should be collected

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at the scene by a forensic entomologist or trained investigator

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Evidence having class characteristics can

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exonerate an innocent suspect

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If the laboratory can piece broken glass from a window or headlight together, then the evidence has ________ characteristics.

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individual

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A comparison analysis subjects a suspect specimen and a control specimen to the same tests and examinations for the ultimate purpose of determining:

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whether or not they have a common origin

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Determining that an explosive mixture contains dynamite is an example of the process of

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identification

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The computerized database used to store DNA information is

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CODIS

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Evidence of tampering with the position of a body after death can be obtained by evaluating the

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livor mortis

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If a cause of death cannot be found through simple observation of the victim, a(n) ________ is typically carried out.

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autopsy

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Typically, about an hour after death, the a deceased body loses heat at a rate of approximately ________ until the body reaches the environmental temperature.

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1-1 1/2 °F per hour

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To determine the gender of skeletal remains, a forensic anthropologist can examine all of the following area of the skeleton EXCEPT:

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vertebrae

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The stage of fusion of various bones within a skeleton can be used to estimate the ________ of the decedent.

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age

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To calculate the overall frequency of occurrence of a blood type in a population, the ________ can be applied by using a series of blood factors that occur independently of each other.

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product rule

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The value of class physical evidence lies in its ability to

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corroborate events with data in a manner nearly without bias

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________ is a national fingerprint and criminal history system maintained by the FBI and launched in 1999.

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IAFIS

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The basic metric unit for volume is the

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liter

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The weight 264.45 grams can be correctly expressed as

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.26445 kilograms

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One milliliter of a liquid is ________ 1 cc of the same liquid.

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the same as

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Eight inches is approximately ________ centimeters.

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20

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The heat intensity (hotness) of water at 100°C is ________ the heat intensity of water at 212°F.

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the same as

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The use of the Celsius temperature scale by scientists is ________ their use of the Fahrenheit temperature scale.

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less than

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The freezing point of water in Fahrenheit is ________ the freezing point of water Celsius.

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greater than

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The effect of gravity on the weight of an object is ________ the effect of gravity on the mass of the same object.

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the same as

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The density of liquids is ________ the density of gases.

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greater than

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If an object is immersed in a liquid of greater density, it will

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float

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The density of water at 60°F is ________ the density of water at 28°F.

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less than

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Which is NOT an intensive property of matter?

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weight

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The refractive index of a substance varies with

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All of these

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Crystalline solids, with the exception of ________ crystals, exhibit ________, or the property of refracting a beam of light into two different ray components.

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cubic; double refraction

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The process of a glass prism separating sunlight into component colors is called

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dispersion

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What is the main ingredient in ordinary glass?

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sand

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Pyrex glass

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is made with the addition of boron oxide

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Tempered glass is used in

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the side and rear windows of autos manufactured in the United States

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Floatation is a method used by scientists to determine the ________ of a particle of glass.

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density

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A hot-stage microscope or the GRIM 3 is used to determine the ________ of glass fragments.

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refractive index

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The change in refractive index upon annealing tempered glass is ________ the change in refractive index upon annealing untempered glass.

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greater than

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When a bullet penetrates a panel of glass, it leaves a crater-shaped hole that

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is wider on the exit side

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Which is a true statement about the fracturing of glass?

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Radial cracks appear first, starting on the side opposite the destructive force.

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In reference to the diagram below, what is the correct sequence of impacts?

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A first

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What is the logical first step in soil analysis?

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comparison of dried soil sample for color and texture

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Which would be LEAST useful in identifying a mineral crystal?

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size

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A piece of glass is immersed in a liquid. It proceeds to float on the liquid's surface. This shows that the density of the glass is ________ the density of the liquid.

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less than

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The two most important physical properties of glass for forensic comparisons are

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refractive index and density

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The fracture pattern of glass usually has

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radial and concentric lines

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If glass cannot be physically pieced together then the control and question glass are best compared as to their

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refractive index and density

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Stress marks on the edge of a radial crack near the point of impact are

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parallel to the side on which the force was applied

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The smallest particle of an element that can exist and still retain its identity as that element is the

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atom

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________ is the visual effect caused by an object's absorption of certain portions of the visible light spectrum and transmission or reflection others.

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Color

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To explain the events that occur after radiation is absorbed by a substance, light must be characterized as

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a stream of discrete particles

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The refractive index of a medium is determined by the ratio of

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velocity of light in a vacuum to velocity of light in a medium

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The ________ properties of crystals, such as refractive index and birefringence, provide points of identification that help characterize them.

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optical

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A(n) ________ property describes the behavior of a substance without reference to any other substance while a(n) ________ property describes the behavior of a substance when it reacts or combines with another substance.

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physical; chemical

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