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Criminal Investigation Test 2
Intro to Criminal Investigation Test 2
142
Criminal Justice
Undergraduate 1
09/17/2012

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Term
immersive imaging
Definition
360-degree photographic view of a crime scene that allows viewers to virtually "walk through it" as though they were there
Term
resolution
Definition
refers to the fineness of image detail captured with a camera, displayed on a monitor or on printed paper
Term
pixel
Definition
the smallest unit of a digital image, generally a dot within the image
Term
PPI
Definition
pixel per inch
Term
overlapping
Definition
photographic technique whereby the entire scene is photographed in a clockwise direction so that a specific object is on the right side of the first photograph, on the next photo the same object is on the left side of the photo and so on until the entire scene is photographed
Term
marker
Definition
anything used in a photograph to show accurate or relative size
Term
forensic photogrammetry
Definition
the technique of extrapolating 3-D measurements from 2-D photographs
Term
Pictometry
Definition
a unique, patented computer technology that integrates various aerial shots of a land-based artifact taken straight down and from numerous angles; the result is a high resolution 3-D image of the object
Term
microphotography
Definition
takes pictures through a microscope and can help identify minute particles of evidence such as hairs or fibers
Term
macrophotography
Definition
enlarges a subject (fingerprint/tool mark
Term
ultraviolet-light photography
Definition
uses the low end of the color spectrum to make visible impressions of bruises and injuries long after their actual occurrence
Term
rogues' gallery
Definition
mug shots gathered in files and displayed in groups
Term
backing
Definition
marking photographs on their back with a felt-tip pen or label to indicate the photographer's initials, date photo was taken, a brief description of what it depicts and the direction of north; evidence can be circled on the back of the photo in the same way
Term
material photograph
Definition
image that relates to the specific case and the subject being discussed
Term
relevant photograph
Definition
image that assists or explains
Term
competent photograph
Definition
accurately represents what it purports to represent, is properly identified and is properly placed in the chain of evidence and secured until court presentation
Term
rough sketch
Definition
first, pencil-drawn outline of the crime scene, which shows the location of objects and evidence within this outline
Term
scale
Definition
used in sketching, determined by taking the longest measurement at the scene and dividing it by the longest measurement of the paper used for sketching
Term
rectangular coordinate method
Definition
uses two adjacent walls of a room as fixed points from which distances are measured at right angles from each wall
Term
baseline method
Definition
establishes a straight line from one fixed point to another, from which measurements are taken at right angles
Term
triangulation method
Definition
uses straight-line measurements from two fixed objects to the evidence to create a triangle with the evidence in the angle formed by two straight lines; the degree of the angle formed at the location of the object or evidence can then be measured with a protractor
Term
compass-point method
Definition
uses a protractor to measure the angle formed by two lines
Term
cross-projection method
Definition
presents the floor and walls of a room as though they were on the same surface
Term
legend
Definition
part of the crime scene sketch containing the case number, type of crime, name of victim or complainant, location, date, time, investigator, anyone assisting, scale of the sketch, direction of north and the name of the person making the sketch
Term
finished scale drawing
Definition
done in ink on a good grade of paper and drawn to scale, using exact measurements
Term
Why are notes important to an investigation?
Definition
Investigative notes are a permanent written record of the facts of a case to be used in further investigation, in writing reports and in prosecuting the case
Term
When to take notes?
Definition
Start taking notes ASAP after receiving a call to respond and continue recording information as it is received throughout the investigation
Term
What to record in investigative notes?
Definition
Record all information that helps answer the questions WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHY? HOW?
Term
What the effective characteristics of notes are?
Definition
effective notes are complete, factual, accurate, specific, legible, clear, arranged in chronological order and well organized
Term
What purposes are served by crime scene photography?
Definition
Photographs and video recordings reproduce the crime scene in detail
Term
What the advantages and disadvantages of using photography and videography are?
Definition
Advantages: can be taken immediately, accurately represent the crime scene and evidence, create interest and increase attention to testimony
Disadvantages: not selective, do not show actual distances and my be distorted and damaged
Term
What the minimum photographic equipment for an investigator is?
Definition
Polaroid-type instant camera, point and shoot camera, digital single lens reflex camera, fingerprint camera, video equipment
Term
What errors in technique to avoid?
Definition
Take photos and videos before anything is disturbed; avoid inaccuracies and distortions
Term
What types of photography are used in criminal investigations?
Definition
Crime scene, surveillance, aerial, night, laboratory, mug shot and lineup
Term
What basic rules of evidence photographs must adhere to?
Definition
Must be material, relevant, competent, accurate, free of distortion and non-inflammatory
Term
What purposes are served by the crime scene sketch?
Definition
Assists in interviewing and interrogating people, preparing the investigative report and presenting in court
Term
What should be sketched?
Definition
All serious crime and crash scenes after photographs are taken; objects and evidence
Term
What materials needed to make a rough sketch?
Definition
Paper, pencil, long steel measuring tape, carpenter rype ruler, clipboard, compass, protractor and thumbtacks
Term
When a sketch or a scale drawing is admissible in court?
Definition
Drawn or personally witnessed by an investigator and accurately portrays a crime scene
Term
disposition
Definition
how a case is disposed of (referred, closed, open, dismissed, pending further info, etc.)
Term
content
Definition
What is said in the report
Term
form
Definition
How the report is written
Term
objective
Definition
being non-opinionated, fair and impartial
Term
denotative
Definition
words that have little emotional effect
Term
connotative
Definition
words that do have an emotional effect
Term
slanting
Definition
including only one side of a story or only the facts that tend to support the officer's theory
Term
concise
Definition
making every word count without leaving out important facts
Term
Why reports are important to an investigation?
Definition
Reports are permanent written records of important faces of a case to be used in the future
Term
How reports are used?
Definition
Examine the past, provide a documented record of incidents, keep others informed, continue investigations, prepare for court
Term
What common problems occur in many police reports?
Definition
Confusing, unclear, inferences, opinions, overuse of abbreviations, misspelled words
Term
How to differentiate between facts, inferences and opinion?
Definition
Fact: statement that can be proven
Inference: conclusion based on reasoning
Opinion: A personal belief
Term
Why your report should be well written?
Definition
Helps criminal justice system operate more efficiently
Term
exclusionary rule
Definition
courts may not accept evidence obtained by unreasonable sear and seizure, regardless of relevance to case
Term
"fruit of the poisonous tree" doctrine
Definition
established that evidence obtained as a result of an earlier illegality must be excluded from trial
Term
inevitable discovery doctrine
Definition
if legally obtained evidence would have eventually been discovered legally, it may be used
Term
good-faith doctrine
Definition
illegally obtained evidence may be admissible if the police were truly not aware they were violating 4th Amendment rights
Term
probable cause
Definition
more than reasonable suspicion
Term
totality of circumstances test
Definition
principle upon which a number of legal assessments are made; refers to the total of factors leading a reasonable person to a course of action
Term
no-knock warrant
Definition
may be issued if evidence may be easily destroyed or if there is advance knowledge of danger to an officer
Term
particularity requirement
Definition
a search conducted with a warrant must be limited to the specific area and specific items named in warrant
Term
anticipatory warrant
Definition
"based upon an affidavit showing probable cause that at some future time certain evidence of the crime will be located at a specific place"
Term
Terry stop
Definition
detaining, questioning and possible frisking of an individual based on an officer's reasonable suspicion of criminal activity
Term
Chimel decision
Definition
a search incidental to a lawful arrest must be made simultaneously with the arrest and must be confined to suspect's immediate control
Term
protective sweep
Definition
authorized search of areas immediately adjoining the place of arrest
Term
exigent circumstances
Definition
emergency situations; they do not require a warrant
Term
true scene
Definition
no evidence has been introduced into it or taken from it except by the person who committed the crime
Term
"elephant in a matchbox" doctrine
Definition
requires that searchers consider the probable size and shape of evidence they seek
Term
lane-search pattern
Definition
partition the area into lanes using stakes and string
Term
strip-search pattern
Definition
adaptation of the lane search pattern that is used when only one officer is available to search
Term
circle search
Definition
begins at the center of the crime scene and then spreads out in ever-widening circles
Term
zone
Definition
search pattern in which an area is divided into equal squares, numbered, then each square is searched individually
Term
plain-view evidence
Definition
unconcealed evidence seen by an officer in a lawful activity- is admissible in court
Term
plain feel/touch evidence
Definition
discovered by a police officer who is lawfully frisking a suspects outer clothing and that is immediately identified
Term
curtilage
Definition
portion of the residence that is not open to the public and is reserved for private owner or family use, in contrast to sidewalks and alleys
Term
What is required for an effective search?
Definition
Know the legal requirements for searching, items being searched for and elements of crime being investigated
Term
What basic restriction is placed on all searches?
Definition
Scope must be narrow
Term
What the preconditions and limitations of a legal search are?
Definition
Search warrant has been issued, consent is given, Officer stops suspicious person and may be armed, search is incidental to arrest, an emergency exists
Term
Weeks decision
Definition
exclusionary rule applicable at the federal level
Term
Mapp decision
Definition
exclusionary rule applicable to all courts
Term
Terry decision
Definition
patdown is a "protective search for weapons"
Term
Chimel decision
Definition
search incidental to a lawful arrest must be mad simultaneously with the arrest
Term
Carroll decision
Definition
automobiles may be searched without a warrant if there is probable cause, and no time to get a warrant
Term
Chambers decision
Definition
a vehicle may be taken to headquarter to be searched
Term
What a successful crime scene search accomplishes?
Definition
locates, identifies, and preserves all evidence present
Term
What is included in organizing a crime scene search?
Definition
dividing duties, selecting search pattern, assigning personnel, giving instructions
Term
What search patters are used in exterior searches? Interior searches?
Definition
Exterior: lane-search, circle-search, zone-search
Interior: general to specific covering all surfaces
Term
How to search a vehicle?
Definition
remove occupants from car; search area around then exterior, search interior
Term
How to search a suspect?
Definition
If not arrested, confine to a patdown. If arrested, make a complete body search for weapons and evidence
Term
How to search a dead body?
Definition
systematically and completely. Include immediate area around and under the body
Term
forensic science
Definition
application of scientific processes to solve legal problems
Term
proxy data
Definition
evidence analyzed by forensic to uncover the relationships between people, places and objects
Term
best evidence
Definition
original evidence or highest available degree or proof that can be produced
Term
direct evidence
Definition
establishes proof of a fact without any other evidence
Term
indirect evidence
Definition
tends to incriminate a person (footprint at crime scene)
Term
circumstantial evidence
Definition
evidence from which inferences are drawn
Term
prima facie evidence
Definition
evidence established by law
Term
associative evidence
Definition
links a suspect with a crime
Term
corpus delicti evidence
Definition
establishes that a crime has been committed
Term
corpus delicti
Definition
"body of the crime"
Term
probative evidence
Definition
tends to prove or actually proving guilt or innocence
Term
material evidence
Definition
has a legitimate and effective influence on the decision of the case
Term
relevant evidence
Definition
applies to the matter in question
Term
competent evidence
Definition
has been properly collected, identified, files and secured
Term
integrity of evidence
Definition
any item introduced in court must be in the same condition as when it was found at the crime scene
Term
chain of evidence/custody
Definition
documentation of what has happened to the evidence from the time it was discovered until needed in court
Term
standard of comparison
Definition
object, measure, or model evidence is compared to to determine whether both came from the same source
Term
cross-contamination
Definition
allowing items of evidence to touch one another and exchange matter
Term
Daubert standard
Definition
an expert's testimony must be both reliable and relevant
Term
class characteristics
Definition
features that place an item into a specific category
Term
individual characteristics
Definition
features that distinguish one item from another of the same type
Term
latent fingerprints
Definition
impressions transferred to a surface; not readily seen but can be developed through powder or chemicals
Term
visible fingerprints
Definition
made when fingers are dirty or stained; can be dusted or lifted
Term
plastic fingerprints
Definition
impressions left in soft substances such as putty; photographed not dusted
Term
elimination prints
Definition
prints of persons with reason to be at the scene are taken and used to eliminate them
Term
inkless fingerprint
Definition
electronic image stored in a database for rapid retrieval
Term
Advanced Fingerprint Information Technology (AFIT)
Definition
upgraded AFIS, integrated system that can also incorporate additional biometric data
Term
voiceprint
Definition
graphic record made by a sound spectograph of the energy patterns emitted by speech
Term
DNA profiling
Definition
uses material from which chromosomes are made to identify individuals positively
Term
ballistics
Definition
the study of the dynamics of projectiles
Term
bore
Definition
inside portion of a weapon's barrel
Term
rifling
Definition
lands and grooves inside the barrel of the weapon
Term
caliber
Definition
diameter of the bore as measured between lands, as well as the size of the bullet
Term
striations
Definition
scratches from the rifling on bullet
Term
what is involved in processing physical evidence?
Definition
discovering/recognizing it; collecting, recording, packaging, conveying and storing it; examining, exhibiting and disposing of it when case is closed
Term
How to determine what is evidence?
Definition
Consider the apparent crime, look for objects unrelated/foreign to scene, damaged/broken or suggests pattern that fits the crime
Term
What the common errors in collecting evidence are?
Definition
not collecting enough of the sample, not obtaining standards of comparison, not maintaining integrity of evidence
Term
How to identify evidence?
Definition
Indicate date and case number as well as your personal identifying mark or initials
Term
What to record in your notes?
Definition
date and time of collection, where found and by whom, case number, description of item and who has custody
Term
How to package evidence?
Definition
package each item separately in a durable container to maintain the integrity of evidence
Term
How to convey evidence to a department or laboratory?
Definition
personal delivery, registered mail, insured parcel post, air express, UPS,FedEx, needs to be signed for
Term
How and where evidence is stored?
Definition
packaged properly and document custody at every stage
Term
How to ensure admissibility of physical evidence in court?
Definition
identify evidence, describe where it was found, establish its custody, explain any changes that have occurred
Term
How physical evidence is finally disposed of?
Definition
Evidence is returned to the owner, auctioned, or destroyed
Term
What types of evidence are most commonly found in criminal investigations & how to collect identify and package each?
Definition
fingerprints, language, DNA, blood, scent, hairs, shoe prints, tool marks, firearms, ammo, glass, soils, etc.
Term
Where fingerprints can be found and how they should be preserved?
Definition
Any hard, smooth, nonporous surface can contain latent fingerprints, do not powder unless necessary
Term
How identifying blood and hair are useful?
Definition
Useful in eliminating suspects,
Term
Where shoe and tire impressions can be found and how they should be preserved?
Definition
dirt, sand or snow, after photographing make a cast
Term
How to preserve tools and the marks they made?
Definition
identify with string tag and wrap separately, photograph tool marks and cast
Term
What a tool mark should be compared with during forensic analysis
Definition
compared with a standard-of-comparison impression
Term
What evidence UV light can help discover?
Definition
invisible laundry marks
Term
What evidence to collect in hit-and-run cases?
Definition
paint samples from any area of vehicle that had contact with victim
Term
What can be determined from human skeletal remains?
Definition
sex, race, approximate age at death, approximate height and approximate time since death
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