Crime Scene Investigation

Crime Scene Investigation Quiz Crafted by - 

Ms. Rashmi Kadu

Assistant Professor

Jain University, Bangalore

Introduction to Crime Scene Investigation

At a scene, the case investigator and crime scene personnel work together to: define and secure areas that may contain evidence; examine and document the scene; collect physical evidence; and preserve, package and submit the evidence to the laboratory for analysis. With these key pieces of evidence, the investigator can attempt to reconstruct the elements of the crime. The more thorough the crime scene team is at conducting its job, the more likely it is to accurately determine the facts of the case. The quality of the evidence and the manner in which it is handled will also impact the ability of the attorneys to argue the facts of the case and ultimately the jurors’ ability to come to conclusions regarding guilt or innocence.

Let's look at the answers of the questions with their explanation. 

Que 1. On the basis of size of the crime scene it is classified as------

a) Macroscopic crime scene

b) Microscopic crime scene

c) Both a and b

d) Primary crime scene and secondary crime scene

Answer: c) Both a and b

Explanation: Macroscopic crime scene can be a place where crime has happened of the evidences related to the crime have been found whereas the microscopic classification of the crime scene is more focused upon the specific types of physical evidences found in the macroscopic crime scenes.

Que 2. What are the objectives of crime scene investigation?

a) Recognition and preservation

b) Recognition and collection

c) Recognition, preservation and collection

d) Recognition, preservation, collection and interpretation

Answer: d) recognition, preservation, collection and interpretation

Explanation: the objectives of the crime scene investigation are to recognize, preserve, collect and interpret all of the relevant physical evidences at a crime scene with the goal of reconstructing the events that generated this evidence. Integration of crime scene investigation with forensic examination of physical evidences forms the basis of scientific crime scene investigation.

Que 3. The repeating pattern or behavior of the criminal in order to perform a crime is called as

a) Corpus delicti

b) Modus operandi

c) Deficiency

d) Addiction

Answer: b) modus operandi

Explanation: criminals repeat their behavior and this particular behavior represents their signature or preferred method of operation.

Que 4. Who can be the first responding officer?

a) Detective

b) District attorney

c) Judge

d) Police officer

Answer: d) police officer

Explanation: First responding officers are the personal who have seen the crime scene in its most original condition. Their actions at the crime scene will form the basis for successful or unsuccessful resolution of the investigation.

Que 5. Rough sketch need NOT to include the following

a) Location of the doors, walls and windows in the room

b) Compass heading the north

c) Date, location and time of the crime

d) Sketch of the criminal

Answer: d) sketch of the criminal

Explanation: Sketching of the crime scene require some organization and planning by the investigator to ensure that the sketches are accurate. There are two basic types of sketching, rough sketch and final or fair sketch. Rough sketches are developed on scene itself which includes crude crime scene layout and used to record measurement of evidences and structures and distance between them.

Que 6. Following should NOT be included while taking the photograph

a) Scale

b) Time stamp

c) Team member

d) Focused view

Answer: c) team member

Explanation: while taking a photograph scale should be used in order to determine the actual length and width of the evidence, time stamps can be used to make sure that there is no tampering with the photographs, camera should have a focused view so that a good picture can be obtained. In the photograph team member should not be included as it may weaken the evidence.

Que 7. Crime scene reconstruction is ------ process based on scientific method.

a) Systematic fact-gathering process

b) Tidy process

c) Difficult process

d) Lengthy fact-gathering process

Answer: a) systematic fact-gathering process

Explanation: Crime scene reconstruction is based upon the observations, scientific experimentation and relevant past experience of the investigator. It is also a systematic fact-gathering process which is based on the scientific method.

Que 8. ------is the process of determining or eliminating the events that could have occurred at the crime scene by analysis of the crime scene appearance, location and position of the physical evidence, and forensic laboratory examination of the physical evidence.

a) Crime scene management

b) Crime scene evaluation

c) Crime scene reconstruction

d) Crime scene examination

Answer: c) crime scene reconstruction

Explanation: crime scene reconstruction includes different steps and stages like follow basic scientific principles, theory formulation, and logical methodology. It incorporated investigative information with physical evidence analysis and interpretation.

Que 9. Crime scene reconstruction involves following except

a) Case information

b) Logical formulation

c) Report writing

d) Interpretation of evidences

Answer: c) report writing

Explanation: Crime scene reconstruction involves scientific crime scene investigation, interpretation of the evidences, laboratory testing of the physical evidences, systematic study related to case information and logical formulation of the potential scenarios that could produce the evidence at the scene of crime.

Que 10. A searching method in which crime scene is broken into four squares is called as -------

a) Strip method

b) Zone method

c) Grid method

d) Link method

Answer: b) zone method

Explanation: The goal of searching methods is to ensure that no physical evidences are missed or lost. On the basis of whether the crime scene is indoor or outdoor, searching method is selected. Zone method is the effective method used in houses or building with rooms. The teams are assigned small zones for searching the evidences are searched. Also, many times zone method is combined with other searching methods to obtain the best results.

Que 11. A ------ photograph is one composed to show just one item of evidence in its relative distance to a fixed feature of the scene.

a) Overall photograph

b) Mid-range photograph

c) Close-up photograph

d) All the photograph

Answer: b) mid-range photograph

Explanation: Forensic photography evolved during the killings in London attributed to Jack the Ripper in 1888. Europe was the place where Forensic photography was pioneered. The purpose of photography is to provide a true and accurate pictorial record of the crime scene and physical evidence which are present. Initial condition of the crime scene can be recorded with the help of crime scene.

Que 12. Following is used in this digital revolution for the crime scene mapping

a) Fair sketch

b) Rough sketch

c) GPS

d) Photograph

Answer: c) GPS

Explanation: Imaging technology and mapping technology is used to compile a crime scene map in this digital revolution. GPS is used as a mapping technology for the same. It can also be obtained in three dimensions.

Que 13. Noting down weather, location type and conditions, major structures, identification of transient and conditional evidences is a part of------

a) Notification information

b) Arrival information

c) Victim description

d) Scene description

Answer: d) scene description

Explanation: Taking notes of the crime scene serves as a written record of all of the crime scene activities. It includes a general guideline that is to consider the W’s like who, what, when, where and why. Notification information, arrival information, scene description, victim description and information of crime scene team are the categories in which notes are noted down.

Que 14. Placards which are used for the purpose of recording a crime scene include the following EXCEPT

a) Case number

b) Date and time

c) Location

d) Evidence name

Answer: d) evidence name

Explanation: While taking the video graph of the crime scene documenting it is very important with the help of placards as crime scene should not be narrated and it should also not contain any audio recording of subjective information. These placards should include case number, date and time, location and videographer’s name.

Que 15. Obtaining and recording accurate measurements is the critical aspect of ------

a) Photography

b) Videography

c) Sketching

d) Note taking

Answer: c) sketching

Explanation: Sketching the crime scene assigns the units of measurement and provides a proper perspective of the overall scene and the relevant physical evidence identified within the scene.