Deck 1: Criminal Investigation an Overview

Question 1

According to the text, most cases that are lost are lost during which part of the investigation?

A)in the first hour
B)before the 911 call is ever made
C)in the forensic lab
D)when witnesses recant testimony

Answer 1

A

Question 2

At a death scene, what is of immediate concern?

A)interviewing witnesses
B)identifying the body
C)preserving the scene
D)identifying the murder weapon

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which statement is one of the components of CompStat?

A)exact and opportune intelligence
B)disposition of information
C)operational tactics
D)relentless follow-up and assessment

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Because definitions of crimes and their penalties vary considerably depending on where they occur, investigators must be familiar with:

A)local ordinances, county ordinances, and federal/state statutes.
B)zoning laws.
C)geographical boundaries of the local area.
D)penalties.

Question 5

Which process helps detectives use maps to understand the hunting patterns of serial criminals, to determine where they might live, and to identify their next likely target?

A)crime controls
B)target hardening
C)"bull's­eye" targeting
D)crime mapping

Question 6

Which term describes a logical process in which a conclusion follows from specific facts?

A)deductive reasoning
B)minutiae
C)Locard's principle of exchange
D)latent investigation

Question 7

Securing the crime scene is a major responsibility of the:

A)dispatchers.
B)forensic specialists.
C)first officer(s) on the scene.
D)field supervisor.

Question 8

The initial contact with law enforcement in a criminal investigation is usually made between a citizen and a(n):

A)patrol officer.
B)civilian report taker.
C)dispatcher.
D)investigator.

Question 9

A logical process of investigation includes:

A)delegating assigned tasks, deciding who completes the initial investigation, and then turning the work over to the supervisor.
B)interrogating witnesses, taking numerous photos at the scene of the crime, interviewing the suspect, and taking accurate notes of the process.
C)obtaining physical evidence legally, effectively interviewing witnesses, legally and effectively interrogating suspects, thoroughly developing leads, and recording all details.
D)developing, arresting, and prosecuting a suspect.

Question 10

The act of sifting through the mountains of available information to find the data that pertains to an investigator's case is referred to as:

A)data dumping.
B)data defense.
C)data banking.
D)data mining.

Question 11

In cases where officers were not able to complete the investigation, what may be required?

A)redaction
B)follow-up investigation
C)motion to dismiss
D)waiver of a speedy trial

Question 12

Determining the optimal case assignment load, determining what factors are needed to solve crimes, and reducing the number of crimes assigned for investigations that cannot be solved are all ways to increase:

A)investigative productivity.
B)an officer's workload.
C)partnership with the community.
D)data collection.

Question 13

Problem-oriented policing places a high value on new responses that are more:

A)task oriented.
B)aggressive.
C)preventive.
D)assertive.

Question 14

An inference is a(n):

A)assumption.
B)process of reasoning by which a fact may be deduced.
C)appropriate method of moving to the solution of the crime.
D)expectation of guilt.

Question 15

A criminal's modus operandi involves the details of:

A)a criminal's multiple ordinance violations.
B)how, when, and where a criminal usually operates.
C)a multiple regression analysis to determine the suspect's operating methods.
D)a criminal's motive and opportunity.

Question 16

A fact is:

A)an action, an event, a circumstance, or an actual thing done.
B)a process of reasoning.
C)an action based on the known facts.
D)something that is known to all.

Question 17

Which Latin term means "to track" or "trace" and relates most closely with contemporary police investigations?

A)nolo contendere
B)voir dire
C)vestigare
D)certiorari

Question 18

According to the text, when both the public and other professionals within the justice system have unrealistic expectations of investigators' abilities, law enforcement agencies are said to be suffering from

A)Grissom effect.
B)TV syndrome.
C)CSI effect.
D)Peel disturbance.

Question 19

Crime mapping focuses on:

A)hot spots where crime occurs.
B)developing leads through the use of city maps and districts.
C)the use of maps to direct officers to the scene.
D)triangulating cell phone usage with criminal activity.

Question 20

Spontaneous statements uttered by a suspect at the time of a crime, concerning and closely related to actions involved in the crime, are referred to as what type of statements?

A)in flagrante delicto
B)exculpatory
C)res gestae
D)uttering

Question 21

To demonstrate national unity in criminal statutes using the Model Penal Code, shoplifting is a felony in all states.

Question 22

Community policing is a philosophy that addresses public safety issues (such as crime, social disorder, and fear of crime) by working through organizational strategies to support the systematic use of partnerships and problem- solving techniques.

Question 23

Community policing is a true philosophical shift rather than simply a program or set of programs.

Question 24

What type of response time is necessary to increase the probability of arrest at the scene?

A)one minute or less
B)three to five minutes
C)5 to 10 minutes
D)any response within 15 minutes

Question 25

"Latent examination" refers to specialists trained in recording, identifying, and interpreting the minutiae of physical evidence, who usually work at crime scenes and in a crime lab.

Question 26

Which approach to case investigation involves using specialists in various fields from within a particular jurisdiction?

A)multijurisdictional
B)multidisciplinary
C)multipredictory
D)multicriminalistic

Question 27

CompStat is a word that means computer statistics or comparison statistics.

Question 28

In 1829 in England, Sir Henry Fielding gave birth to community policing when he stated, "The police are the public and the public are the police."

Question 29

The best investigators follow their hunches, follow leads as they come in, and attack cases with a random approach so as not to miss an important clue.

Question 30

The media has a constitutional right to enter any crime scene to which the general public does not have access.

Question 31

Medical examiners and coroners (ME/C) have the authority to investigate deaths and determine whether they were:

A)natural
B)accidental
C)the result of a criminal act
D)all of these choices

Question 32

A fact is an action, an event, a circumstance, or an actual thing done.In contrast, an inference is a process of reasoning by which a fact may be deduced.

Question 33

One of the reasons departments perceived a need for specialization is because of the need to know about criminals and their MOs.

Question 34

Before any in-custody interrogation, an officer must read the Miranda warning to a suspect.

Question 35

It is more difficult to expand the perimeter of a crime scene than it is to make the crime scene smaller.

Question 36

Today the majority of law enforcement agencies use some degree of geographic information systems (GISs) or mapping technology to locate callers and to provide first responders with critical information before arriving on the scene.

Question 37

A basic forensic theory which holds that objects that come in contact with each other always transfer material, however minute, to each other is referred to as Locard's principle of exchange.

Question 38

Whose staff can provide information and advice to investigators about legal issues, search and seizure, warrants, confessions, and admissibility of evidence?

A)defense counsel
B)ACLU
C)prosecutor
D)federal task force

Question 39

Critical aspects of a successful investigation include thorough planning and preparation, efficient information management, a focus on effective communication, and a(n):

A)competent medical examiner to analyze the physical evidence.
B)advanced role definition and delineation of responsibilities.
C)understanding of the need for investigative productivity.
D)positive relationship with the prosecutor's office.

Question 40

DNA was discovered in 1968 in England.

Question 41

The Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (ViCAP) mission is to facilitate cooperation, communication, and coordination among law enforcement agencies and provide support in their efforts to investigate, identify, track, apprehend, and prosecute violent serial offenders.

Question 42

Criminals often leave , which is less visible evidence such as fingerprints, small particles of glass or dirt, body hairs, or clothing fibers.

Question 43

The acronym " MO" means _______________.

Question 44

The actions the first responders take at a crime scene have little to do with the significance of the evidence for investigators and prosecutors.

Question 45

Criminal investigation is a reconstructive process that uses _______________ reasoning, which is a logical process in which a conclusion follows from specific facts.

Question 46

Determining the _______________ is more important than obtaining a conviction or closing a case.

Question 47

What is the definition of an "investigation"?

Question 48

Scientific evidence supports a belief that eyewitness identification is very credible, reliable, and responsible for solving many crimes.

Question 49

What are some characteristics of effective investigators?

Question 50

The use of a siren or emergency lights in response to a crime scene by patrol officers or investigators may depend on the information furnished or may be dictated by department policy.

Question 51

The motto of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency was, "We never ."

Question 52

After having dealt with any emergency, what is the first and most important function of a first responder?

Question 53

Investigators can use _______________ tests to develop and lift fingerprints; discover flammable substances through vapor and fluid examination; detect drugs, explosive substances on hands or clothing, imprints of firearms on hands or bullet-hole residue; and conduct many other tests.

Question 54

Edward Henry developed a(n) that was adopted throughout England in 1900.

Question 55

DNA was first used in a criminal case in England to prove the innocence of a defendant in the year .

Question 56

Inquiries to the police from the defense counsel about a case should be referred to the prosecutor's office.

Question 57

During a preliminary investigation, an officer should determine if a crime has been committed or if the case is a
______________ matter.

Question 58

Res gestae statements are generally an exception to the _______________ rule because they are usually very closely related to facts and are therefore admissible in court.

Question 59

What are the major goals of a criminal investigation?

Question 60

One of the goals of criminal investigations is to present the best possible case to the _______________.

Question 61

Clarify the role and relationship investigators should have with the media, and explain why this role is necessary.

Question 62

What sanctions are led to by leaving out exculpatory evidence?

Question 63

As a police investigator, what is one of the best ways to avoid lawsuits or to defend oneself if sued?

Question 64

What is the difference between crime mapping and location intelligence?

Question 65

What is the purpose of case screening?

Question 66

What are the officer's responsibilities during the preliminary investigation?

Question 67

What four elements are included in protection against lawsuits?

Question 68

What legal statute states that anyone who acts under the authority of law and who violates another person's
constitutional rights can be sued?

Question 69

Discuss the advantage of geographic profiling in a criminal investigation.Include a definition of the phrase "least effort" in your discussion.

Question 70

What is the role of medical examiners and coroners?

Question 71

What are several ways to implement AVL/GPS technology in police work? In your answer, define AVL and GPS and describe their use.