Deck 5: Criminal Investigation: The Science of Sleuthing

Question 1

An investigation is deemed successful when:

A) an arrest is made
B) the crime being investigated is solved and the case closed
C) all possible physical evidence has been analyzed
D) all participating agencies have cooperated amiably

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The modern polygraph records:

A) changes in voice inflection and speech patterns
B) physical autonomic nervous system changes
C) changes in the suspect's emotional state
D) None of the above

Answer 2

B

Question 3

developed the first simple and reliable method of fingerprint classification.

A) Edward Henry
B) Bertillon
C) Thomas Byrnes
D) John DeRaenssler

Answer 3

A

Question 4

The origins of criminalistics are:

A) European
B) American
C) French
D) Italian

Question 5

Anthropometry was based on the fact that:

A) every human being differs from every other one in the exact measurements of their body
B) all fingerprints are different
C) every human has different genetic makeup
D) physical measurements can predict impending violence

Question 6

Prosecutors often use polygraph results to:

A) decide whether and which charges to file
B) to plan their defense
C) negotiate pleas
D) None of the above

Question 7

Criminal profiling is more _________________ than ____________________.

A) behavior/evidence
B) Investigative work/forensic work
C) psychology/criminal justice
D) art/science

Question 8

Which of the following is not one of the personal attributes that a successful investigator must possess?

A) An extensive knowledge of the law
B) A powerful imagination
C) A background in forensic science
D) A working knowledge of social psychology

Question 9

Which of the following is not a type of information that can be provided by physical evidence?

A) Determining a suspect's guilt
B) Information on the modus operandi
C) Disproving a witness's testimony
D) Identification of a suspect

Question 10

__________ is the largest repository of known offender DNA records.

A) Nucleic DNA
B) CODIS
C) DAMS
D) DENG

Question 11

The theory that a cross-transfer of evidence occurs whenever any person comes into contact with an object or another person is:

A) the Bertillon system
B) Locard's exchange principle
C) the principle of anthropometry
D) the basis of psycholinguistics

Question 12

Undercover officers enjoy a professional mystique because of all but which of the following?

A) Wide discretionary and procedural latitude in their roles
B) Minimal departmental supervision
C) After going "deep" underground, they never return to regular patrol duties
D) A higher degree of professional autonomy than regular patrol officers

Question 13

The first major book describing the use of scientific disciplines in criminal investigations was written by:

A) Henry Lee
B) Hans Gross
C) Calvin Goddard
D) Peter DeForest.

Question 14

The basic steps in the investigative function do not include:

A) Preliminary Investigation
B) Continuing Investigation
C) Reconstructing the Crime
D) Prosecuting the Investigation

Question 15

One of the most critical requirements for an undercover officer is:

A) having an extraordinary knowledge of the Bill of Rights
B) possessing superior marksmanship abilities
C) cultivating informants for information on crime
D) being able to quickly relocate to another city

Question 16

Anthropometry was developed by in 1882.

A) Calvin Goddard
B) Hans Gross
C) Hans Selye
D) Alphonse Bertillon

Question 17

A _______________ is a lay individual who conducts death investigations but who is not necessarily trained in the medical sciences.

A) dactylographer
B) medical examiner
C) psycholinguist
D) coroner

Question 18

"Criminalistics" is one branch of:

A) criminal investigation
B) dactylography
C) forensic entomology
D) forensic science.

Question 19

Forensic science is the examination,evaluation,and explanation of in law.

A) fingerprints
B) physical evidence
C) crimes
D) corpses

Question 20

A case that established the superiority of fingerprints,occurring at Leavenworth Penitentiary,involved:

A) Bill and Billy Fast.
B) Jonathan and Johnny South.
C) two correctional guards looking for drugs
D) Will and William West.

Question 21

Anthropometry was developed by Sir Francis Galton.

Question 22

The CSI effect relates to:

A) the length of time it takes to conduct forensic examinations of physical evidence
B) the unreasonable cost of forensic analysis of evidence
C) unrealistic courtroom expectations many jurors have
D) None of the above

Question 23

If an arrest cannot be made,a case cannot be considered cleared.

Question 24

Firearms identification experts can restore obliterated serial numbers on many weapons.

Question 25

Coroners today are required to be physicians with training in pathology.

Question 26

Undercover officers who create fake profiles on _________ violate that social networking site's terms of service.

A) Facebook
B) Twitter
C) MySpace
D) YouTube

Question 27

Studies show that overidentification with criminals is not a significant issue for undercover officers.

Question 28

The "corpus delicti" includes physical evidence that shows that a crime was committed.

Question 29

August Vollmer emphasized the use of forensic science by the police.

Question 30

The majority of cases are not solved by detectives.

Question 31

____________ studies persons using criminal coercion and provides strategies for dealing with threats.

A) Psychic investigation
B) Paranormal psychology
C) Psychosomatic interference
D) Psycholinguistics

Question 32

Most social networking sites do not require police to obtain search warrants before turning over information about their members.

Question 33

Because of the difficulties and personal demands of undercover work,officers are generally pleased to be returning to patrol duty.

Question 34

The most popular breed of dog used for police work is the:

A) British Shorthair
B) German Shepherd
C) Springer Spaniel
D) Labrador Retriever

Question 35

An informant who entices someone to commit an offense that he or she would not otherwise have committed may have engaged in:

A) entrapment
B) psycholinguistics
C) anthropometry
D) dactylography

Question 36

The "modus operandi" includes physical evidence that links a suspect to a victim.

Question 37

"Forensic science" is a narrower term than "criminalistics."

Question 38

Unsolved murders are also known as:

A) dead files
B) cold cases
C) circular files
D) None of the above

Question 39

The Supreme Court has upheld the right of convicted offenders to postconviction DNA testing.

Question 40

When DNA analysis is used in burglary investigations,twice as many suspects were arrested.

Question 41

When prioritizing cold cases,those given the highest priority are cases in which there is an identified homicide victim.

Question 42

The impact of the CSI effect on criminal justice processing is not clear.

Question 43

__________contains DNA profiles obtained from offenders convicted of serious crimes,such as homicide,and sexual assault.

Question 44

Police dogs can be trained to search for human remains and survivors after a national disaster.

Question 45

Police dogs are not sent into dangerous locations without their handlers.

Question 46

The ______ is the most popular breed of police dog.

Question 47

One concern regarding the application of DNA to ____________ crimes is the huge increase in evidence it would produce.

Question 48

A polygraph records _____________ changes related to the autonomic nervous system.

Question 49

The personnel of cold cases must have the right mix of investigative and supervisory talent because it is the most important component.

Question 50

Explain the types of information that can be provided by physical evidence.

Question 51

The Bertillon system was eventually abandoned in favor of _____________.

Question 52

Altering the ________ jury selection process is one way to reduce the CSI effect.

Question 53

The conditions of ____________ work can lead officers to overidentify with criminals.

Question 54

A ________ squad focuses on unsolved murders that are at least a year old.

Question 55

___________ are elected lay individuals who conduct death investigations.

Question 56

____________ DNA searches involve investigators looking for close,but not exact,matches between DNA evidence collected at a crime scene and the state's data bank of DNA collected from convicted felons.

Question 57

________________ involves the examination,evaluation,and explanation of physical evidence in law.

Question 58

Police are using __________ sites to obtain information on criminal conspiracies.

Question 59

Locard's _______________ asserts that a cross-transfer of evidence occurs whenever any person comes into contact with an object or another person.

Question 60

Briefly outline and explain the basic investigative stages and the activities involved in each.

Question 61

Given the problems associated with the undercover role in policing,are such activities justified? How can these problems be addressed while still using undercover officers in criminal investigation?

Question 62

Describe how police investigators approach "cold" cases.

Question 63

Explain how DNA may be used to solve property crimes and the problems and policy decisions associated with this issue.

Question 64

Explain how dogs are assisting police in the investigative function.

Question 65

Explain the problems involved with undercover work and why returning to patrol duties may be difficult for undercover officers.