Question 1

The first arriving officer at a scene__________________________________.&#10;A) Prevents disturbance of the body and isolates any witnesses so they may be interviewed by a detective.&#10;B) Collects evidence prior to the detective's arrival&#10;C) Removes the wallet from the body&#10;D) Contacts next of kin to advise them of the death

Accepted Answer

The first arriving officer at a scene should first prevent disturbance of the body and isolate any witnesses so they may be interviewed by a detective. This ensures that the crime scene remains intact and the investigation is not compromised. Collecting evidence prior to the detective's arrival is not the responsibility of the first arriving officer. Removing the wallet from the body or contacting next of kin to advise them of the death should be done by a detective or a designated officer.

Question 2

In gunshot deaths, it is always a good practice to ___________________________.&#10;A) Wash the decedent's hands.&#10;B) Cut the fingernails&#10;C) Secure the hands by placing brown paper bags over them prior to transport&#10;D) Place towels over the hands

Accepted Answer

Securing the hands by placing brown paper bags over them prior to transport is a common practice in forensic investigations of gunshot deaths. This method is used to preserve any gunshot residue (GSR) or other trace evidence that may be present on the hands, which can be crucial for determining the circumstances of the shooting, such as whether the deceased fired a weapon. Washing the decedent's hands, cutting the fingernails, or placing towels over the hands could potentially contaminate or destroy this valuable evidence.

Question 3

Medications with the name of the decedent or ones in their possession need to be:&#10;A) Flushed down the toilet&#10;B) Collected and removed from the location where the body was found&#10;C) Taken back to the pharmacy where they were filled&#10;D) Left at the scene

Accepted Answer

Medications found in the possession of the deceased should be collected and removed from the location where the body was found. This is to prevent any possibility of accidental ingestion by others or potential misuse. However, it is important to note that controlled substances should be handled in accordance with local laws and regulations, and may need to be turned over to law enforcement or other authorized agencies. Flushing medications down the toilet or leaving them at the scene can both pose potential public health and safety risks. Returning medications to the pharmacy may be appropriate in some cases, but is not always necessary or feasible depending on the circumstances.

Question 4

To protect against loss, any large quantities of money on the decedent should be&#10;A) Counted with a witness, photographed, then placed into an envelope and sealed with initials of both parties on the envelope.&#10;B) Released directly to the family&#10;C) Left at the scene&#10;D) Placed in the body bag with the decedent

Accepted Answer

Counting the money with a witness, photographing it, and sealing it in an envelope with both parties' initials provides a clear record of how much money was found and who handled it. This can help prevent any disputes or accusations of theft. Releasing the money directly to the family could also be an option if there is a clear and trustworthy beneficiary, but proper documentation should still be kept. Leaving the money at the scene or placing it in the body bag with the decedent would increase the risk of loss or theft.

Question 5

Jewelry should be left on the body because:&#10;A) It is difficult to remove&#10;B) It allows the pathologist to assess any patterned indentations or marks and correlate them with the jewelry that was in place&#10;C) The family wants it left on the body&#10;D) It insures that it is not lost

Accepted Answer

Jewelry should be left on the body because it allows the pathologist to assess any patterned indentations or marks and correlate them with the jewelry that was in place. This can help with the identification of the deceased and the investigation of the cause of death.

Question 6

In the case of scattered remains that can occur during a traffic, airplane, or train accident, it is best to:&#10;A) Photograph the area and pick up all the remains and place them in one bag&#10;B) Make a diagram and label the tissues in separate bags&#10;C) Photograph the area and place a bright sticker on each part of the remains to easily identify the remains&#10;D) Only collect the largest pieces of the remains

Accepted Answer

In the case of scattered remains, it is important to properly document and label each tissue that is found. Making a diagram and placing each tissue in a separate bag with a label will help ensure that all of the remains are properly identified and can be later matched with any additional remains that may be found. Photographing the area can also be helpful for documentation purposes.

Question 7

One of the hardest parts of photographing a death scene is:&#10;A) Keeping law enforcement out of the photographs&#10;B) Getting the GPS coordinates into the photograph&#10;C) Keeping the photos straight, going from one scene to the next, and not having an opportunity to download them from the camera&#10;D) Keeping the photographs in focus

Accepted Answer

The question describes the difficulty of capturing multiple death scenes and not being able to download the photographs from the camera, making it difficult to keep the photos organized and straight. The other choices may also be challenges, but they do not address the specific difficulty mentioned in the question.

Question 8

The best way to divide the photos from one case to the next is to:&#10;A) Use fluorescent paint to write the case number beside the body&#10;B) Take a photograph of your shoe to signify the end of the photo sequence&#10;C) Photograph a 3x5 card or small dry erase board with the address location, photographer's last name, date, and case number&#10;D) Photograph the decedent's feet first

Accepted Answer

Photographing a 3x5 card or small dry erase board with the necessary information ensures that the case number is accurately recorded and easily identifiable in the photos. This method also allows for consistency and organization in case documentation. The other options (A, B, and D) may not be as clear or effective in identifying the case number and maintaining organization.

Question 9

When photographing a revolver:&#10;A) The magazine should be photographed first&#10;B) The bullets should be removed from the magazine first and then photographed&#10;C) Do not be concerned with a serial number&#10;D) The cylinder should be photographed as it is ejected from the firing position

Accepted Answer

The correct procedure when photographing a revolver involves capturing the cylinder as it is ejected from the firing position. This is because the cylinder is a critical part of the revolver, holding the ammunition and being directly involved in the firing process. Unlike semi-automatic firearms, revolvers do not have magazines; they have cylinders. Therefore, options A and B are incorrect as they refer to components not present in revolvers. Option C is incorrect because the serial number is a crucial piece of information for identifying and tracing the firearm.

Question 10

All guns need to have their serial numbers and both sides of the weapon photographed after they are made safe.

Accepted Answer

This is a common process for law enforcement when a firearm is confiscated or used as evidence. It allows for easier tracking and identification of the firearm. However, this is not necessarily required for all guns in general.

Question 11

It is better to remove a weapon protruding from the body prior to transport.

Accepted Answer

The answer of It is better to remove a weapon...

Question 12

It is best to take wet clothing and place it in a plastic bag to best preserve the evidence.

Accepted Answer

The answer of It is best to take wet clothing...

Question 13

Tape can be difficult to package because it is sticky and is best placed inside a box rather than a paper bag if possible.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Tape can be difficult to package because...

Question 14

For permanent storage, all evidence must be sealed prior to storage to ensure that it has not been tampered with or cross-contaminated.

Accepted Answer

The answer of For permanent storage, all evidence must be...

Question 15

A chain of custody is a form listing any seized evidence in a sequential fashion and noted in the same fashion as the identifying marks on the packaging.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A chain of custody is a form...

Question 16

It is not important to sign, date, and time each transfer from person to person.

Accepted Answer

The answer of It is not important to sign, date,...

Question 17

Pertinent observations such as antacid use, over-the-counter medication use, examination of the trash, alcohol bottles, drug residue, etc., are important to include in the report.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Pertinent observations such as antacid use, over-the-counter...

Question 18

It is not necessary to obtain a treating physician on a decedent.

Accepted Answer

The answer of It is not necessary to obtain a...

Question 19

It is a good practice to contact the next of kin after the exam or autopsy to relay the cause of death and findings.

Accepted Answer

The answer of It is a good practice to contact...

Deck 2: Death Scene Investigation