Forensics Final Exam

Question 1

What must a medical examiner possess?

Answer 1

medical degree

Question 2

The first step taken for the external examination of the body in an autopsy includes:

Answer 2

broad overview of the condition of the body and clothing

Question 3

the goal of this is to determine the cause of death and confirm the manner of death and often used in criminal proceedings

Answer 3

forensic autopsy

Question 4

a pinkish discoloration of the skin and smell of burnt almonds could lead to a pathologist to suspect which of the following?

Answer 4

cyanide poisoning

Question 5

When evaluating a gunshot wound what is the most important characteristic to analyze

Answer 5

estimated range of fire

Question 6

a sharp force injury will most likely come from a

Answer 6

glass piece

Question 7

what factors can help to determine if a victim was alive during a fire

Answer 7

levels of carbon monoxide in the lungs

Question 8

homicide, suicide, accident, natural and undetermined are all categories of

Answer 8

manner of death

Question 9

a pathologist would expect rigor mortis to disappear after – hours

Answer 9

36

Question 10

which is not a manner of death

Answer 10

drowning

Question 11

what part of a decedent’s body resists rapid decomposition and is used by forensic anthropologists to provide information about the decedent

Answer 11

bones

Question 12

insect evidence should be collected

Answer 12

at the scene by a forensic entomologist or trained investigator

Question 13

to determine the gender of skeletal remains, a forensic anthropologist can examine all of the following areas of the skeleton except

Answer 13

vertebrae

Question 14

typically about an hour after death, the deceased body loses heat at a rate of approximately – until the body reaches the environmental temperature

Answer 14

1-1 1/2 F per hour

Question 15

all of the following are features found in female skeletons, which does not belong

Answer 15

jaw angle is approximately 90 degrees

Question 16

this serial killer is known to have killed more people than any other serial killer by giving them fatal doses of heroin and morphine

Answer 16

harold shipman

Question 17

condition that involves the interference with the intake of oxygen

Answer 17

asphyxiation

Question 18

this focuses on the internal organ findings and medical conditions

Answer 18

medical/ clinical autopsy

Question 19

this formed when the weapon produces an injury that is longer than it is deep

Answer 19

cut

Question 20

the circumstances that led to the fatal result and is the culmination of the complete investigation

Answer 20

manner of death

Question 21

death intentionally caused by another person is typically called a

Answer 21

homicide

Question 22

rigor mortis refers to the – of the body

Answer 22

stiffness/ stiffening

Question 23

– refers to the loss of heat by the body after death

Answer 23

algor mortis

Question 24

the examination of a body after death

Answer 24

autopsy

Question 25

distinguish between cause of death and manner of death

Answer 25

cod- refers to the specific action taken to result in death, could be gunshot wound, asphyxia, blunt force trauma. MOD- overall term written on a death certificate, describes the way death occurred, general classification. homicide, suicide, natural, accidental, and undetermined

Question 26

the first step that an officer takes when approaching a crime scene is to

Answer 26

check the body, if there is one, and get medical attention if needed

Question 27

the purpose of documenting the chain of custody of evidence is

Answer 27

to make sure that the evidence is admissible in court

Question 28

which of the following is not a duty of the first responder to a crime scene

Answer 28

packaging evidence from the scene

Question 29

a written record of all people who have had possession of an item of evidence

Answer 29

chain of custody

Question 30

testimonial evidence is

Answer 30

a statement made under oath by a competent witness

Question 31

if evidence has class characteristics

Answer 31

it has more probative value than direct evidence

Question 32

some common types of physical evidence are

Answer 32

fibers, glass, soil, bones, toolmarks, drugs, documents, DNA

Question 33

if a forensic scientist can piece together broken up pieces of glass from a bottle that was used as a weapon, it has

Answer 33

individual characteristics

Question 34

material that can be associated with only a group of items that share properties or characteristics

Answer 34

class evidence

Question 35

all of the following are examples of pattern evidence but one, which does not belong

Answer 35

temperature

Question 36

physical evidence is considered to have -- as that of eyewitness (testimonial) evidence

Answer 36

greater value

Question 37

physical evidence whose origin is known, that can be compared to crime-scene evidence

Answer 37

reference/ standard sample

Question 38

state the difference between class and individual evidence and give an example of each

Answer 38

CE- only be related back to a group, properties with a common source. shoe prints, type size IE- relates to a specific person or manufacturer. any DNA, semen, saliva

Question 39

a fingerprint pattern that has at least one ridge that makes a complete circuit

Answer 39

whorl

Question 40

a fingerprint pattern where all ridges come in one side and exit the other side

Answer 40

arch

Question 41

pattern that has at least on ridge entering one side and exiting the same side

Answer 41

loop

Question 42

most common print pattern

Answer 42

loop

Question 43

fingerprints found on the skin would be classified as

Answer 43

latent

Question 44

characteristics of ridge patterns are known as

Answer 44

minutiae

Question 45

what would be the best way of visualizing a print found on a matchbook

Answer 45

ninhydrin

Question 46

what would be the best way of visualizing a print found on a glass bottle

Answer 46

dusting/lifting, superglue fuming

Question 47

fingerprints found in blood would be classified as

Answer 47

visible

Question 48

fingerprint made by the deposit of perspiration or body oils, invisible to the naked eye until developed are known as

Answer 48

latent

Question 49

the computerized system used by the FBI to search a fingerprint database of more than 70 million criminal subjects is known as

Answer 49

IAFIS

Question 50

a fingerprint that can be easily seen

Answer 50

visible print

Question 51

a triangular pattern of ridges found in all loop and whorl patterns

Answer 51

delta

Question 52

a radial loop

Answer 52

opens towards the thumb side of the hand

Question 53

the most commonly encountered ridge characteristics used by AFIS are the

Answer 53

bifurcation and ridge ending

Question 54

the most commonly encountered ridge characteristics used by AFIS are the

Answer 54

bifurcation and ridge ending

Question 55

the most common ridge pattern is the

Answer 55

loop

Question 56

which of the following is not a ridge characteristic

Answer 56

core

Question 57

the ridges on your hands, feet, and lips are made from these structures

Answer 57

dermal papille

Question 58

the area found at the center of all loop and whorl patterns is called the

Answer 58

core

Question 59

the study f fingerprint patterns is called

Answer 59

dactyloscopy

Question 60

fingerprints left in dust would be

Answer 60

visible

Question 61

all of the ridge characteristics of a fingerprint are known as

Answer 61

minutiae

Question 62

explain the 3 fundamental principles of fingerprints

Answer 62

1) fingerprints are an individual characteristic - no 2 people have the same print, as the ridges appear differently 2) fingerprints do not change throughout ones lifetime - always will be the same and will only be altered due to scarring 3) fingerprints have general ridge characteristics that allow them to be systematically classified (arch, loop, whorl)

Question 63

evidence is

Answer 63

anything that tends to establish or disprove a fact

Question 64

what are the functions of a forensic scientist

Answer 64

to provide expert testimony & to examine evidence found and recovered at a crime scene

Question 65

the case that decided what evidence is allowed in court depends on what is "generally accepted" by a relevant scientific community

Answer 65

frye vs the united states

Question 66

who established the first workable crime laboratory

Answer 66

locard

Question 67

infractions can be punishable by

Answer 67

fines

Question 68

all of the following are examples of felony except

Answer 68

vandalism

Question 69

which entity maintains the largest crime lab in the world

Answer 69

FBI

Question 70

in the case of daubert vs merrel dow, the us supreme court advocated that a "gatekeeper" determines the admissibility and reliability of scientific evidence. the gatekeeper is

Answer 70

the trial judge

Question 71

the study of sudden unexplained or violent death

Answer 71

forensic pathology

Question 72

whenever 2 objects come into contact with eachother, and traces are exchanged

Answer 72

locard exchange principle

Question 73

this type of law is made by judicial opinions and precedents

Answer 73

common law

Question 74

a breach of a right, duty, or law

Answer 74

violation

Question 75

these laws are considered to be the "laws on the books"

Answer 75

statutory law

Question 76

the following are all miranda rights except

Answer 76

if you decide to answer questions without an attorney you can't request one later

Question 77

this is the name that is given to a minor offense such as theft

Answer 77

misdemeanor

Question 78

the first act in a criminal proceeding, where the defendant is brought before the court to hear charges and enter a plea

Answer 78

arraignment

Question 79

this type of law is remedial or preventative and includes injunctions

Answer 79

equity law

Question 80

the -- unit applies principles and techniques of chemistry, physics, and geology to the identification and comparison of crime scene evidence

Answer 80

physical science

Question 81

what factors does the court usually take into consideration as sufficient grounds for qualification as an expert witness

Answer 81

experience, training, education

Question 82

specially trained personnel called -- are employed by some crime labs on 24 hour call to retrieve evidence and have all the proper tools and supplies for proper collection and packaging of evidence at their disposal

Answer 82

crime scene investigators

Question 83

the study and application of science to a matter of law

Answer 83

forensic science

Question 84

a hearing before a magistrate or judge to determine whether a person charged with a crime should be held for trial, occurs after arraignment

Answer 84

preliminary hearing

Question 85

rights guaranteed by the constitution that police must tell arrestees about

Answer 85

miranda rights

Question 86

in evidence law it is relevant and significant

Answer 86

material evidence

Question 87

this is the revision of the frye standard

Answer 87

daubert vs merrell dow pharmacueticals

Question 88

2 rulings that deal with scientific evidence as admissible. list and explain both and the differences between them

Answer 88

frye vs us - first court ruling to determine the admissibility of evidence. allows evidence in based on "general acceptance" in the science community and is decided upon by a jury daubert vs merrell dow - revised frye standard. trial judge gets final say on admission of evidence based on 5 reasons. evidence still needs to be accepted but there are other factors. relevant, competent these rulings took place 70 years apart, many felt that it was time for a change with the new tech and various adaptations, which are shown in the daubert ruling

Question 89

2 rulings that deal with scientific evidence as admissible. list and explain both and the differences between them

Answer 89

frye vs us - first court ruling to determine the admissibility of evidence. allows evidence in based on "general acceptance" in the science community and is decided upon by a jury daubert vs merrell dow - revised frye standard. trial judge gets final say on admission of evidence based on 5 reasons. evidence still needs to be accepted but there are other factors. relevant, competent these rulings took place 70 years apart, many felt that it was time for a change with the new tech and various adaptations, which are shown in the daubert ruling