Midterm Exam Flashcards
(65 cards)
1
Q
Prioritization of Criminal Investigations
A
- severity of crime
- reoccurrence of same crime
- impact to community
- available evidence/resources
2
Q
evidence
A
information(the more the better)
Anything properly admissible in a court that will aid the function of a criminal proceeding in establishing guilt or innocence
3
Q
Police Resources Triangle
A
The more frequent a crime occurs leads to more police resources
- Most serious crimes are less likely to occur
4
Q
Clearance rates
A
the frequency that a person is arrested for a crime
5
Q
Homcide and aggravated assault cleareance rate
A
homocide: 63%
AA: 60%
6
Q
Rape clearance
A
47%
7
Q
robbery
A
26%
8
Q
burglary and motor vehicular theft clearance
A
motor: 14%
burglary: 13%
9
Q
theft and arson clearance
A
theft: 18%
arson: 17%
10
Q
criminal investigation
A
logical, objective, legal inquiry of a criminal incident
11
Q
time is of the essence
A
The longer a suspect remains at large, the greater the likilihood that the case will remain
12
Q
Consequences of time of the essences
A
- loss of evidence: destruction/disposal
- contamination of evidence
- loss of memory victims/witnesses
- investigative resources focus on new crimes
13
Q
basic concepts of criminal investigations
A
- determine if crime occurs
- establish why crime occurred(motive)
- identify victim and witnesses
- collect and analyze evidence
- criminally vharge and prosecute suspect
14
Q
motive
A
establishes why crime was committed
15
Q
Most common motives
A
- personal/financial gain
- revenge
- love/domestic situation
- sexual gratification
- hate
- passion of the situation(heat of the moment)
- thrill/excitement of the crime
- mental illness
16
Q
Types of evidence
A
- direct
- indirect
- physical/real
- documentary
17
Q
Rule of evidence
A
All evidence is equal, no piece is better than the other
18
Q
direct evidence
A
generally is testimonial and will prove a fact w/o support(eye witness to crime)
19
Q
indirect/circumstancial evidence
A
does not prove a fact but establishes a strong inference (see person buy murder weapon)
20
Q
physical/real evidence
A
any physical object associated w/ investigation
21
Q
documentary evidence
A
evidence that represents or documents a particular item of evidence
(Drug analysis report, photo, video, bank statements, transcripts
22
Q
burdens of proof
A
Must prove that a specific crime occurred and specific persons is responsible for crime
- investigator and prosecutor bear the burden of proof in criminal cases(state side)
23
Q
Levels of burden of proof
A
- reeasonable suspcion
- probable cause
-by preponderance - clear and convincing
- beyond a reasonable doubt
24
Q
reasonable suspicion
A
allows officer to stop and search/talk to person(Terry Stop)
25
probable cause
needed for arrest/search. Enough evidence to believe a certain person committed crime (most investigative action occurs)
26
by a preponderance
Used in civil trials. Greater that 50% proof(money usally)
27
clear and convincing
enough evidence that child abuse occur, custody can be removed at this point(elderly-caretaker as well)
28
beyond a reasonable doubt
standard of proof needed to convict someone in the U.S; highest burden of proof
29
Most common erros made in criminal investigations
-Feeling, personal perceptions, or hunches and drawing conclusions based off these hunches
- suspect fixation or tunnel vision
- mistakes/ sloppy work during investigation wil lalways impact thee prosecution
30
suspect fixation or tunnel vision
pursuing a specific suspect at the expense of a meethodical and comprehensive investigation
31
Major problems with OJ Case
- failure to control crime scene
- detectives jump gate w/o warrant
- failure to remain positive rapport w/ witness
- failure to control media(pressure cause detectives to rush case)
- racist detective; throws all credibility/evidence he found out
- DNA was complex and just emerging
- Oj popularity
32
Major impact OJ Case had
- Sloppy work always affect prosecution
- Brough DV awareness, support, and legislative chnages for victims
- Raised importance of DNA evidence( better protocol in protecting DNA)
33
crime scene
are locations where a suspected criminal offense has occurred and where potential evidence related to the crime is located
* there is never just one crime scene
34
Crime Scene Steps
- scene is secured
- scene is carefully examined
- sequence of events
- scene is photographed
- scene is sketched
- scene is methodically search
35
Securing and protecting crime scene
Primary responsibiliy of the initial responding office is to render aid(if necessary and establish and protect crime scene
- locard exchange principle(theory of transfer)
- always 1st step
36
Limits of securing and protecting scene
- Inially secure a crime scene too small
- can't completely eliminate contamination
- works for investigation because suspect leaves stuff behind; against because of contamination/ alteration of crime scene
37
Locard's Exchange Principle (Theory of Transfer)
Anyone or anything entering a crime scene takes something of the scene w/ them and leaves something of themselves behind when they depart
38
Examining the Crime Scene
Visual examination of crime scene to attempt to determine the sequence of events
- nothing is removed; preliminary photo taken for appearance of crime scene
39
Photographing the Crime Scene
Crime scene photos provide permanent record of how the scene appeared upon discovery
- Generally taken in coordinated series using both compass direction
and distance range
- long range= area if scene
- close up=specific areas
- individual = specific evidence
40
Sketching the Crime Scene
Mesured drawing of the crime scene showing all important items of evidence
- sketch to show distance w/o distorition of photos
- rectangle coordinated method
41
Crime scene searching/processing
Goal is to locate and mark evidence
- should be slow and methodical(don't leave anything behind)
- seach method depends on size/complexity of scene
- grid/ strip line search
42
rectangle coordinated method
2 right angles are drawn from item being measured to nearest permanent object
43
strip line search
most scene use this pattern
44
grid search
usally for miniscule evidence; precise
45
full image fingerprint
captured in control environment; roleld across surface from nail to nail line
46
latent
lifted fingerprint(not full finger print)
47
dusting
msot common technique to locate and lift latent finger prints
48
Automated Fingerprint Identification System(AFIS)
effective w/ connecting fun image fingerprints
- manage by FBI
- about 80% adults end up in AFIS
49
Limitations of Fingerprint Evidence
- # of finger prints that exist make it difficult to determine which ones belong to suspect
- quality of latent
- time consuming(require expert examination)
50
ballistic imaging
captures and digitally photogrpahs the fine markings on bullets and cartridges that are created during process of firing a gun
51
National Intergrated Ballsitic Information Network(NIBIN)
National computerizeed system that compares bullets and casings
- pin points exact gun; not model but exact
- managed by ATF
- not all guns in system; only ones recovoered by police
52
cartridge
unfired ammunition
53
caliber
size of ammunition
54
bullet
projectile(held in casing)
55
primer
ignition switch(creates explosion of gun powder that cause cullet to come out of casing)
56
rifling
spinning of bullet
- allows bullet to travel in a straight line at a longer distance
57
handguns
most commonw eapon used ins treet crime
58
semi automatic
leaves casings
3 points of comparison
59
firing pin mark
firing pin strike cause unique mark on gun
60
ejection/extraction marks
side of casings leaves unique mark
61
land marks
obn bullet; caused by lands and grooves; caused by rifling effect in barrel unique to the gun
62
Revolver
- doesn't leave casings
- 1 point of comparison(bullet)
63
Limits of bullets
When hit on hard surface they ebcome compressed and distorted ; eliminating possibility of comparison
- hollwoed out bulltets can be impossible to trace
- in practice is hard to trace back (Ghettoside example
64
Shotguns
- usally smooth barreled
- no rifling affect on bullet
- 1 point of comparison(firing pin marks); can be traced back to gun by this
65
gunshot residue collection
tells that gun was recently fired; easily transferable
- traces left on hands
- police swab suspects hands
- analyst use electron microscope to insooect swab samples to seee if it's residue
