Elements of Crime
What does Mens Rae mean?
Guilty Mind
Define alibi, bonus 100 points if you can name 3 examples of an acceptable alibi.
An excuse that a person was somewhere else at the time of the crime
Name at least 3 pieces of DNA evidence.
Blood, saliva, hair, fingerprints, bone, teeth, sweat, ect.
Name at least 3 different types of non-biological evidence that would be collected at a crime scene, and give an example for each. 100 bonus points for every extra type of evidence named.
trace, impression, ballistic & weapons, chemical, and digital
Name the three types of justifiable acts.
Self-defense, Defense of property, Defense of others
What does Actus Rea mean?
Guilty Act
Describe the infancy defense
When a person under the age of 18 is considered not legally responsible for his or her actions
What is a "midshot" in crime scene photography?
A photograph that shows the position of evidence in a crime scene
Why is it important to separate witnesses?
Prevents witnesses from sharing details, comparing stories, and accidently altering each other's memory
What is the intoxication defense?
The influence of illicit substances and alcohol on the defendant's actions.
What does "knowing" mean in mens rae?
Knowing the action your doing is a crime
What is the duress defense?
When a person is pressured to commit an act they wouldn’t normally have committed under the threat of immediate danger to one’s own life or safety.
In a crime scene investigation, what does "scanning the area," mean?
Investigators scan the area to determine where photographs should be taken, and to identify any potential hazards.
Name at least 1 example of a search pattern used to obtain evidence. 100 bonus points for each extra pattern given.
Grid, inward spiral, outward spiral parallel, zone
What is willfull blindness?
Deliberately ignoring signs of suspicious act that may be criminal.
What is causation?
Proof that harm was inflicted on a victim, because of a defendant's direct actions
Define Entrapment
When a defendant who wouldn’t normally have committed a crime is persuaded to do so by a law enforcement officer.
What is the difference between a primary and secondary crime scene?
Primary: The location where the crime took place
Secondary: A second location connected to the crime
Name the different types of thumb print patterns.
loop, arch, whorl, accidental
What is omission?
Failure to act on a legal obligation
Define Concurrence
The criminal act (actus rea) and the guilty mind (mens rea) must occur together to prove undoubted guilt
What is the insanity defense?
When a defendant's mental disease or disorder prevents them from knowing right from wrong, or from understanding the act.
What is, "A chain of custody," and what is it used for?
A tracking system documenting any officer or investigator that handled the evidence from the crime scene to the lab.
Name 3 pieces of biological evidence.
Sweat, blood, saliva, hair, ect.
What is intention?
The illegal action a person plans on committing.