Chain of Custody
What is the purpose of the chain of custody in an investigation?
To document and preserve who handled evidence, when, and why, so evidenceintegrity is maintained.
Give one example of direct evidence from a crime scene.
CCTV footage showing the crime, or a confession.
What is the first thing investigators should do to secure a crime scene?
Ensure everyone’s safety and establish a secure perimeter.
Give two examples of trace evidence that could link a suspect to a crime scene.
Hair, fibers, soil, or glass fragments.
Name one technology used to capture details, measurements, or images of an entire crime scene.
Drone photography or 3D scanning.
Name two pieces of information that should be recorded each time evidence ishandled.
Handler’s name/signature and date/time of transfer. Other acceptable answersinclude reason for transfer and packaging condition.
Define circumstantial evidence in one sentence.
Evidence that requires an inference or conclusion to connect it to a fact.
Name two methods used to document a crime scene.
Photography and sketching. Note-taking and video are also acceptable.
How is DNA typically obtained from biological trace evidence?
Answer: Cells are collected, often with a swab, and DNA is extracted and analyzed.
What digital evidence can a mobile phone provide that may help place a suspect at a location?
GPS/location data, call logs, text messages, or app location history.
True or False: An undocumented transfer of evidence always makes thatevidence inadmissible in court. Explain briefly.
False. A gap in documentation can weaken the evidence, but it does notautomatically make it inadmissible.
List three different categories of physical evidence.
Biological, impression, and trace evidence.
What is the purpose of a personnel log at a crime scene?
To document who enters and exits the scene, when they entered, and why they were there.
What is an example of impression evidence, and how can it help investigators?
A shoe print can help connect a person or object to a crime scene.
How are alternative light sources useful in evidence detection?
They can reveal evidence that is difficult to see under normal lighting, such as bodily fluids, fibers, or fingerprints.
Describe one secure storage practice used to protect physical evidence fromcontamination or tampering.
Sealed tamper-evident packaging, restricted-access evidence rooms, lockedstorage, or climate-controlled storage.
Why can multiple pieces of circumstantial evidence be stronger than a single eyewitness account?
Multiple pieces can support and corroborate each other, reducing reliance on human memory or perception.
Give four steps for processing a small indoor crime scene, from arrival to evidence packaging.
1. Secure the scene and establish a perimeter.
2. Photograph and document the scene.
3. Sketch the scene and take measurements.
4. Collect, label, package, and document the evidence.
Describe one method for collecting fiber evidence while minimizing contamination.
Use clean forceps or a tape lift, wear gloves, and package each sample separately.
What are two advantages of using electronic tracking, such as barcodes or RFID, for evidence storage?
It creates a faster, more accurate record of evidence movement and provides an audit trail.
A security camera shows a person entering a building at 9:00 PM, and the same person’s shoe prints are found inside. Classify each piece of evidence as direct or circumstantial and explain why.
Camera footage = direct evidence because it shows the person entering. Shoe prints = circumstantial evidence because they require an inference connecting the person to the scene.
A bloody knife, a hair on the victim’s clothing, and soil in a suspect’s shoe are collected. What laboratory analysis could be performed on each?
Answer:
Bloody knife: DNA analysis and bloodstain analysis
Hair: Microscopic comparison and possible DNA testing
Soil: Comparative soil analysis