Types of Evidence
This category of evidence includes physical or biological items that imply a fact without proving it directly.
What is circumstantial evidence?
The two most important initial responsibilities when securing a crime scene are these.
What are ensuring the safety of individuals and preserving evidence?
This is the best tool for picking up tiny, fragile items of evidence without causing damage.
What are forceps (tweezers)?
Every official crime scene sketch must include an arrow pointing in this direction.
What is North?
This principle states that whenever two objects come into contact, a cross-transfer of physical material occurs.
What is Locard's Exchange Principle?
Eyewitness testimonies, direct confessions, and video recordings belong to this specific evidence classification.
What is direct evidence?
Witnesses are separated immediately at a crime scene primarily to prevent this.
What is collusion (or working together to create an altered story)?
Bloodstained evidence must be packaged in paper bags or wrapping paper rather than plastic to prevent this destructive growth.
What is mold?
To map the exact location of a weapon or body in a sketch, you must measure its distance from how many immovable landmarks?
What is two?
Studies show that most wrongful convictions are the result of this type of evidence.
What is faulty eyewitness testimony?
Evidence that can be tied to a single, specific source (like a fingerprint or complete DNA profile) is classified as this.
What is individual evidence?
To keep track of every person who enters or leaves the crime scene, officers maintain this document.
What is a security log?
To prevent volatile petroleum residues from evaporating, arson remains must be sealed in this container type.
What is an airtight container (or new metal paint can)?
This search pattern involves investigators moving in an expanding circular path around a central area.
What is a spiral search pattern?
Any removal of evidence from a crime scene without a warrant must comply with this Constitutional Amendment.
What is the Fourth Amendment?
A brand-new, mass-produced roll of duct tape found in a suspect's garage shares features with tape used at a crime scene. Is this class or individual evidence?
What is class evidence? (It narrows down to a group, not a unique single source)
Investigators wear protective gear like suits and gloves primarily to avoid doing this to the scene.
What is contaminating the crime scene?
This process guarantees a documented record showing who handled and controlled evidence from collection all the way to court.
What is the chain of custody?
This search pattern involves searching in parallel lines in one direction, then turning 90 degrees to search across the area again.
What is a grid search pattern?
Name two legally valid circumstances where a crime scene can be searched without a warrant.
What are emergency circumstances (danger to life), immediate danger of evidence destruction, consent, or in conjunction with a lawful arrest?
Small, measurable amounts of biological or physical matter—like plant pollen or pet hair left at a scene—are known as this.
What is trace evidence?
In the "7 S's of Crime Scene Investigation," this step immediately follows scanning the scene and involves taking overall and close-up photographs.
What is "See the scene"?
Forensic teams collect known blood or hair samples from victims and suspects to use as this type of sample for comparison.
What is a control (or standard reference) sample?
Large or complex crime scenes are often divided into smaller sections using this search method.
What is a quadrant (or zone) search pattern?
This official is elected or appointed to represent the government in prosecuting a crime.
What is the District Attorney?