Intro/Crime Scene
History
Evidence Basics
Law and Investigations
100
Explain where investigations fit in the Criminal Justice funnel.
What is at the very top between the police section where crimes are reported to police and someone is arrested. Means that all the following parts of the funnel (court and corrections sections) are dependent on properly conducted investigations.
100
When proficiency testing first began in the crime labs, how good were the criminalists at identifying substances or common sources?
What is not very good - made many errors and even since then had NAS report in 2009 criticizing the forensics fields to 'up their game'
100
Evidence that is crime related, but relies on inference or probabilities to draw conclusions about the crime is known as...?
What is indirect (or circumstantial) evidence
100
What is the exclusionary rule?
What is evidence obtained in an unlawful or unreasonable search is excluded from court proceedings and are considered incompetent evidence.
200
Define criminal investigation.
What is the process of collecting crime-related information to reach certain goals.
200
What are the 3 eras of policing that our US history went through called?
What is 1) political era, 2) professional era, 3) community era
200
DAILY DOUBLE - TWICE THE POINTS! What 2 things can criminal evidence be used to establish proof of?
What is that 1) a crime has occurred and that 2) this specific person is the one who committed it.
200
What are the 3 amendments that are most relevant to the investigation process?
What is 4th, 5th, and 6th.
300
Explain the 2 CSI effects we discussed in class.
What is Jurors expect and greatly trust physical evidence in the trials they hear, therefore: 1) higher rates of NG verdict when physical evidence is not present, and 2) higher rates of G verdicts when physical evidence is present (regardless of quality of that evidence)
300
Explain the difference between thief-takers and thief-makers.
What is thief-takers might work with the thieves they knew to set up a theft of someone so they could then return the stolen goods to the person in exchange for money. A thief-maker would entice someone to commit a crime so that they could turn in the now criminal in exchange for money.
300
List at least 4 standards of proof in order of least to most difficult to demonstrate
What is (only 4 needed): reasonable suspicion, probable cause, preponderance of evidence, clear and convincing evidence, beyond a reasonable doubt, scientific certainty.
300
What are the 4 (or 5) parts of the Miranda warning?
What is 1) right to remain silent, 2) anything you say can/will be used in court, 3) right to an attorney, 4) if you can't afford one, the state will provide it for you, and 5) the waiver statement (you've had all 4 parts explained and understand them completed and still wish to talk to the police)
400
Explain the Michigan v. Tyler case discussed in class
What is an arson case with 3 timepoints for investigation - 1.5 hours after the fire reported (collected some evidence but halted due to darkness and significant smoke), 4 hours (collected rest of evidence), 3 weeks later (collected additional evidence). Court said timepoint 1 and 2 were ok, but 3 was not (possibility of contamination and need for warrant b/c of expectation of privacy by that time). Time 2 was only allowed b/c of compelling reason that all evidence couldn't have been collected at time 1 (smoke and darkness).
400
When we shifted the investigation focus away from informants and towards interrogations/scientific evidence, what 2 things were then added to allow investigators to better complete their investigations?
What is crime labs and interrogation rooms in the police station
400
Explain the difference between inculpatory and exculpatory evidence.
What is inculpatory evidence includes someone into the suspect pool (points towards guilt) whereas exculpatory evidence excludes someone from the suspect point (points towards innocence)
400
Name at least 4 exceptions to the search warrant requirement.
What is: Exigent circumstances Vehicles Other places and things Hot pursuit Incident to arrest Stop and frisk Plain-view Consent
500
Explain the matrix of defining a crime scene. Draw on the board to help if you'd like.
What is the 4 sub-boxes within a 2 (one person, multiple persons) x 2 (one location, multiple locations) design.
500
Which era was known for corruption in policing?
What is the political era of policing
500
What are the 5 conditions the judge is going to look for in determining if evidence is judicial or extrajudicial?
What is 1) relevant, 2) material, 3) competent, 4) necessary, 5) clear chain of custody
500
What are the 2 major sections of American criminal law and what do they include?
What is substantive (the forbidden acts and the appropriate punishment) and procedural (how to go about arresting or convicting someone)
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