Physical Evidence / Policies and Procedures
Trace Evidence
DNA
Ballistics/Narcotics/Cell Phones
Packaging
100

What are the goals of evidence collection?

Successful prosecution of criminals

Exoneration of the innocent

100

What is trace evidence?

Any type of evidence that is small and can be transferred when two surfaces or people touch

100

When encountering visible DNA what two swabs do you need to take?

Control sample. Sample evidence. 

100

If you've been trained in handling firearms and can render them safe in your previous profession, is it ok for you to transport and make safe firearms?

NO

100

What is the correct description of this object when booking?


White metal ring with a clear stone

200

If your city cell phone is dead, is it acceptable to not take photos at the crime scene as long as you document in the report that the phone didn't work?


YES/NO

NO

200

Yes/No

(It's a rainy scene) You arrive at a scene and find a shoe imprint in the mud. The Victim stated that the imprint was left there by the suspect. You tell the Victim that because it's rainy the evidence has already been destroyed and not worth collecting. 

NO

200

Do you need to collect a control sample from touch DNA?

NO

200

Due to CA allowing possession of marijuana by CA citizens, it's ok for CSOs to transport and book in up to 8 oz of marijuana?

NO

200

How do you collect blood when it's dry?

Take it, Scrape it, Swab it.

300

What are the types of photographs you should take at a crime scene?

Overall

Medium

Close-up

300

How would you collect hair or fibers from the scene?

Use a bindle

300

When can you perform a buccal swab from a suspect?

Consent. Search warrant. Arrested for a felony. Or a suspect who was plead guilty or no-contest to a felony. 

300

  

Describe what each photo is from left to right

Cartridge  

300

You are recovering a 10851 and found a large duffle bag with multiple pieces of mail and it belongs to multiple people. What would you do?

Book for evidence. (Why not found property?)
400

What is physical evidence?

±Any item that can be used to ascertain

±What in fact occurred

±Will assist in determining the truth about a fact in question

±Anything which may indicate a crime was committed or connect a person to a crime scene

400

Is there DNA on a hair follicle?

No- DNA is found only on the root.

400

Is there DNA in urine and feces?

There is not enough usable amount of DNA in urine or feces, unless blood is present. 

400

What is in GSR?

Antimony, Barium, Lead

400

What type of packaging would you use for bloody shorts?

Paper! Paper! Paper!. Double bag. 

500

What are the possible 9 steps in proceeding to a crime scene? (Remember Presentation of Evidence class)


1. Before driving to the scene, verify that the suspect is no longer on scene.

2.  Proceed safely to the scene   (Get your tail there!)

3.  Determine if the victim has any injuries and need EMS. If so, update a dispatch and request a unit on scene.  If no, proceed to the next step

3.  Verify crime  (What the heck happened?)

4.  If the supect recently fled the area, Update dispatch   (BOL)

6.  Contain scene    (if needed Use $1.50 worth of the orange tape.)

7.  Locate and interview victim and witnesses

8.  Collect all available information  to write a report

9.  Look, find and collect evidence

500

What is trace evidence good for? Is trace evidence direct or circumstantial evidence?

Getting class characteristics in order to show that someone was at a scene. It is circumstantial evidence showing the totality of the crime and most useful in a court setting. 

500

What is the policy on submitting contact DNA?

No more than 2 individuals touched the object.

Firearms (excluded)


500

What evidence can you collect from cell phones? 

How do you transport a cell phone collected from a scene? 

Do you need a search warrant to review contents from a cell phone

Photographs, call logs, text messages.

Use a faraday bag, put phone on airplane mode.

Yes- if searching for evidence. 

500

What is information is needed when booking in bicycles?

Make

Model

Serial #

Color

Gender

Speed

Tire Size

Type (Mtn, Racer, Etc)