IAI CSA TECHNIQUES OF CRIME SCENE
INVESTIGATION ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY GUIDE
●● Two Broad Types of Evidence
Answer: 1. Testimonial Evidence
2. Real, or Physical Evidence
●● What is Physical Evidence?
Answer: Any Type of Evidence with an objective existence, that is
anything with size, shape, and dimension.
●● Physical Evidence may also be considered either
Answer: 1. Direct evidence (evidence that supports a conclusion of fact
without inference)
OR
2. Circumstantial evidence (evidence that requires inference to connect it
to a conclusion of fact).
●● Physical Evidence
Answer: May be more reliable than eyewitnesses to crimes.
,●● CSI Effect
Answer: Has made jurors expect, even demand, physical evidence.
●● One Factor making the public's notion of the role of physical
evidence
Answer: Science and technology are perceived by most of the public to
be unbiased and not subject to manipulation.
●● Negative Evidence
Answer: the absence of physical evidence. May provide useful
information and even stop defense arguments at the time of trial
●● Can every item of physical evidence be directly associated to a
specific person, place, or thing and believe that it is possible to link that
evidence to a unique source.
Answer: No
●● Can Majority of Physical Evidence found at crime scenes be only
Classified
Answer: True
●● Classification of Evidence
,Answer: Meaning physical evidence placed into groups with all other
items having the same properties or class characteristics.
●● Types of Pattern Evidence
Answer: (fingerprints, firearms evidence, footwear evidence, tire
impressions, and tool marks)
Practitioners would offer a conclusive opinion that the known and
questioned item came from a common source to a reasonable degree of
scientific certainty.
●● The ability to associate an item of evidence to a sole, unique source
is currently being hotly debated.
Answer: True
●● What does DNA testing use?
Answer: Statistical occurrence of discrete pieces of genetic material or
alleles.
●● Can physical evidence that is identified corroborate testimony, place
a subject at a scene, and be useful in a variety of ways as an
interrogation tool?
Answer: Yes
, ●● Chain of Custody
Answer: Proof that evidence collected during an investigation and the
evidence ultimately submitted to the court are one and the same. To
prove that the integrity of the physical evidence has been maintained.
Shows who had contact with the evidence, at what time, under what
circumstances, and what changes, if any, were made to the evidence.
●● General Rule on collecting evidence
Answer: As much material as is reasonably possible to collect should be
taken. More is better than less.
●● What is needed for known/exemplar samples for DNA?
Answer: Blood samples or buccal (cheek) swabs from the victim and
suspect are needed.
●● What is needed for known/reference or exemplar samples for
Automobile Specimens?
Answer: A known sample of paint from the questioned vehicle must be
submitted for comparison.
●● What is a good practice for packaging small objects?
Answer: Double-wrap very small objects such as hair, fibers, or glass
fragments. These items should first be folded up in a sheet of paper, such
as a pharmacist's fold, and then placed in an envelope
INVESTIGATION ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY GUIDE
●● Two Broad Types of Evidence
Answer: 1. Testimonial Evidence
2. Real, or Physical Evidence
●● What is Physical Evidence?
Answer: Any Type of Evidence with an objective existence, that is
anything with size, shape, and dimension.
●● Physical Evidence may also be considered either
Answer: 1. Direct evidence (evidence that supports a conclusion of fact
without inference)
OR
2. Circumstantial evidence (evidence that requires inference to connect it
to a conclusion of fact).
●● Physical Evidence
Answer: May be more reliable than eyewitnesses to crimes.
,●● CSI Effect
Answer: Has made jurors expect, even demand, physical evidence.
●● One Factor making the public's notion of the role of physical
evidence
Answer: Science and technology are perceived by most of the public to
be unbiased and not subject to manipulation.
●● Negative Evidence
Answer: the absence of physical evidence. May provide useful
information and even stop defense arguments at the time of trial
●● Can every item of physical evidence be directly associated to a
specific person, place, or thing and believe that it is possible to link that
evidence to a unique source.
Answer: No
●● Can Majority of Physical Evidence found at crime scenes be only
Classified
Answer: True
●● Classification of Evidence
,Answer: Meaning physical evidence placed into groups with all other
items having the same properties or class characteristics.
●● Types of Pattern Evidence
Answer: (fingerprints, firearms evidence, footwear evidence, tire
impressions, and tool marks)
Practitioners would offer a conclusive opinion that the known and
questioned item came from a common source to a reasonable degree of
scientific certainty.
●● The ability to associate an item of evidence to a sole, unique source
is currently being hotly debated.
Answer: True
●● What does DNA testing use?
Answer: Statistical occurrence of discrete pieces of genetic material or
alleles.
●● Can physical evidence that is identified corroborate testimony, place
a subject at a scene, and be useful in a variety of ways as an
interrogation tool?
Answer: Yes
, ●● Chain of Custody
Answer: Proof that evidence collected during an investigation and the
evidence ultimately submitted to the court are one and the same. To
prove that the integrity of the physical evidence has been maintained.
Shows who had contact with the evidence, at what time, under what
circumstances, and what changes, if any, were made to the evidence.
●● General Rule on collecting evidence
Answer: As much material as is reasonably possible to collect should be
taken. More is better than less.
●● What is needed for known/exemplar samples for DNA?
Answer: Blood samples or buccal (cheek) swabs from the victim and
suspect are needed.
●● What is needed for known/reference or exemplar samples for
Automobile Specimens?
Answer: A known sample of paint from the questioned vehicle must be
submitted for comparison.
●● What is a good practice for packaging small objects?
Answer: Double-wrap very small objects such as hair, fibers, or glass
fragments. These items should first be folded up in a sheet of paper, such
as a pharmacist's fold, and then placed in an envelope
