Term
| An Autopsy Report contains what? |
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Definition
1. Time of death,
2. If the body was moved after death, and
3. Weapon or substance causing death. |
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Term
| Definition of criminal investigation. |
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Definition
| The process of legally gathering evidence to determine if a crime has or is being committed. |
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Term
| What is the ultimate goal of a criminal investigation? |
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Definition
| To determine the truth about how a crime occurred. |
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Term
| What are the goals of a criminal investigator? |
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Definition
1. To determine if a crime has been committed,
2. To legally obtain info and evidence to identify the person(s) responsible for committing the crime,
3. To legally arrest the suspect,
4. To recover stolen property, and
5. To present the best case possible to the prosecutor. |
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Term
| Regarding evidence, a Criminal Investigator must do what? |
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Definition
| Gather all information and evidence that proves or disproves a suspects involvement. |
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Term
| A Criminal Investigator CANNOT solve EVERY crime because why? |
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Definition
| Sometimes the evidence is NOT there. |
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Term
| What are 4 Tools of a Criminal Investigator? |
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Definition
1. Information,
2. Instrumentation or forensic science,
3. Interviewing, and
4. Laws of Arrest, Search & Seizure. |
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Term
| A Criminal Investigator gathers INFORMATION from whom? |
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Definition
| Victims, witnesses, suspects, records, reports, utility bills, school & medical records, etc. Basically EVERYTHING and EVERYONE!! |
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Term
| How does a Criminal Investigator use INSTRUMENTATION OR FORENSIC SCIENCE as a tool? |
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Definition
| By use of techniques and objects applied to evidence to solve the crime. Example, fingerprints, serology, ballistics, DNA analysis, etc. |
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Term
| How does a Criminal Investigator use INTERVIEWING as a tool? |
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Definition
| By questioning people to obtain info and/or evidence of a crime. For example, victims, witnesses, suspects, etc. |
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Term
| How does a Criminal Investigator use LAWS OF ARREST, SEARCH AND SEIZURE as a tool? |
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Definition
| By using the legal framework or guidance on what investigative techniques are acceptable. For example, Rules of Evidence, CCP, etc. |
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Term
| What are 5 CHARACTERISTICS of a Criminal Investigator? |
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Definition
1. Suspicious,
2. Curious,
3. Observant,
4. Unbiased/Unprejudiced, and
5. Develops Rapport |
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Term
| What are 2 things a Criminal Investigator should NOT do? |
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Definition
1. Exhibit that you are an expert in ALL FIELDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT (ie., forensics, ballistics, etc,) and,
2. DO NOT discuss your case with other NOT having the need to know. |
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Term
| What is CORPUS DELICITI and its meaning? |
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Definition
| Defined as meaning the BODY or SUBSTANCE of a crime. |
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Term
| What is CRIMINAL EVIDENCE? |
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Definition
| Anything that is used to establish an alleged fact. |
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Term
| What are examples of criminal evidence? |
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Definition
a. Words, statements;
b. Actions;
c. Physical trace evidence;
d. Photography; and
e. Videos, etc. |
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Term
| The LEGAL SIGNIFICANCE of criminal evidence rests in its influence on which two types of people? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is REASONABLE DOUBT in a Criminal Case? |
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Definition
| The level of certainty a judge or jury must have to find a defendant GUILTY of a criminal offense. |
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Term
| If a positive ID is obtained from one witness, consider using what ID procedures for remaining witnesses? |
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Definition
| OTHER procedures such as lineup, show up, photo array, etc. |
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Term
| What disclaimer should be given to witnesses when viewing any ID procedures? |
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Definition
| Caution the witness that the person he/she are looking at MAY or MAY NOT be the suspect. |
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Term
| Clearing innocent parties has what effect on a criminal investigation? |
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Definition
| It helps REFOCUS the criminal investigation. |
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Term
| What are Officer duties regarding a PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION? |
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Definition
1. Establish IF a crime has been committed,
2. Arrest the suspect if he/she is present,
3. Determine the type of crime by category has been committed,
4. If witnesses exist, secure description and relay to dispatcher,
5. PROTECT THE CRIME SCENE,
6. Determine HOW the crime was committed, and
7. Record in field notes and sketches ALL data about the crime. |
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Term
| In the event of a HOMICIDE, who has jurisdiction over a body? |
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Definition
| The MEDICAL EXAMINER or JP. |
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Term
| What legal responsibility does a Criminal Investigator have in an alleged Child Abuse Case? |
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Definition
| MUST Take IMMEDIATE ACTION TO PROTECT THE CHILD!! |
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Term
| What is the definition of an AUTOPSY? |
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Definition
| The dissection of a DEAD BODY for the purpose of inquiry into the cause of death. |
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Term
| Define POST MORTEM LIVIDITY and its significance. |
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Definition
| A dark blue discoloration observable on the parts of the body nearest the group. Appears about 2 hrs after death. May indicate whether a body was moved or not AFTER death. |
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Term
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Definition
| The chemical change occurring in body tissues cause the muscles to stiffen after death. May start from 15 minutes to 15 hours after death. The PRESENCE or ABSENCE of stiffing may help in establishing time of death. |
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Term
| What is a CADAVERIC SPASM? |
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Definition
| When there is severe injury to the Central Nervous System or when there was great tension at the time of death. Causes the body to stiffen immediately. |
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Term
| What 8 Laboratory PROCEDURES that can help with a Criminal Investigation? |
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Definition
1. Atomic Absorption,
2. Spectrographic Analysis,
3. Chromoatography,
4. Laser Examination,
5. DNA Fingerprinting,
6. Voiceprint ID (rare unless you're FBI),
7. Cryptography, and
8. Luminal |
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Term
| Define ATOMIC ABSORPTION. |
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Definition
| Atomic Absorption is a spectroscopic technique for determing the concentration of a particular METAL ELEMENT in a submitted sample. |
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Term
| Define SPECTROGRAPHIC ANALYSIS. |
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Definition
| ID of evidence samples by reducing sample to SPECTRA of all the elements through vaporization. |
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Term
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Definition
| Gas or vapor that separates compounds and identifies them through peaks displayed on a graph. Useful in identifying drugs. |
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