TCOLE Criminal Investigations 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of maintaining 'chain of custody' for evidence?
- To ensure evidence is stored at a proper temperature
- To document who had possession of evidence at all times (Correct answer)
- To prevent the defense from accessing the evidence
- To speed up the prosecution process
Correct answer: To document who had possession of evidence at all times
Chain of custody creates a documented record of every person who handled evidence, ensuring its integrity and admissibility in court.
Question 2: Which crime scene search pattern is most thorough for covering a large outdoor area?
- Spiral method
- Zone method
- Grid method (Correct answer)
- Strip method
Correct answer: Grid method
The grid method covers the area twice from perpendicular angles, making it the most thorough search pattern for large outdoor crime scenes.
Question 3: The Locard Exchange Principle states that:
- Officers must exchange information with neighboring agencies
- Evidence must be exchanged between the defense and prosecution
- Every contact between a criminal and a crime scene leaves a trace (Correct answer)
- Suspects must be transferred between arresting and holding agencies
Correct answer: Every contact between a criminal and a crime scene leaves a trace
Locard's Exchange Principle holds that any physical contact results in an exchange of material, forming the scientific basis for forensic evidence collection.
Question 4: When should crime scene photographs first be taken?
- After all evidence has been collected and tagged
- Before anything at the scene is moved or disturbed (Correct answer)
- After the medical examiner has completed the examination
- After all witness statements have been gathered
Correct answer: Before anything at the scene is moved or disturbed
Photographs must be taken before evidence is touched or moved to document the original, unaltered state of the crime scene.
Question 5: In criminal law, 'corpus delicti' refers to:
- The autopsy report of a homicide victim
- A suspect's prior criminal history
- The body of facts proving that a crime was committed (Correct answer)
- A court order authorizing the investigation
Correct answer: The body of facts proving that a crime was committed
Corpus delicti refers to the essential facts and circumstances proving that a crime actually occurred, independent of any confession.
Question 6: Which type of fingerprint is invisible to the naked eye and requires development techniques to be detected?
- Patent fingerprint
- Plastic fingerprint
- Latent fingerprint (Correct answer)
- Transfer fingerprint
Correct answer: Latent fingerprint
Latent fingerprints are invisible impressions left by skin oils that must be developed using powder, chemicals, or alternate light sources.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of an investigator's initial walk-through of a crime scene before collecting evidence?
- To immediately collect all visible evidence
- To interview the first witnesses on scene
- To establish the outer crime scene perimeter
- To gain an overview and develop the investigation plan (Correct answer)
Correct answer: To gain an overview and develop the investigation plan
The initial walk-through allows investigators to assess overall scene conditions and develop a systematic plan before evidence collection begins.
TCOLE Criminal Investigations 1
What is the primary purpose of maintaining 'chain of custody' for evidence?