Evidence Collection & Documentation Flashcards
7 cards from real CPI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Evidence Collection & Documentation flashcards as text
In what situation would an investigator be justified in conducting a warrantless search of discarded trash?
Answer: When the trash has been placed at the curb for public collection
Under the 'open fields' and abandonment doctrines, trash placed at the curb for collection has no reasonable expectation of privacy.
Which documentation method provides the most legally defensible account of an interview?
Answer: Contemporaneous handwritten notes supplemented by audio recording with consent
Contemporaneous notes combined with a consented recording provide both real-time accuracy and an audible record that can be reviewed for context.
What is 'spoliation' of evidence?
Answer: The destruction, alteration, or failure to preserve evidence relevant to litigation
Spoliation refers to any act that destroys or materially alters evidence, which can result in legal sanctions against the responsible party.
When documenting financial records as evidence in a fraud investigation, which approach is most appropriate?
Answer: Obtain certified copies or originals and document the chain of custody
Certified copies or originals with documented chain of custody ensure the financial records are authentic and unaltered for legal proceedings.
Which practice helps ensure the integrity of audio recordings used as evidence?
Answer: Storing recordings on a secure, write-once medium and documenting the hash value
Write-once storage and cryptographic hash values verify that a recording has not been altered since original capture.
An investigator discovers evidence that implicates their client rather than the opposing party. What is the ethical obligation?
Answer: Document and preserve the evidence while consulting legal counsel
Investigators have a duty to document all evidence objectively; destroying or hiding evidence violates professional ethics and potentially the law.
What is the role of a 'control sample' when collecting trace evidence at a scene?
Answer: To collect material from an unaffected area for comparison purposes
Control samples from uncontaminated areas allow forensic analysts to distinguish trace evidence deposited by the incident from naturally occurring background material.