Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Flashcards

A CSI discovers that a colleague has been skipping proper decontamination procedures between scenes. What is the most appropriate response?

Answer: Report the behavior to a supervisor because it can compromise evidence integrity

Skipping decontamination risks cross-contaminating evidence across scenes, which is both an ethical violation and a threat to the justice system.

What does the term 'fruit of the poisonous tree' refer to in the context of evidence law?

Answer: Evidence derived from an initial illegal search or seizure

The 'fruit of the poisonous tree' doctrine holds that evidence derived from an unconstitutional search is also inadmissible, not just the original illegally seized evidence.

A CSI is working a scene that overlaps with a federal jurisdiction. Who typically controls the evidence collection process in such cases?

Answer: Jurisdiction is determined by prior agreement or through interagency coordination

Overlapping jurisdiction requires coordination through prior MOUs or real-time interagency agreement to determine who controls evidence collection.

A CSI finds currency at a crime scene that appears unrelated to the crime. What is the ethical obligation?

Answer: Collect and log it as potential evidence, following standard procedures

All items at a crime scene must be documented and, if appropriate, collected — investigators cannot independently decide currency is irrelevant without proper review.

Which ethical principle obligates a CSI to remain neutral and not advocate for a particular outcome in a case?

Answer: Objectivity and impartiality

Objectivity and impartiality require that CSIs analyze and present evidence without bias toward the prosecution, defense, or any other party.

When photographing a homicide victim, a CSI's supervisor requests that certain images be deleted because they make the scene appear too gruesome for the jury. What should the CSI do?

Answer: Refuse to delete official documentation and report the request up the chain

Deleting official crime scene documentation constitutes evidence tampering; the CSI must refuse and escalate the improper request.

A CSI is asked to testify as an expert witness. Which statement best describes the CSI's role in this context?

Answer: To provide objective scientific opinion within their area of expertise

Expert witnesses are obligated to provide unbiased scientific opinion within their expertise, regardless of which party called them to testify.