Chapter 1

MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the
question.
1) Forensic science is the application of science to:
A) civil laws.
B) crime scene reconstruction.
C) speech making.
D) both criminal and civil laws.
E) criminal laws.
2) Which area of science is NOT involved in criminalistics?
A) geology
B) chemistry
C) biology
D) metallurgy
E) none of the above
3) The fictional character of Sherlock Holmes was created by:
A) Darwin.
B) Dalton.
C) Denton.
D) Boyle.
E) Doyle.
4) Who is known as the "father of forensic toxicology"?
A) Vidocq
B) Lattes
C) Locard
D) Osborn
E) Orfilia
5) Who developed the system known as anthropometry?
A) Galton
B) Bertillon
C) Goddard
D) Gross
E) Boaz
6) Who undertook the first definitive study of fingerprints as a method of personal identification?
A) Goddard
B) Lattes
C) Gross
D) Galton
E) Locard

7) Who devised a technique for determining the blood group of a dried bloodstain, which he applied to
criminal investigations?
A) Landsteiner
B) Bertillon
C) Gross
D) Locard
E) Lattes
8) Who established the comparison microscope as the indispensable tool of the modern firearms
examiner?
A) Goddard
B) Lattes
C) Galton
D) Gross
E) Osborn
9) Who wrote the first treatise describing the application of science to the field of criminal
investigation?
A) Landsteiner
B) Locard
C) Vidocq
D) Gross
E) Osborn
10) Who established the first workable crime laboratory?
A) Galton
B) Doyle
C) Locard
D) Osborn
E) Bertillon
11) Who postulated the exchange of evidence principle?
A) Gross
B) Bernoulli
C) Locard
D) Galton
E) Osborn
12) The oldest forensic laboratory in the United States is that of the:
A) Los Angeles Police Department.
B) DEA.
C) Secret Service.
D) FBI.
E) NYC Police Department.
13) Approximately how many operating crime labs are there in the United States (federal, state and
country)
?
A) 200
B) 300+
C) 250
D) 75

E) 150
14) Which of the following can be rightfully cited as an explanation for the rapid growth of crime labs
during the last 25 years?
A) advent of DNA profiling
B) increase in drug-related arrests
C) staggering increase in crime rates in the United States
D) Supreme Court decisions in the 1960s
E) all of the above
15) Which entity maintains the largest crime laboratory in the world?
A) FBI
B) Scotland Yard
C) Royal Canadian Mounted Police
D) LAPD
E) ATF
16) Which would not be included in the work of the biology unit of a crime lab?
A) DNA profiling
B) comparison of hairs
C) semen stains
D) fingerprint analysis
E) blood typing
17) Which unit has the responsibility for the examination of body fluids and organs for the presence of
drugs and poisons?
A) biology unit
B) toxicology unit
C) evidence collection unit
D) trace evidence unit
E) physical science unit
18) The concept of "general acceptance" of scientific evidence relates to the:
A) Miranda warnings.
B) Frye standard.
C) exclusionary rule.
D) First Amendment.
E) John's Law.
19) In the case of Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceutical, Inc., the U.S. Supreme Court advocated that a
"gatekeeper" determine the admissibility and reliability of scientific evidence. This gatekeeper is the:
A) prosecutor.
B) court clerk.
C) trial judge.
D) expert witness.
E) jury.
20) Which of the following is NOT true? An expert witness must be able to demonstrate:
A) working knowledge of the subject matter.
B) skill in trade or profession of interest to the court.
C) education in his/her area of expertise.

D) significant experience in a relevant field.

E) formal degree in forensic science.
21) The final evaluator of forensic evidence is the:
A) prosecutor.
B) jury.
C) media.
D) police.
E) accused.
22) What is the LEAST important consideration in the gathering of evidence at a crime scene?
A) competent collection of materials
B) completion of the chain of custody documents
C) proper recognition of the evidence
D) guilt of the suspect(s)
E) adequate preservation of samples
23) Which matter is NOT the province of civil litigation? The determination of competency to:
A) refuse medical treatment.
B) sell property.
C) prepare a will.
D) purchase a vehicle.
E) stand trial for burglary.
24) Bite marks would be LEAST likely to be found in cases involving:
A) child abuse.
B) assault.
C) arson.
D) sexual abuse.
E) murder.
25) Forensic odontology refers to the study of:
A) drugs.
B) pollen.
C) rocks.
D) teeth.
E) bones.
26) Which of the following services are typically provided to law enforcement by crime laboratories?
A) odontology
B) criminalistics
C) psychology
D) polygraph
E) pathology
27) Which of the following individuals was not an earlier contributor to the field of forensic toxicology?
A) Mathieu Orifila
B) Alphonse Bertillon
C) Carl Wilhelm Scheele
D) Valentin Ross
E) James Marsh

28) The case of Coppolino v. State highlights issues dealing with:

A) the admissibility of the polygraph.
B) search and seizure.
C) the evidential value of confessions.
D) warrantees searches.
E) the acceptability of new scientific tests.
29) The scientific method requires that scientific evidence be validated by:
A) formulating pertinent questions.
B) formulating hypotheticals.
C) performing experiments.
D) All of the above.
E) Just A and B.
30) The ten sections of The American Academy of Forensic Science include all of the following except:
A) Arson/Explosives
B) General
C) Jurisprudence
D) Toxicology
E) Criminalistics
31) The tendency of the public to believe that every crime scene will yield forensic evidence and their
unrealistic expectations that a prosecutors case should always be bolstered and supported by forensic
evidence is known as:
A) the Scientific Method
B) Jurisprudence
C) Anthropometry
D) Locards Principle
E) the CSI Effect
32) What is the major problem facing the forensic DNA community?
A) backlog of unanalyzed DNA samples
B) lack of recent advancements in DNA technology
C) mistrust of DNA profiling results by the public
D) contamination of DNA samples by evidence collectors
E) existence of computerized DNA databases
33) The wide variation in which services are offered in different crime laboratories is due to:
A) the competition among crime laboratories for speed in case processing
B) variations in local laws
C) budgetary and staffing limitations
D) B and C only
E) all of the above
34) The _______________ unit applies principles and techniques of chemistry, physics, and geology to
the identification and comparison of crime-scene evidence.
A) physical science
B) toxicology
C) biology
D) forensic geology
E) none of the above

35) Which specialized area of forensic science examines the relationship between human behavior and
legal proceedings?
A) forensic psychology
B) forensic jury selection
C) forensic psychiatry
D) jurisprudence
E) behavioral criminalistics
36) A crime scene which involved the collapse of a structure would be analyzed by specialists in the area
of:
A) criminalistics
B) forensic entomology
C) forensic engineering
D) forensic error analysis
E) forensic computer and digital analysis
37) What factor(s)do(es) the court usually take into consideration as sufficient grounds for qualification
as an expert witness?
A) experience
B) training
C) education
D) A and B only
E) all of the above
38) Specially trained personnel called _______________ are employed by some crime laboratories on 24hour call to retrieve evidence and have all the proper tools and supplies for proper collection and
packaging of evidence at their disposal.
A) crime scene investigators
B) evidence technicians
C) police officers
D) forensic pathologists
E) evidence officers

Chapter 2
MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the
question.
1) The first officer arriving at a crime scene, after providing or obtaining medical assistance for the
injured and effecting an arrest of suspects (if possible), should immediately:
A) photograph the scene.
B) search for evidence.
C) make a rough sketch of the scene.
D) take notes.
E) secure the scene.
2) The most basic methods of crime scene recording include all of the following EXCEPT:
A) infrared analysis.
B) narrated videotape.
C) sketches.
D) photographs.
E) note taking.
3) If the crime scene includes a dead body, the photographer should:
A) determine the time of death.
B) depict injuries and weapons at scene.
C) attempt to identify the victim.
D) attempt to locate the victim's next of kin.
E) document all forensic personnel at crime scene.
4) A rough sketch need NOT include a:
A) location of walls, doors and windows in the building on scene.
B) sketch of the suspect(s).
C) compass heading designating north.
D) date, location, and time of the incident.
E) location of all recovered physical evidence.
5) CAD programs enhance the ability to:
A) produce a finished crime scene sketch.
B) edit videotape.
C) develop photographs.
D) create chain-of-custody documents.
E) take complete notes.
6) Which statement about note taking is NOT true?
A) Notes should include location of physical evidence recovered.
B) Note taking is done after all crime scene processing has been completed.
C) The date of the investigation should be recorded.
D) Disposition of items after collection must be included.
E) The individual who packaged and marked items of evidence should be recorded.

7) Which crime scene search pattern would absolutely require more than one investigator?
A) line
B) zone
C) spiral
D) grid
E) none of the above
8) Physical evidence at a hit-and-run scene could include:
A) glass fragments.
B) fabric impressions.
C) paint chips.
D) fiber and tissue.
E) all of the above
9) Which of the following is a correct physical evidence collection procedure?
A) All items collected from the same grid area should be packaged together.
B) The victim's clothing should be obtained at the crime scene and vacuumed to obtain trace
evidence.
C) Bloodstained garments should be packaged separately in paper bags.
D) Every item collected should be secured individually in a plastic bag to prevent contamination.
E) Items recovered from the scene of a murder should be sent along with the body to the medical
examiner.
10) Charred debris from an arson scene should be:
A) thrown away with the other fire debris.
B) packaged in air tight glass jar.
C) placed in Ziploc bags.
D) aired out before packing in plastic wrap.
E) placed together with similar items in a paper bag.
11) A victim's fingernail scrapings would be correctly packaged in:
A) a druggist fold.
B) sealed, airtight containers.
C) a plastic Ziploc bag.
D) both B and C
E) none of the above
12) The successful outcome of a criminal investigation is almost always directly related to:
A) the manner in which the evidence is collected and preserved.
B) the number of people employed in the crime lab.
C) the volume of the physical evidence collected.
D) the complexity of the crime.
E) whether the crime is considered high profile.
13) A properly maintained chain of custody is NOT the responsibility of the:
A) evidence clerk.
B) forensic technician.
C) trial judge.
D) trace evidence examiner.
E) crime scene processor.

14) Success in the recognition and collection of physical evidence is determined primarily by the:
A) type of evidence involved.
B) size of the budget of the crime lab.
C) time available to the evidence collectors.
D) skill of personnel processing the crime scene.
E) notoriety of the case.
15) The collection of standard reference samples at the crime scene is important because they:
A) prevent the laboratory from making mistakes.
B) are obtained only from suspects in cases of violent assault.
C) prove the continuity of possession.
D) serve as a source of extra test material if required in the crime lab.
E) permit comparisons to be made with the evidence.
16) A corpse was discovered in an apartment last November. It was that of a 50-year-old male who died
of a heart attack. At the time of discovery, the body temperature was determined to be 89F. What is
the most probable post mortem interval?
A) 2 hours
B) 12 hours
C) 1 hour
D) 4 hours
E) 7 hours
17) The rate of cooling of a dead body can be influenced by all BUT the:
A) exposure to direct sunlight.
B) weather conditions.
C) location.
D) size of body.
E) gender of victim.
18) As the post mortem interval increases, the concentration of potassium in the vitreous humor of the
eye:
A) remains the same.
B) decreases.
C) increases.
19) Which is NOT a manner of death?
A) accident
B) suicide
C) natural
D) drowning
E) homicide
20) According to forensic entomologists, which "witness" is the first to arrive at the crime scene?
A) mite
B) spider
C) carrion beetle
D) blow fly
E) centipede

21) Rigor mortis refers to the:

A) odor of death.
B) stiffness of death.
C) temperature of death.
D) time of death.
E) color of death.
22) The systematic collection, organization, and analysis of information is a process known as:
A) criminal profiling.
B) forensic science.
C) crime scene investigation.
D) the scientific method.
E) crime scene reconstruction.
23) Which type of evidence must be packaged separately from other evidence?
A) biological stain evidence
B) DNA-containing evidence
C) arson evidence
D) A and B
E) all of the above
24) Which of the following items is likely to contain DNA evidence?
A) a glass fragment
B) a bedsheet
C) a self-adhesive mailing stamp
D) a blue rug fiber
E) all of the above
25) All of the following items may be placed in an airtight container except:
A) explosive residues
B) hairs and fibers
C) bloodstained clothing
D) charred debris recovered from a fire
E) glass
26) Investigators should collect possible carriers of trace evidence which may include:
A) vacuum sweepings.
B) clothing.
C) vehicles.
D) fingernail scrapings.
E) all of the above.
27) The crime scene notes must accurately record:
A) the tasks assigned each investigator.
B) personnel arrivals and departures from the scene.
C) descriptions of evidence present at the crime scene.
D) arrival and departure times of media personnel and on-lookers.
E) A, B, and C.

28) Videotapes of the crime scene:

A) are required in all jurisdictions.
B) are generally of poor quality and little value.
C) can be used in place of notes and photographs.
D) must be complemented by a hard copy of notes and separate still photographs.
E) are not admissible in court due to the poor image quality.
29) Crime scene sketches serve a unique purpose in permanently documenting the location of evidence:
A) collected and removed from the crime scene.
B) containing drug evidence.
C) processed at the crime scene.
D) not documented in photographs.
E) in plain view.
30) What part of a decedents body resists rapid decomposition and is used by forensic anthropologists to
provide information about the decedent?
A) bones
B) cartilage
C) soft tissue
D) hair fragments
E) teeth
31) A forensic anthropologist may help to create a(n) __________ to help with the identification of the
victim.
A) fingerprint chart
B) dental profile
C) DNA profile
D) autopsy chart
E) facial reconstruction
32) Estimations of the postmortem interval (PMI) using entomological evidence must take into account:
A) the species of insect present.
B) geographical location of the decedents body.
C) the locations climate over time.
D) weather conditions.
E) all of the above
33) Insect evidence should be collected:
A) at the scene by a forensic entomologist or trained investigator.
B) upon the finding of the decedent by the first responding officer.
C) only from the body.
D) at the crime laboratory by forensic analysts.
E) during the autopsy by the medical examiner.
34) Evidence of tampering with the position of a body after death can be obtained by evaluating the:
A) rigor mortis.
B) algor mortis.
C) livor mortis.
D) both B and C
E) none of the above

35) If a cause of death cannot be found through simple observation of the victim, a(n) ___________ is
typically carried out.
A) drug screening
B) autopsy
C) facial reconstruction
D) crime scene investigation
E) anthropological profile
36) Typically, about an hour after death, the a deceased body loses heat at a rate of approximately
___________ until the body reaches the environmental temperature.
A) 12 F per hour
B) 1-1 F per minute
C) 0.1-0.2 C per hour
D) 1-1 C per hour
E) 1-1 F per hour
37) To determine the gender of skeletal remains, a forensic anthropologist can examine all of the
following area of the skeleton except:
A) cranium
B) pelvis
C) sacrum
D) vertebrae
E) femur
38) The stage of fusion of various bones within a skeleton can be used to estimate the ___________ of
the decedent.
A) occupation
B) age
C) race
D) gender
E) height

ESSAY. Write your answer in the space provided or on a separate sheet of paper.
39) Define physical evidence and its significance to the area of forensic science.
40) List and explain the responsibilities of the first officer at a crime scene.
41) List and explain the necessary steps to thoroughly record a crime scene.
42) Diagram and describe the four primary search patterns that are employed to systematically search a
crime scene for physical evidence.
43) Describe the proper techniques for packaging evidence at a crime scene.
44) Define and explain the concept of the chain of custody.
45) Define and explain the role(s) of the following forensic specialists:
--Forensic Pathologist
--Forensic Entomologist
--Forensic Anthropologist