SAMPLE EXAM FOR CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATION
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1. Which is the larger, more inclusive
field of study in the investigative sciences?
A. Forensic Science *
B. Criminalistics
C. Ballistics
D. Dactylography
2. A crime scene technician would use more
inductive logic than a chief investigator.
A. true *
B. false
3. Courts have historically relied most
upon which standard in admitting crime scene evidence?
A. Frye *
B. Marx
C. Coppolino
D. Daubert
4. The Marx standard involves whether the
court does not have to sacrifice its common sense in understanding the
scientific technique.
A. true *
B. false
5. Historically, who was the first
detective agency?
A. Pinkertons
B. Scotland Yard
C. Bow Street Runners *
D. Secret Service
6. Who established the first Internal
Affairs unit?
A. NYPD
B. Scotland Yard *
C. Chicago P.D.
D. Interpol
7. Many of the Bow Street Runners were
ex-convicts.
A. true *
B. false
8. Which detective agency had the motto "We
Never Sleep"?
A. Pinkertons *
B. Burns
C. U.S. Marshals
D. Secret Service
9. Who invented the idea of plainclothes
police detectives?
A. Allan Pinkerton
B. Sir Robert Peel *
C. J. Edgar Hoover
D. Teddy Roosevelt
10. Who was the founder of America's first
crime lab?
A. Alec Jeffreys
B. Al Osborn
C. Leo Keeler
D. Calvin Goddard *
11. Who started the high-IQ detective
mystique?
A. Sir Robert Peel
B. Col. Seth Wiard
C. J. Edgar Hoover
D. August Vollmer *
12. There are approximately how many crime
labs (federal, state & local) in the U.S.?
A. 200
B. 350 *
C. 450
D. 600
13. A crime lab is always located within
HOW MANY miles of most (90%) police agencies?
A. 50 *
B. 75
C. 100
D. 125
14. A police department’s own crime lab
probably holds what status in the department?
A. precinct
B. division
C. section
D. bureau *
15. What specialty is NOT thoroughly
supported by the FBI crime lab?
A. toxicology
B. firearm tracing *
C. mineralogy
D. metallurgy
16. Trace evidence refers to any substance
which may require a microscope to look at.
A. true *
B. false
17. Physical evidence describes any
substance where its properties are known by reaction with another substance.
A. True
B. False *
18. Class evidence is evidence that can be
traced back to its manufacturer.
A. True
B. False *
19. What was the first scientific method of
identifying criminals?
A. fingerprint cards
B. the line-up
C. the Bertillon method *
D. the Vucetich-Henry system
20. Dactylography is another name for
forensic dentistry.
A. True
B. False *
21. Forensic entymology involves the study
of insects.
A. True *
B. False
22. What are the chances of two people
having the same DNA "fingerprint"?
A. 4 million to 1
B. 3 billion to 1
C. 30 billion to 1 *
D. 60 billion to 1
23. A hair sample should include the root
to collect DNA evidence.
A. true *
B. false
24. All guns when fired, except Smith &
Wesson, leave a clockwise striation pattern on the bullet.
A. true *
B. false
25. Which of the following is NOT a
component of gunpowder residue?
A. lead
B. barium
C. antimony
D. arsenic *
26. Chromotography involves the absorption
of light by a substance.
A. True
B. False *
27. The standard 10-print card is 8 inches
square and has been in use since 1908.
A. True *
B. False
28. The Henry fraction is based mainly on
assigning numerical values to whorls.
A. True *
B. False
29. What are the second most common types
of prints?
A. arches
B. loops
C. whorls *
D. accidentals
30. The NCIC FPC standard system codes a
whorl as the letter ___.
A. A
B. T
C. C
D. P *
31. Which of the following would be a NCIC
code for a Radial Loop?
A. PO
B. 54 *
C. CM
D. 05
32. An AFIS system computer printout
usually contains a ranked list of ___ suspects.
A. 1-5
B. 5-10 *
C. 10-15
D. 15-20
33. An APB, or BOLO, is usually recorded
over what police information system?
A. NCIC
B. AWWS
C. LETS *
D. AFIS
34. Which detective case code reveals that
the case was cleared by arrest?
A. VCI (Victim Cancelled Investigation)
B. COP (Closed, Other Prosecution)
C. PRF (Prosecutor Refused to File)
D. WPA (Warrant Pending Arrest) *
35. What is the name for the front page of
the case file turned over to the prosecutor?
A. synopsis *
B. summary of facts
C. chain of custody report
D. probable cause statement
36. State police computerized rap sheet
records are indexed for searches by name and alias fields.
A. true
B. false *
37. Which record system normally allows a
check by name only?
A. NCIC
B. AWWS (Automated Wants & Warrants System) *
C. AFIS
D. CCH
38. Of the following, where is the best
place to get a sample of a person’s signature?
A. motor vehicle records *
B. county court records
C. social security records
D. state criminal records
39. The military will share records on a
suspect, but will also notify them you inquired.
A. true *
B. false
40. According to Post Office policy, the
name and street address of anyone with a P.O. Box that is conducting business
with it is public information.
A. true *
B. false
41. People with Social Security numbers
beginning with 000-100 or other low numbers are from:
A. the Northeast *
B. the Northwest
C. the Southeast
D. the Southwest
42. A "consolidated" crime report is an FBI
form and filled in by the department’s TAC officer.
A. true *
B. false
43. How many subjects need to stand as
possible suspects for a legal line-up?
A. 5
B. 6 *
C. 7
D. 8
44. If a suspect refuses a line-up, their
photo can be used in a mug-shot lineup anyway.
A. true *
B. false
45. According to the portrait parle of
identification, which set of peculiarities are the most important?
A. age, race, build
B. nose, hair, complexion
C. chin, eyes, lips *
D. neck, mouth, ears
46. What is the standard inner perimeter
for roping off an outdoor crime scene?
A. ten square feet
B. twenty square feet
C. forty square feet *
D. sixty square feet
47. A detective canvass of the area should
follow a _______ pattern.
A. block-by-block
B. signs of the cross *
C. you-we-I
D. plain view
48. A law enforcement conversation with
witnesses or victims should follow a ____ pattern.
A. block-by-block
B. signs of the cross
C. you-we-I *
D. plain view
49. Exterior photographs of the crime scene
would be taken in a clockwise pattern.
A. true *
B. false
50. What kind of sketch would generally be used with an outdoor crime scene?
A. the coordinate method
B. the triangulation method *
C. the cross-projection method
D. the single spiral method
51. A spiral search pattern usually
requires two officers.
A. true
B. false *
52. What kind of search pattern is best if
you want to be sure you cover everything?
A. zone
B. strip
C. spiral
D. grid *
53. The correct order of a crime scene
analysis is:
A. sketch, search, photograph
B. search, sketch, photograph
C. photograph, search, sketch
D. photograph, sketch, search *
54. What tells the difference between a
rock and bullet hole?
A. a rock leaves both radial and concentric cracks
B. a bullet leaves both radial and concentric cracks *
C. a bullet leaves only radial cracks
D. a bullet leaves only concentric cracks
55. A soil sample would most easily be
tested by:
A. chromatography
B. spectrophotometry
C. a density-gradient tube *
D. its refraction index
56. What is the most distinguishing feature
of a paint sample?
A. wetness
B. color *
C. shine
D. smoothness
57. The least common man-made fiber is:
A. nylon
B. polyester
C. rayon
D. spandex *
58. Fiber evidence is best classified by
its:
A. mass
B. volume
C. density
D. refraction index *
59. What does it mean if a person is a
"secretor"?
A. they sweat a lot at crime scenes due to a severe perspiration problem
B. their saliva and other non-blood fluids can be traced to a blood type *
C. their bodily fluids are easily found at crime scenes
D. they leave easy fingerprints to lift because of excessive skin oil
60. What is the least common blood type?
A. type O
B. type A
C. type B
D. type AB *
61. Blood-spatter analysis is most often
found in cases where the suspected manner of death was accidental.
A. true *
B. false
62. You should let laboratory technicians
wash a shoeprint impression if it needs it.
A. true *
B. false
63. Which of the following is a good characteristic of interrogation rooms?
A. a two-way mirror should be included
B. a dummy telephone should be included
C. a working telephone should be included
D. the room should be sparsely furnished *
64. Which of the following techniques would
still be considered the "third degree" treatment?
A. false line-ups
B. marathon, 48-hour sessions *
C. pretending to beat someone in the next room
D. placing an officer undercover as a cellmate
65. Approximately ______ of communication is nonverbal.
A. 20%
B. 40%
C. 60% *
D. 80%
66. Guilty suspects will usually scratch
what part of their body?
A. head
B. neck *
C. arms
D. legs
67. Guilty people usually like it when you
offer rationalizations for their alleged wrongdoing.
A. true *
B. false
68. If a suspect's eye movement is to their
right & up, they are:
A. trying to recall a visual truth
B. trying to make up a visual lie *
C. trying to recall an auditory truth
D. trying to make up an auditory lie
69. The cognitive interview technique works
best on suspects with:
A. an alibi
B. memory problems *
C. good acting ability
D. psychiatric problems
70. What is the cognitive interviewing
technique?
A. eliciting a nonverbal response from the subject
B. eliciting a verbal, emotional response from the subject
C. having the subject repeat the story from various starting points in the story
*
D. making the subject feel guilty so they want to confess
71. What method of confronting denial is
used on a suspect with good acting ability and who gives you no nonverbal
behavior to interpret?
A. cognitive interviewing
B. selective interviewing *
C. enticement interviewing
D. the Reid model of confession
72. People confess to police about _____ of
the time.
A. 20%
B. 40%
C. 60% *
D. 80%
73. Innocent people have a larger "bubble
space" than guilty people.
A. true
B. false *
74. People guilty of something usually nod
their heads along with the trunk of their body.
A. true *
B. false
75. Which of the following is NOT one of
the three recognized types of informants?
A. volunteer
B. paid
C. anonymous
D. conscientious *
76. The "instigator"-informant is used most
commonly in what situation?
A. a case with no leads
B. a buy-bust operation *
C. an organized crime case
D. during an ongoing trial to get witnesses
77. More informants want protection than
money.
A. true *
B. false
78. A "registered" informant would be
allowed to have a detective’s home phone number.
A. true
B. false *
79. Juvenile (under age 18) informants are
allowed under special conditions.
A. true
B. false *
80. One way to motivate an informant to
give you better information is to compare them with other informants.
A. true
B. false *
81. The politically correct way to refer to
informants is as:
A. snitches
B. tipsters
C. junior detectives
D. special employees *
82. Which type of witness should you come
back later to reinterview?
A. the reluctant witness
B. the fearful witness
C. the unaware witness *
D. the talkative witness
83. You should always close your interview
with a witness by:
A. saying "Don’t leave town without telling us"
B. saying "Don’t worry, we’ll have this case solved in no time"
C. leaving your business card *
D. simply leaving
84. Victims are NOT normally valuable
sources of information in property crimes.
A. True *
B. False
85. "Time of operation" in a burglary M.O.
file refers to whether they are a day or night burglar.
A. True
B. False *
86. Property crimes are cleared by arrest
more than violent crimes.
A. True
B. False *
87. Which part of a burglary M.O. file is
used to distinguish "skilled" and "unskilled"?
A. type of premise
B. means of entry
C. type of loot *
D. trademark
88. Who are the most likely "receivers" for
an unskilled burglar?
A. fences
B. friends & family *
C. pawnshops
D. construction workers
89. Who are the most likely suspects in
most burglary investigations?
A. employees *
B. friends
C. visitors
D. neighbors
90. In a report describing stolen property,
which items are first on the list?
A. articles with market value
B. articles with identifying characteristics
C. articles with numerical characteristics *
D. articles bearing initials or personal marks
91. About 65% of homicides are cleared by
arrest.
A. true *
B. false
92. A goodbye note is found in what
percentage of suicide cases?
A. 25% *
B. 50%
C. 65%
D. 85%
93. A decomposing body is found in a rural
area. The size of the largest maggot found in the body is 6 millimeters long.
How many days has the victim been dead?
A. 4
B. 6
C. 8 *
D. 10
94. A 120 lb. body has just floated to the
surface of a lake. How long has the victim been dead?
A. 4 days
B. 6 days
C. 8 days *
D. 10 days
95. Partial rigor mortis (upper body only)
has set in. How long has the victim been dead?
A. 6 hours
B. 12 hours *
C. 18 hours
D. 36 hours
96. Full rigor mortis (total body
stiffness) has set in. Lividity is present and fixed. The body temperature is 77
degrees. Outside temperature is 70 degrees. How long have they been dead?
A. 12 hours
B. 18 hours *
C. 24 hours
D. 36 hours
97. Visual, fixed surveillance is also
known as a:
A. tracer
B. tail
C. tag
D. stakeout *
98. A "pen register" is a device that
tracks a suspect’s movements in their vehicle.
A. true
B. false *
99. Motions to suppress validly obtained
electronic eavesdropping evidence are usually successful ____ of the time.
A. 20% *
B. 30%
C. 40%
D. 50%
100. A tap on a fax machine requires
testing the line to check if it’s the right suspect.
A. true *
B. false
101. Audio surveillance must be turned off
whenever a privileged conversation takes place.
A. true *
B. false
102. Wearing a "wire" is an expected duty
of undercover officers.
A. true
B. false *
103. Which of the following is NOT part of
a robber M.O.?
A. uses stolen car or plates
B. lives within 2-3 miles of the crime scene
C. likes to hang around the crime scene when police arrive *
D. likes to brag about the holdup
104. Robbers usually commit how many crimes
between release from prison before they are caught again (what is their velocity
of crime)?
A. 5-10
B. 10-15
C. 15-25 *
D. 25-40
105. Which of the following is a trademark
of the "professional" robber?
A. engraves stolen property with his own identification markings
B. employs a professional fence to keep up legitimate appearances
C. wears disguises and has change of clothing nearby *
D. uses accomplices as lookouts and for other purposes
106. Home invasion usually involves suspects who are the same race as the
victim.
A. true *
B. false
107. More carjackings occur by luring the
unsuspecting motorist over to assist a stopped vehicle than by attacks on
drivers at stop lights.
A. true *
B. false
108. Robbery usually has a higher clearance
rate than burglary.
A. true *
B. false
109. Which of the following is the proper
investigatory procedure in a burglary case?
A. scene analysis, surveillance, informant, M.O. file
B. scene analysis, informant, surveillance, M.O. file *
C. scene analysis, M.O. file, informant, surveillance
D. scene analysis, M.O. file, surveillance, informant
110. What percentage of all fires are
usually arsons?
A. 20%
B. 30%
C. 40%
D. 50% *
111. Motive is a fairly UNIMPORTANT element
in solving an arson case.
A. true *
B. false
112. Searching the arson scene is from the
area of most damage to least damage.
A. true
B. false *
113. Arson fires usually burn quicker and
larger than other kinds of fires.
A. true *
B. false
114. Which of the following is NOT a sign
of arson using an accelerant?
A. less than 22 minutes from ignition to flashpoint
B. melted copper, aluminum, and other metals
C. melted glass, mirrors, and other glass materials *
D. deep cracks and crevices in wood
115. Arson, like computer crime, requires
the perpetrator to have some special skills.
A. true *
B. false
116. Solving a fraud, or bunco, case
requires:
A. testimony of at least one victim as to how they were conned *
B. proof that the operation was a conspiracy
C. documents showing an agreement or contract was signed
D. the "take" be more than 50 dollars
117. Severe child abuse cases will most
likely come to police attention via:
A. tips from a family friend or neighbor
B. children reporting it to police themselves
C. calls from a hospital in the family’s home town
D. calls from a hospital away from the family’s home town *
118. A mother cannot testify against a
father in a child abuse case.
A. true
B. false *
119. More fathers abuse children than
mothers.
A. true
B. false *
120. Most "missing person" reports
involving children are runaway cases.
A. true *
B. false
Last updated: Sept. 30, 2006
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