Criminal Investigation 11th Edition

Swanson Test Bank

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Chapter 8: The Crime Laboratory

Multiple Choice Questions

1. A crime laboratory can help in answering which of the following questions?

A) Whether a crime has been committed.
B) Who committed the crime?
C) Who could not have committed the crime?
D) All of the preceding are correct.
Ans: D
Page ref: 205

2. Forensic science is defined as

A) the study of physical evidence related to a crime.
B) that part of science applied to answering legal questions.
C) a reconstruction of crimes.
D) science in action.
Ans: B
Page ref: 205

3. Which of the following terms deal with the study of physical evidence related to
crime?
A) Criminology.
B) Criminal justice.
C) Practitioners.
D) Criminalistics.
Ans: D
Page ref: 206

4. The National Forensic Science Technology Center was established in 1995. Its
primary function(s) is/are
A) to help crime laboratories prepare for accreditation.
B) to improve the techniques of decoding DNA evidence.
C) to offer continuing education programs for crime laboratory personnel.
D) both A and C are correct.
Ans: D
Page ref: 207

5. The effectiveness of crime laboratory services can be measured in terms of

A) quality, proximity, and timeliness.
B) proximity, timeliness, and quantity.
C) timeliness, quantity, and quality.
D) leads, arrests, and convictions.
Ans: A
Page ref: 209-212
6. The Daubert case stands for the proposition that for scientific evidence to be
admissible in court, it must be
A) generally acceptable in the scientific community.
B) proven beyond any doubt.
C) scientifically valid.
D) published.
Ans: C
Page ref: 212

7. Mitochondrial DNA is found in

A) Rhesus monkeys.
B) the body of the cell.
C) females who have recently given birth.
D) blood.
Ans: B
Page ref: 214

8. The effectiveness of DNA evidence in court depends on

A) the ability of the witness to explain the probability that no other person, except an
identical twin has the same DNA type as that discovered at the crime scene.
B) the quality of the evidence analysis that was performed in the crime lab.
C) the qualifications of the crime lab and the crime lab personnel.
D) the jurisdiction, the lab technician, and the quality of the equipment used in the
analysis.
Ans: A
Page ref: 215

9. CODIS is
A) a computer system linking local, state, and federal agencies to share DNA analysis
information.
B) a computer system of the ATF allowing identification of bullets and shell casings.
C) a computer system of the FBI allowing identification of bullets and shell casings.
D) the computer system supporting the Human Genome Program.
Ans: A
Page ref: 216

10. Since 1999 law enforcement agencies have begun to access the FBI's new national
on-line fingerprint and criminal history databases called
A) AFIS.
B) NOLFS.
C) IAFS.
D) IAFIS.
Ans: D
Page ref: 220

11. The NIBIN program compares images of which type of evidence?

A) Blood-alcohol related
B) Blood-related
C) Ballistic
D) Identification
Ans: C
Page ref: 221

12. Which of the following, for laboratory purposes, is not a category of examinations
crime laboratories perform?
A) Chemical examinations.
B) Physical examinations.
C) Documentary examinations.
D) Videography examinations.
Ans: D
Page ref: 222

13. The FBI Crime Laboratory is one of the largest and most comprehensive forensic
laboratories and is the only full-service forensic laboratory. When was it established?
A) 1873.
B) 1932.
C) 1979.
D) 2002.
Ans: B
Page ref: 223

14. The unit of the FBI laboratory which conducts examinations of soils and safe
insulation, concrete, plaster, mortar, glass, oil, and other abrasives is the
A) documents Units.
B) metallurgy Unit.
C) firearms Unit.
D) mineralogy Unit.
Ans: D
Page ref: 225

15. Which of the following statements concerning national files housed in the FBI Crime
Laboratory is true?
A) The laboratory is able to determine makes but not models of automobiles involved in
hit-and-run cases by analyzing and comparing small fragments of paint.
B) Hairs recovered during investigations can be identified only as to whether the source
was human or animal.
C) The manufacturer of a particular piece of paper can be identified.
D) The use of files requires that a legal precedent to do so exists.
Ans: C
Page ref: 225-226
16. Problems identified in crime labs in the United States involve all of the following
except
A) lack of training.
B) thorough accreditation.
C) DNA contamination.
D) backlog of cases.
Ans: B
Page ref: 226-228

17. While formal education that scientists receive provides a foundation for learning and
understanding the techniques of forensic science, for the most part, courts rely on
A) additional training.
B) years of experience.
C) mentoring by the courts.
D) both A and B.
Ans: D
Page ref: 227

18. What organization is the primary credentialing organization for crime labs?
A) American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD).
B) American Crime Laboratory Accreditation Society (ACLAS).
C) Commission on Crime Laboratory Accreditation (CCLA).
D) North American Crime Laboratory Association (NACLA).
Ans: A
Page ref: 227

19. A technical manual that includes validation studies performed by the lab itself and
sets forth standardized methodologies for performing routine tests in the laboratory is the
A) standard operating procedure.
B) procedures manual.
C) lab testing protocol.
D) Daubert certification rule.
Ans: C
Page ref: 227

20. DNA evidence can

A) identify criminals with amazing accuracy when biological evidence exists.
B) be used to clear suspects.
C) exonerate persons who have been mistakenly accused or convicted of crimes.
D) all of the preceding are correct.
Ans: D
Page ref: 228

21. Public crime laboratories are overwhelmed by backlogs of DNA samples. Which of
the following is/are problems that may be associated with this backlog?
A) Increasing amounts of new DNA evidence.
B) Lack of storage space for DNA samples.
C) Limited resources.
D) All of the preceding are problems that may be associated with this backlog.
Ans: D.
Page ref: 229

22. What has been identified as the most significant blunder to date in any crime lab
within the United States?
A) The March 2004 arrest of Portland attorney Brandon Mayfield for the Madrid
bombing.
B) The failure to identify the 9/11 hijackers prior to their attack on the United States.
C) The mis-identification or non-identification of victims from the bombings in New
York City.
D) None of the preceding are failures.
Ans: A
Page ref: 230

23. In a recent case, the Supreme Court concluded that latent fingerprint identification
evidence as produced by the FBI’s procedures met the requirements for admissibility
established by Dauber v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc. What was the name of the
case?
A) Robinette v. Michigan.
B) United States v. Mitchell.
C) United States v. Mahoney.
D) Carroll v. United States.
Ans: B
Page ref: 230

24. Which of the following organizations have established a code of ethics for forensic
science?
A) The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors.
B) The American Board of Criminalistics.
C) The Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners.
D) All of the preceding have codes of ethics.
Ans: D
Page ref: 230

25. Which of the following is not a requirement of the ethics codes as required by the
code of ethics for forensic science?
A) Integrity.
B) Competence.
C) Trustworthiness.
D) Training.
Ans: C
Page ref: 230
True/False Questions

26. The terms “forensic science” and “Criminalistics” are often used together. Forensic
science is that part of science applied to answering legal questions whereas Criminalistics
deals with the study of physical evidence related to a crime.
Ans: True
Page ref: 205-206

27. A morgue is another crime lab that is critical on the forensic scene as it is the place
where the cause of death is determined.
Ans: True
Page ref: 207

28. There are three primary purposes of a digital crime lab. They are to examine and
collect relevant digital evidence and secure evidence that directly involve computer
crimes such as money laundering, possessing child pornography, embezzlement, fraud,
and identity theft and to prevent and investigate terrorist plots.
Ans: True
Page ref: 207-208

29. Measures of crime laboratory effectiveness are quality, quantity, and timeliness.
Ans: False
Page ref: 209-212

30. Frye v. United States (1923) ruled that the results of a “deception test,” an early
version of the polygraph could be used in court if the operator personally testified to the
veracity of the results.
Ans: False
Page ref: 212

31. Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc. applies only to federal courts even
though some states have adopted the Daubert Standard.
Ans: True
Page ref: 212

32. Mitochondrial DNA is found in the mitochondria, which are only in the body of a
female who has given birth to a child.
Ans: False
Page ref: 214

33. Collecting DNA evidence requires special consideration. Among these

considerations, for long-term storage, keep biological evidence in a refrigerator with the
temperature between 40 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Ans: False
Page ref: 214
34. DNA evidence was first used in court in a trial in England in 1985.
Ans: True
Page ref: 215

35. Contamination is a big issue in the collection and packaging of evidence containing
DNA. Coughing or sneezing while handling DNA evidence can cause contamination.
Ans: True
Page ref: 215

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

36. The ________ is used in the national, state, and local index-system networks to link
typing results from unresolved crimes with cases in multiple jurisdictions or persons
convicted of offenses specified in the data-banking laws passed by local jurisdictions.
Ans: Combined DNA Index System (CODIS)
Page ref: 216

37. A ________ search is conducted when a DNA sample collected from a crime does
not match any of the samples in the data base.
Ans: familial DNA
Page ref: 216

38. The ________, founded in 1992, is a nonprofit legal organization founded for the
purpose of exonerating wrongfully convicted people through DNA testing.
Ans: Innocence Project
Page ref: 217

39. A national online fingerprint and criminal-history database with identification and
response capabilities, ________ consists of three integrated segments: the Automated
Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS), the Interstate Identification Index (III), and the
Identification Tasking and Networking (ITN).
Ans: Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS)
Page ref: 220

40. As a joint program of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), and the
FBI, the ________ integrates all the elements of Ceasefire and Brasscatcher (both former
ATF programs and Drugfire (an FBI program).
Ans: National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN)
Page ref: 221

41. The ________ Crime Laboratory is one of the largest and most comprehensive
forensic laboratories and is the only full service forensic laboratory.
Ans: FBI
Page ref: 223
42. The ________ unit of the FBI laboratory is called on to restore obliterated or altered
numbers on such things as firearms, sewing machines, outboard motors, etc.
Ans: metallurgy
Page ref: 224

43. The FBI’s ________ contains over 3,500 handguns and 2,000 shoulder weapons and
is used for identifying gun parts and locating serial numbers.
Ans: Firearms Reference Collection
Page ref: 226

44. In addition to problems with backlogs of cases at crime labs, both state and local labs
reported that their main concern for their DNA programs was the ________.
Ans: lack of personnel.
Page ref: 229

45. In a recent case, ________ v. ________, the court concluded that latent fingerprint
identification evidence, as produced by the FBI’s procedures, met the requirements of
admissibility established by Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Ans: United States v. Mitchell
Page ref: 231

Essay Questions

46. Define "forensic science" and “Criminalistics.”

Ans: Forensic science is that part of science applied to answering legal questions. It is the
examination, evaluation, and explanation of physical evidence in law whereas
criminalistics deals with the study of physical evidence related to a crime. From such a
study, a crime may be reconstructed. Criminalistics is interdisciplinary in nature, drawing
upon mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology.
Page ref: 205-206

47. What difficulties are caused by an investigator not understanding the capabilities and
limitations of crime laboratories?
Ans: The criminal investigator must know and understand the importance of properly
collecting and handling evidence so that it may be adequately preserved and processed
for scientific analysis. At the same time, the investigator must understand the capabilities
and limitations of the crime laboratory so that he or she only expects answers to those
questions that the laboratory is capable of answering. Misunderstandings about service
capabilities and equipment and personnel limitations can result in unnecessary time spent
on useless tasks, frustrations on the part of investigators and laboratory personnel, and
loss of confidence which will be reflected in limited future use and service.
Page ref: 208

48. Describe the measures of effectiveness of crime laboratories.

Ans: The effectiveness of crime laboratories and the services performed are measured by
the criteria of quality, proximity, and timeliness. Quality is largely judged on the
existence or nonexistence of a variety of factors, including quality of specimens or
samples submitted for examination, evidence collecting procedures, capabilities and
qualifications of laboratory and investigative personnel, budgetary considerations, and
availability and use of technology. Proximity of laboratory facilities to the field
investigator will dictate, to a large extent, the utilization of those facilities. The timeliness
of analyses as related to continuing investigations and court case schedules also
contributes to the measure of the effectiveness of crime laboratories.
Page ref: 209-212

49. Distinguish the Frye test from the Daubert test regarding the admissibility of
scientific evidence.
Ans: In 1923, a federal court rendered a decision in the case of Frye v. United States
established a standard which provided that, for the results of a scientific technique to be
admissible, the technique must be sufficiently established to have gained general
acceptance in its particular field. Half a century later, the federal rules of evidence were
adopted, which provide that if scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will
assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, such
evidence is admissible. In 1993, the U.S. Supreme Court decided the case of Daubert v.
Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc. In that case, the court said that the “general
acceptance” test of Frey is not part of the federal rules and, in fact, was superceded by the
rule’s adoption. Although Daubert only applies to cases in federal courts, a number of
states have adopted the Daubert standard. Consequently, the application of Daubert and
its aftermath has presented a challenge to crime laboratories to ensure that the standards
imposed by the Court are followed in forensic examination so that expert testimony and
the results of examinations by crime laboratory personnel will be admissible, in both state
and federal courts.
Page ref: 212

50. Describe the role and importance of DNA analysis in criminal investigation.
Ans: If tissue, body fluids, or other bodily evidence having nucleated cells or
mitochondria is found at a crime scene, a DNA analysis can be conducted comparing the
pattern of DNA found at the scene with the DNA pattern of the suspect and can implicate
or clear the suspect with a very high degree of certainty.
Page ref: 214

51. What are the primary DNA Analysis techniques used since 1985?
Ans: In 1985, Alec Jeffreys and colleagues in England first used DNA in a criminal case.
Shortly thereafter, DNA evidence began making appearances in trials in the United
States. Initially, DNA analysis was hampered by the need for a large enough sample and
by the fact that the manual processing technique called Restriction Fragment Length
Polymorphism (RFLP) took up to 14 weeks on average a produce results but the
technique was good and produced good results. Technological advancements led to a new
type of DNA analysis known as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) that take small
samples of DNA and reproduces as many copies as are needed for adequate analysis.
Short Tandem Repeats (STR) are even smaller pieces of the DNA helix (ladder) that can
be reproduced using PCR to produce multiple copies in an instrument called a
thermocycle. PCR-STR takes about 24 hours to extract the DNA from an evidentiary
sample and the only 2-3 hours to type the DNA using automation. It works well on
degraded samples and on analysis of old cases.
Page ref: 215

52. Describe NIBIN, IAFIS, and CODIS.

Ans: As each fingerprint is different, a firearm leaves unique identifiable characteristics
on expended ammunition. NIBIN compares images of ballistic evidence, both projectiles
and casings, obtained from crime scenes and recovered firearms. As new images are
entered, the system searches the existing data base for possible matches. Hits are
confirmed by a firearms examiner. The system has amassed a large ballistic image data
base filled with crime gun data submitted by local, state, and federal agencies throughout
the country and the intelligence information is available to all law enforcement agencies.
Since the inception of the system, partner agencies have achieved over 2200 hits.
In July 1999, law enforcement agencies began to have access to the FBI’s Integrated
Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIA), a national on-line fingerprint and
criminal history database with identification and response capabilities. IAFIS consists of
three integrated segments: AFIS, the Interstate Identification Index (III), and
Identification Tasking and Networking (ITN).
In addition to individual-jurisdiction data banking, there is a national investigation
support database, developed by the FBI, called CODIS (Combined DNA Index System).
CODIS is used in the national, state, and local index-system networks to link typing
results from unresolved crimes with cases in multiple jurisdictions or persons convicted
of offenses specified in the data-banking laws passed by the jurisdictions. By alerting
investigators to similarities among unsolved crimes CODIS can aid in apprehending
perpetrators who commit a series of crimes. There are over 553,000 convicted offender
profiles and more than 24,000 forensic known and unknown profiles in CODIS.
Page ref: 216, 220-221

53. Describe AFIS.

Ans: AFIS allows law enforcement agencies to compare applicant and suspect with
millions of file prints within minutes. The Automated Fingerprint Identification System
allows a computer to digitize up to 90 separate minutia points and compare the print with
all other prints in the computer file. The system has produced, in minutes, confirmed
matches which, after years or decades of manually trying, were not successfully
identified.
Page ref: 219

54. When body fluids are submitted to a laboratory for analysis, how are the specimens
handled in light of concerns about the transmittal of hepatitis and AIDS?
Ans: Some laboratories autoclave specimens (sterilization with heat), but this may affect
the utility of the specimens. Most laboratories ask the submitting agency to advise them if
the source of the evidence was or may have been infected. Scientists and technicians
wear lab coats and gloves and keep their work areas clean.
Page ref: 222
55. What limitations are placed on the submission of evidence to the FBI laboratory?
Ans: The evidentiary sample must not have been nor later will be submitted to another
laboratory for the same type of technical examination. In addition, the FBI laboratory will
not accept cases from another laboratory having the capability of conducting the
requested examination. Furthermore, the laboratory does not routinely accept evidence
involving property crimes. The offense must involve personal injury or be designed to
cause personal injury.
Page ref: 224