Student Center | Instructor Center | Information Center | Home

Criminal Investigation, 8/e

Charles R. Swanson, University of Georgia
Neil C. Chamelin, Assistant State Attorney, Second Judicial Circuit
Leonard Territo, University of South Florida- Tampa

The Crime Laboratory

Multiple Choice Quiz


1	Forensic science is most accurately defined as _____________________.
		A)	Science applied to answering legal questions
		B)	Criminalistics
		C)	A crime laboratory
		D)	Crime reconstruction


2	Which of the following is not a purpose of the American Society of Crime Lab Directors?
		A)	Improvement of crime laboratory operations
		B)	Promoting and maintaining the highest standards of practice for crime laboratories
		C)	Fostering common professional interests
		D)	Develop differing standards for local crime laboratories


3	Which are reasons for underutilization of crime laboratories by investigators?
		A)	Lack of knowledge about how the laboratory can help
		B)	Unfamiliarity with more esoteric varieties of clue material, which results in failure to preserve some evidence for lab work
		C)	Overrepresentation of laboratory capabilities
		D)	All of the above


4	Which of the following statements about morgues is most accurate?
		A)	It houses the bodies of deceased persons.
		B)	It is often forgotten that it is a type of crime lab.
		C)	The cause of death is often determined in morgues, and it’s contribution to forensics is therefore critical.
		D)	None of the above


5	Which criteria are used to evaluate the effectiveness of crime laboratories?
		A)	Quality, proximity, timeliness
		B)	Quantity, proximity, timeliness
		C)	Quality, location, timeliness
		D)	Quantity, proximity, accuracy


6	Which of the following are not among the projects in which the National Institute of Justice is involved?
		A)	Teleforensic technology
		B)	Development of a robot that could identify explosives and drugs
		C)	Establishment of standards and protocols for DNA analysis
		D)	Development of a robot that could perform autopsies


7	DNA evidence can be found and collected from which of the following items at a violent crime scene?
		A)	Baseball bat or similar weapon
		B)	Hat
		C)	Bottle
		D)	All of the above


8	Which of the following is not a suggested precaution when taking samples of DNA evidence at a crime scene?
		A)	Wear gloves and change them often.
		B)	Avoid touching any area where DNA evidence may exist.
		C)	Air-dry evidence before packaging evidence.
		D)	Use plastic bags.


9	Why is the effectiveness of prosecution DNA evidence in court dependent upon the ability of a witness to explain the probability that no other person, except an identical twin, would have the same DNA sequences, in the same order, at the same location on a strand of DNA discovered at a crime scene?
		A)	DNA samples are easily contaminated.
		B)	It is crucial to explain the reason for using a database to establish probability.
		C)	There is only one method used to calculate the probability that no other person alive will have the same genetic footprint.
		D)	None of the above.


10	Which of the following maintain data banks of convicted offender’s DNA evidence?
		A)	States
		B)	the FBI
		C)	NIJ
		D)	A and B are correct


11	Which of the following is the most accurate statement about AFIS?
		A)	The system can identify a suspect.
		B)	The system generates a suspect candidate list.
		C)	It is less productive than the Henry system.
		D)	The computer is incapable of making extremely fine distinctions between prints.


12	Which of the following best describes NIBIN?
		A)	It helps find possible matches for ballistic evidence obtained from crime scenes.
		B)	It utilizes a live-scan fingerprint terminal.
		C)	It is less productive than the Henry system.
		D)	The system can examine over 3 million fingerprints per second.


13	Which of the following best describes the function of the emission spectrograph test?
		A)	This instrument is being studied for use in expediting DNA analysis.
		B)	It is capable of identifying elements from the light that is produced during the test.
		C)	This is the primary tool used to identify organic and inorganic compounds.
		D)	It is frequently used in conjunction with the mass spectrometer.


14	Which of the following best describes the function of the mass spectrometer?
		A)	This instrument is being studied for use in expediting DNA analysis.
		B)	It is capable of identifying elements from the light that is produced during the test.
		C)	This is the primary tool used to identify organic and inorganic compounds.
		D)	It identifies and compares unknown crystalline substances.


15	Which of the following best describes the function of the atomic absorption spectrophotometer?
		A)	It determines the concentration of specific elements in a sample.
		B)	It is capable of identifying elements from the light that is produced during the test.
		C)	This is the primary tool used to identify organic and inorganic compounds.
		D)	It identifies and compares unknown crystalline substances.


16	Which of the following best describes the function of the x-ray diffraction spectrophotometer?
		A)	It determines the concentration of specific elements in a sample.
		B)	It is capable of identifying elements from the light that is produced during the test.
		C)	This is the primary tool used to identify organic and inorganic compounds.
		D)	It identifies and compares unknown crystalline substances.


17	Which of the following laboratories was first accredited by the ASCLD?
		A)	The FBI Crime Laboratory
		B)	ATF Laboratories
		C)	NIJ
		D)	CODIS


18	Which of the following is a primary function of the ATF Laboratories?
		A)	It identifies and compares unknown crystalline substances.
		B)	It determines the concentration of specific elements in a sample.
		C)	It conducts examinations on explosives, firearms, and arson evidence.
		D)	It responds to major bombings and arson disasters.


19	Which of the following is the only full- service forensic laboratory?
		A)	FBI Crime Laboratory
		B)	ATF Laboratories
		C)	ATF National Response Teams
		D)	CODIS


20	Which of the following is the one of the few laboratories conducting mitochondrial DNA testing?
		A)	ATF Laboratories
		B)	FBI Crime Laboratory
		C)	ATF National Response Teams
		D)	CODIS


21	What best describes the types of examinations conducted in the FBI Crime Laboratory?
		A)	Mineralogy
		B)	Firearms
		C)	Metallurgy
		D)	All of the above


22	Which of the following best describes the function of the firearms examiner at the FBI Crime Laboratory?
		A)	To determine whether firearms are operating properly or to conduct gunpowder shot pattern tests
		B)	To restore obliterated or altered numbers
		C)	To identify handwriting characteristics
		D)	To examine mineral substances.


23	Which of the following best describes the function of the handwriting expert at the FBI Crime Laboratory?
		A)	To determine if firearms are operating properly or to conduct gunpowder shot pattern tests.
		B)	To restore obliterated or altered numbers
		C)	To identify handwriting characteristics.
		D)	To examine mineral substances


24	Which of the following files at the FBI Crime Laboratory contains information that may assist in identifying a shoeprint?
		A)	National Automobile Altered Numbers File
		B)	Tire Tread File
		C)	Safety Paper Standards file.
		D)	Shoe Print File


25	Which of the following Supreme Court cases set out the current standard for admissibility of expert evidence in federal courts?
		A)	Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
		B)	Frye v. United States
		C)	Miranda
		D)	None of the above

2002 McGraw-Hill Higher Education
Any use is subject to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
McGraw-Hill Higher Education is one of the many fine businesses of The McGraw-Hill Companies.