Midterm

In the case of Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceutical, Inc., the U.S. Supreme Court advocated that a “gatekeeper” determines the admissibility and reliability of scientific evidence. This gatekeeper is the: a) prosecutor b) expert witness c) jury d) trial judge

The current system of crime laboratories in the United States can be best described as: a) centralized b) decentralized c) regional d) national

The scientific method requires that scientific evidence be validated by: a) formulating hypotheticals b) performing experiments c) formulating pertinent questions d) all of the above

A crime scene which involved the collapse of a structure would be analyzed by specialists in the area of: a) forensic computer and digital analysis b) forensic engineering c) criminalistics d) forensic error analysis

Which unit is responsible for the examination of body fluids and organs for the presence of drugs and poisons? a) physical science unit b) evidence collection unit c) biology unit d) toxicology unit

The lay witness provides testimony that relies on: a) personal opinions b) scientific education c) personal knowledge d) scientific experience

Who undertook the first definitive study of fingerprints as a method of personal identification? a) Lattes b) Galton c) Goddard d) Gross

Specially trained personnel called ___ are employed by some crime laboratories on 24-hour call to retrieve evidence and have all the proper tools and supplies for proper collection and packaging of evidence at their disposal. a) Evidence officers b) Forensic pathologists c) Crime scene investigators d) Evidence technicians

The judicial case that set forth the most current guidelines for determining the admissibility of scientific examinations in the federal courts is: a) Mapp v. the United States b) Coppolino v. State of Florida c) Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals d) Frye v. United States

The necessity for the forensic scientist to appear in court comes from the U.S. Supreme Court case: a) Frye v. United States b) Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts c) Crawford v. Washington d) Coppolino v. State

Which of the following services are typically provided to law enforcement by crime laboratories? a) Psychology b) Criminalistics c) Pathology d) Odontology

The concept of “general acceptance” of scientific evidence relates to the: a) First Amendment b) Miranda warnings c) Exclusionary rule d) Frye standard

Which would NOT be included in the work of the biology unit of a crime lab? a) DNA profiling b) Comparison of hairs c) Blood typing d) Fingerprint analysis

The final evaluator of forensic evidence is the: a) Jury b) Police c) Prosecutor d) Accused

What is the LEAST important consideration in the gathering of evidence at a crime scene? a) Proper recognition of the evidence b) Guilt of the suspect c) Adequate preservation of samples d) Competent collection of materials

Forensic science is the application of science to: a) Crime scene reconstruction b) Civil laws c) Criminal laws d) Both criminal and civil laws

Which of the following is NOT true? An expert witness must be able to demonstrate: a) A formal degree in forensic science b) Education in his/her area of expertise c) Skill in trade or profession of interest to the court d) Significant experience in a relevant field

Which entity maintains the largest crime laboratory in the world? a) Royal Canadian Mounted Police b) ATF c) Scotland Yard d) FBI

It is the responsibility of the forensic investigator to determine innocence or guilt. T/F

The exchange of evidence principle was theorized by: a) Locard b) Osborn c) Galton d) Gross

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) All of the above

Who is known as the “father of forensic toxicology”? a) Lattes b) Locard c) Orfila d) Osburn

Which of the following can be rightfully cited as an explanation for the rapid growth of crime labs during the last 40 years? a) Supreme Court decisions in the 1960s b) Advent of DNA profiling c) Staggering increase in crime rates in the United States d) All of the above

Who developed the system known as anthropometry? a) Bertillon b) Galton c) Gross d) Goddard