Unit 1 Test (Chapters 1,2,3,4)

Question 1

What was a communication provided by the perpetrators to the police in the Beltway Snipers case?

Answer 1

“I am God.”

Question 2

What are three most common activities performed in investigations?

Answer 2

a. Searching for victims and witnesses
b. Interviewing victims and witnesses
c. Reading and writing reports

Question 3

Stings, decoys, undercover fencing operations, and stay counts are what types of investigations?

Answer 3

Undercover Investigations

Question 4

What are three reasons why the police solve so “few” crimes?

Answer 4

1. Structure of most crimes
2. Nature of police response (Reactive)
3. Police powers are limited by law

Question 5

What is the process of collecting crime-related information in order to reach certain goals?

Answer 5

Criminal Investigation

Question 6

When investigating crimes like homicide, robbery, and rape, what type of investigation is typically being conducted?

Answer 6

Reactive

Question 7

Why do cases drop out as they progress through the criminal justice system?

Answer 7

Some crimes are not a police manner

Question 8

What are solvability factors?

Answer 8

Key pieces of evidence which increase the probability of a crime being solved

Question 9

What is the ultimate goal of the criminal investigation process?

Answer 9

To reduce crime

Question 10

In what situation can a follow-up investigation be conducted?

Answer 10

If a perpetrator is not arrested during the initial investigation

Question 11

Why can criminal investigations be seen like a puzzle?

Answer 11

They can be seen as a puzzle: a variety of pieces which have to be set together

1. Some pieces are missing
2. The pieces must be found
3. Some pieces don’t belong in the puzzle

Question 12

According to your text, why do people NOT report crimes?

Answer 12

1. Sometimes rape victims do not report crimes because they claim it was a private or personal matter.
2. Sometimes robbery victims do not report crimes because they claim it was not important enough

Question 13

Name three problems with evidence in criminal investigations.

Answer 13

a. Evidence may not relate to case at hand
b. Evidence given may not be accurate
c. There may be little no information/ evidence to go on at all

Question 14

One of the problems with the thief-taker system was that

Answer 14

thief-takers often worked in cooperation with thieves.

Question 15

The necessity of detectives receiving salaries is highlighted because of problems associated with

Answer 15

the idea that they could work on behalf of the rich and the poor alike.

Question 16

Making detectives reactive and assigning them to cases reduce the likelihood that detectives

Answer 16

Could trick people into committing crimes for the thief-makers benefit

Question 17

The mid-1800s to the early 1900s in American policing has been characterized as the

Answer 17

political era of policing.

Question 18

The premise of ________ was that the bone structures of an adult did not change over the course of a lifetime.

Answer 18

Bertillonage

Question 19

What era of policing used investigative tactics like the dragnet roundup of suspects and the third degree?

Answer 19

Political Era

Question 20

What are three kinds of behavior associated with the third degree?

Answer 20

a. Beating with a rubber hose
b. Placing a suspect in a sweatbox for hours or days under constant questioning
c. Drilling teeth

Question 21

What are three strategies mentioned in the textbook that provide opportunities for residents to share information with the police in solving crimes?

Answer 21

a. Tip lines
b. School liaison officers
c. Community watch groups

Question 22

What are three developments in criminal investigation that has occurred during the community problem-solving era of policing?

Answer 22

a. DNA Analysis
b. COMPSTAT
c. Empirical research on the criminal investigation process

Question 23

A ________ was a collection of photographs used for the purpose of criminal identification.

Answer 23

Rogues gallery

Question 24

Rounding up the usual suspects often took the form of, or was also known as, a(n)

Answer 24

Dragnet

Question 25

During the time of parliamentary reward, the work of detectives was most likely linked to which crime?

Answer 25

Murder

Question 26

What is the definition of probable cause as defined by the authors of your textbook?

Answer 26

Convinces a reasonable person that particular circumstances exist

Question 27

What does reasonable suspicion apply to?

Answer 27

Stop and Frisk- Any person whom the police have found involved or associated with a criminal act

Question 28

The legal question what would a reasonable person have thought or done under these circumstances relates to

Answer 28

probable cause

Question 29

Amy previously threatened to kill Jake. This threat represents _____ evidence that Amy killed Jake

Answer 29

Indirect

Question 30

An eyewitness saw the defendant put poison in the victim’s food. The eyewitness statement about this observation is _____ evidence that the defendant put poison in the victim’s food.

Answer 30

Direct

Question 31

Dental evidence in fingerprints are often used as what type of evidence

Answer 31

Identification Evidence

Question 32

__________ is evidence that is admissible in court, and it meets the rules of evidence.

Answer 32

Judicial Evidence

Question 33

The standard of proof needed in court in order to conclude that a defendant is guilty of a crime is

Answer 33

beyond a reasonable doubt

Question 34

Hearsay is most often excluded from court proceedings because it is considered

Answer 34

unreliable

Question 35

Diagrams of a crime scene are considered

Answer 35

Demonstrative evidence

Question 36

A statement of a 5th witness that provides the same details as for other witnesses is an example of

Answer 36

Cumulative Evidence

Question 37

What type of evidence is used to construct a psychological profile?

Answer 37

Behavioral evidence

Question 38

A knife used in a homicide is best considered what type of evidence?

Answer 38

Real evidence (physical evidence)

Question 39

Evidence that is excluded from trial because it was wrongfully obtained is known as

Answer 39

Incompetent evidence

Question 40

What does the chain of custody refer to as?

Answer 40

The recorded security of physical evidence from the time of collection to its introduction in court.

Question 41

What amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects against unreasonable searches and seizures?

Answer 41

4th amendment

Question 42

What is the good-faith exception associated with?

Answer 42

The exclusionary rule

Question 43

What is the primary function of the exclusionary rule?

Answer 43

Deter unlawful police actions during searches and seizures

Question 44

What does the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution relate to as?

Answer 44

Self-incrimination

Question 45

When do the police not have to advise suspects of their Miranda warnings?

Answer 45

Prior to roadside questioning of a motorist

Question 46

Evidence that has some bearing on the case on some fact trying to be established is

Answer 46

Relevant

Question 47

The rationale for the _________ exception to the search warrant requirement is that, without immediate action, the suspect may escape, may destroy evidence, or pose a threat to the police.

Answer 47

Exigent circumstances

Question 48

When does an arrest occur by the police?

Answer 48

When someone has been taken into custody for the purposes of interrogation and criminal prosecution.

Question 49

List three situations that warrant either reasonable suspicion or probable cause.

Answer 49

a. Stop a vehicle- probable cause
b. Stop and frisk- reasonable suspicion
c. Order occupants out of a vehicle- probable cause

Question 50

The decision in Miranda required the police to read suspects their Miranda warnings when a suspect is _______ and prior to _______.

Answer 50

in custody; interrogation