Practice Exam: Criminal Detection and Investigation (Set 14)
A 30-question practice exam covering CDI topics like crime scene investigation, interview, interrogation, and surveillance.
What is the primary and most crucial duty of the first responder at a crime scene?
A.To immediately arrest suspects.
B.To preserve life and render aid to the injured.
C.To start collecting evidence.
D.To call the media.
The systematic search of a crime scene is done to:
A.Finish the investigation quickly.
B.Create confusion for any potential suspects.
C.Ensure that all relevant physical evidence is located and collected.
D.Practice search techniques.
A rough sketch of the crime scene is drawn by the investigator at the scene. What is its primary purpose?
A.To create a professional-looking diagram for court.
B.To accurately record the dimensions of the scene and the location of evidence.
C.To be used as a replacement for photographs.
D.To help the media understand the crime.
This type of evidence, by its very nature, can be linked to a unique and specific source.
A.Class characteristic evidence
B.Individual characteristic evidence
C.Testimonial evidence
D.Circumstantial evidence
What is the main purpose of establishing a "chain of custody" for evidence?
A.To determine who found the evidence.
B.To document the chronological history of who has handled the evidence.
C.To show the evidence to the jury.
D.To prevent the media from accessing the evidence.
A non-accusatory, structured conversation with a witness or victim to obtain information is called:
A.An interview
B.An interrogation
C.A confession
D.A deposition
An interrogation is best described as:
A.A friendly conversation with a suspect.
B.A process of asking questions to a witness.
C.A formal and systematic questioning of a person suspected of a crime.
D.A public hearing to gather facts.
The landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that requires suspects to be informed of their rights before custodial interrogation is:
A.Terry v. Ohio
B.Miranda v. Arizona
C.Mapp v. Ohio
D.Gideon v. Wainwright
The unobtrusive observation of a person, place, or thing is called:
A.An investigation
B.Surveillance
C.A raid
D.An undercover operation
An informant who provides information to the police without the expectation of payment or other consideration is known as a:
A.Voluntary informant
B.Confidential informant
C.Mercenary informant
D.Anonymous informant
What are the three primary tools of a criminal investigator?
A.Force, deception, and intimidation
B.Information, interview/interrogation, and instrumentation
C.A gun, a badge, and a notebook
D.Logic, luck, and forensics
This type of investigation involves gathering evidence after a crime has been committed.
A.Reactive investigation
B.Proactive investigation
C.Preliminary investigation
D.Follow-up investigation
The "modus operandi" (MO) refers to:
A.The motive for the crime.
B.The characteristic method or signature of a criminal.
C.The opportunity to commit the crime.
D.The legal term for the body of the crime.
Which of the following is an example of special crime investigation?
A.Investigating a simple theft.
B.Investigating a bombing or arson case.
C.Conducting a routine traffic stop.
D.Patrolling a neighborhood.
A "buy-bust" operation is a form of:
A.Surveillance
B.Entrapment operation
C.Search and seizure
D.Custodial interrogation
What is the "fruit of the poisonous tree" doctrine?
A.A rule that requires all evidence to be edible.
B.A legal principle that makes evidence derived from an illegal search or seizure inadmissible.
C.A guideline for searching orchards for stolen goods.
D.A doctrine related to agricultural crimes.
Which of the following is the most important quality of a good investigator?
A.Physical strength
B.Objectivity and perseverance
C.Having a good informant network
D.Being a good marksman
This refers to the process of identifying, collecting, preserving, and presenting evidence in a court of law.
A.Criminalistics
B.Criminal Investigation
C.Forensic Science
D.Law Enforcement
A sketch that shows the crime scene from a "bird's eye view" is known as a:
A.Cross-projection sketch
B.Floor plan or overhead sketch
C.Elevation sketch
D.3D sketch
A "sting operation" is a tactic where:
A.Police are stung by bees.
B.Law enforcement officers pose as criminals to catch suspects.
C.Suspects are subjected to mild electric shocks.
D.A large number of officers raid a location.
The questioning of a person who is not a suspect but may have information about a crime is an:
A.Interview
B.Interrogation
C.Inquest
D.Indictment
In special crime investigation, what is a critical component of a homicide investigation?
A.Determining the suspect's alibi.
B.Determining the cause and manner of death.
C.Notifying the next of kin.
D.Securing the suspect's confession.
The use of physical force, threats, or psychological pressure to get a confession is known as:
A.A tactic
B.Coercion or duress
C.Persuasion
D.A technique
What is the primary goal of surveillance in a criminal investigation?
A.To harass a suspect.
B.To gather information about a suspect's activities and associates secretly.
C.To make the police presence known in a high-crime area.
D.To practice for a raid.
The body or substance of a crime, which includes the act and the criminal agency producing it, is the:
A.Modus Operandi
B.Corpus Delicti
C.Stare Decisis
D.Habeas Corpus
An investigator who assumes a different identity to infiltrate a criminal organization is working:
A.On a stakeout
B.Undercover
C.As a consultant
D.On patrol
The questioning technique that involves asking a series of questions designed to elicit details and check for consistency is:
A.The Reid Technique
B.Cognitive Interviewing
C.The Funnel Approach
D.Cross-examination
Which of the following is NOT one of the "cardinal points" of investigation?
A.WHO committed the crime?
B.WHAT crime was committed?
C.WHERE was the crime committed?
D.WHY was the evidence so hard to find?
The final stage of a criminal investigation is typically:
A.The arrest of the suspect.
B.Presenting evidence in court and testifying.
C.Writing the initial incident report.
D.The media press conference.
A "cold case" is one where:
A.The crime occurred in winter.
B.All investigative leads have been exhausted, and the case remains unsolved.
C.The suspect has fled to a cold country.
D.The evidence has been contaminated.