Crime Scene Investigation

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Contest Information

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Here is some supplementary information about the competitions. 

APPENDIX A

Below is a list of terms to prepare for the knowledge test. The list below is not exhaustive, but represents the range of possible content. 

  • Algor Mortis
  • Blank samples
  • Bindle paper
  • Chain of custody
  • Circumstantial evidence
  • Comparison samples
  • Control samples 
  • Crime scene measuring techniques (triangulation method, rectangular coordinate method, transecting baseline coordinate method, polar coordinate method)
  • Crime scene photographs (overall, midrange, close-up)
  • Crime scene search methods (grid search, spiral search, lane/strip search, zone search)
  • Crime scene security log
  • Direct evidence
  • Elimination samples
  • Exculpatory evidence
  • Faraday bags 
  • Forensic archaeology
  • Forensic entomology
  • Forensic odontology
  • Forensic pathology
  • Fruit of the Poisonous Tree Doctrine
  • Inculpatory evidence
  • Latent fingerprints
  • NDIS/CODIS
  • Oblique lighting
  • Patent fingerprints
  • Post-mortem lividity
  • PPE
  • Presumptive tests
  • Prioritization of evidence collection
  • Processing/collection methods
  • Proper packaging of various types of evidence (drugs, biological material, firearms, knives, _________________)
  • Reference samples
  • Rigor mortis
  • Routes of exposure
  • Standards of proof (probable cause, reasonable suspicion, proof beyond a reasonable doubt, preponderance of the evidence)
  • Statutory/common law
  • Transient evidence collection

APPENDIX B

The list below is not exhaustive, but represents the range of possible competition skills

  • Lifting fingerprints
  • Collecting DNA and bodily fluid evidence
  • Photographing scene
  • Photographic evidence
  • Sketching a scene
  • Measuring a scene
  • Using alternative light sources 
  • Searching for and identifying evidence
  • Identify, collect, and process trace evidence
  • Interpret blood stains
  • Interpret ballistic evidence – casings, directionality, sequencing
  • Complete paperwork associated with CSI – including narratives, logs
  • Practice safety protocols related to CSI
  • Collect evidence
  • Verbalize constitutional and legal applications in scenarios
  • Interpret DNA evidence
  • Classify, interpret and identify fingerprint evidence
  • Packaging and preserving various types of evidence
  • Presumptive testing
  • Interpretation of anthropological evidence
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