This section will contain MCQs from Chapter 1 part 1: Introduction from Richard Saferstein’s book titled Criminalistics and Forensic Science.  All the MCQs are personally made by the authors of forensicmcq.com.

Note: Check more MCQs from the Criminalistics book by Richard Saferstein

1. Forensic science is the application of science to _____ law(s).

  1. Criminal law only
  2. Civil law only
  3. Both criminal and civil law
  4. None of the above

Answer: (3) Both criminal and civil law

Explanation: Forensic science is the application of science to criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system.

2. Which is the largest forensic science organization in the world?

  1. AAFS
  2. AFIS
  3. CBI
  4. ASFS

Answer: (1) AAFS

Explanation: The American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) is a global, multidisciplinary membership community that provides collaborative research, quality education, and recognized leadership to advance forensic science and inform its application to the law. [NCBI]

3. As per the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), how many sections of professions practicing in Forensic Science?

  1. Eight
  2. Nine
  3. Ten
  4. Eleven

Answer: (4) Eleven

Explanation: There are 11 sections of AAFS for practicing forensic science:
(1) Criminalistics, (2) Digital and Multimedia Sciences, (3) Engineering Science, (4) General, (5) Jurisprudence, (6) Odontology, (7) Pathology/ Biology (8) Physical Anthropology, (9) Psychiatry/ Behavioral Science, (10) Questioned Documents, (11) Toxicology

4. Which of the following list of professions is not exclusive to the AAFS list?

  1. Fingerprint examination
  2. Firearm and toolmarks
  3. Photography
  4. All of the above

Answer: (4) All of the above

Explanation: Skills such as fingerprint examination, firearm and tool marks examination, and photography is not exclusively included in the profession section of AAFS.

5. Which of the following statement define the term “CSI effect”?

  1. Nausea and dizziness by crime scene investigators on their first visit.
  2. Unrealistic expectations of forensic science for solving a case.
  3. Why crime happens in a certain condition
  4. Crime scene investigators influences in solving the case.

Answer: (2) Unrealistic expectation of forensic science for solving a case.

Explanation:
-> CSI effects are unrealistic expectations by individuals (mainly the jury) related to yielding results using forensic science.
-> The term refers to the impact of TV shows such as CSI: Crime scene investigation, Law & Order, etc. shows on the unrealistic expectation of FS during a criminal trial and affects juror’s decisions in the conviction process.

6. Who authored the very first forensic science novel based on the Sherlock Holmes character?

  1. Sir Arthur Holmes Doyle
  2. Sir Arthur Brown Doyle
  3. Sir Arthur Walker Doyle
  4. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Answer: (4) Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

7. Which was the first Sherlock Holmes-based novel published?

  1. A Valueless Stain in Scarlet
  2. A Study in Scarlet
  3. A Holmes in Scarlet
  4. Finding truth: The Holmes in Scarlet

Answer: (2) A Study in Scarlet

8. When was the first Sherlock Holmes novel was published?

  1. 1887
  2. 1888
  3. 1889
  4. 1901

Answer: (1) 1887

Explanation: The first Sherlock Holmes novel, A study in Scarlet, was published in 1887.

9. Who is considered the father of forensic toxicology?

  1. Mathieu Orfila
  2. Francis Galton
  3. Alponse Bertillon
  4. Leone Lattes

Answer: (1) Mathieu Orfila

Explanation: Mathieu Orfila was considered the father of forensic toxicology because:
(1) In 1814, Orfila published the first scientific treatise on the detection of poisons and their effects on animals.
(2) A renowned teacher of medicine in France.

10. Who was known to be the first to use any scientific system of personal identification?

  1. Francis Galton
  2. Alphonse Bertillon
  3. Albert S. Osborn
  4. Edmond Locard

Answer: (2) Alphonse Bertillon

Explanation: In 1879, Bertillon began to develop the science of anthropometry which includes taking a series of body measurements as distinguishing factors.

11. Who was the first to study fingerprints for personal identification?

  1. Francis Galton
  2. Alphonse Bertillon
  3. Albert S. Osborn
  4. Edmond Locard

Answer: (1) Francis Galton

Explanation:
-> Francis Galton is responsible for developing the first statistical studying proving the uniqueness of fingerprints.
-> Galton’s fingerprint study and methodology were first published in his book titled “Finger Prints”.

12. When Galton’s book “Finger Prints” was first published?

  1. 1857
  2. 1882
  3. 1887
  4. 1892

Answer: (4) 1892

Explanation: Galton’s Book “Finger Prints” was published in 1892 that statistically defines the uniqueness of fingerprints as an identification method.

13. Who is also known as the father of criminal identification?

  1. Francis Galton
  2. Alphonse Bertillon
  3. Albert S. Osborn
  4. Edmond Locard

Answer: (2) Alphonse Bertillon

Explanation: Even anthropometry was replaced by fingerprinting after 2 decades, because of Bertillon’s early effort his name was renowned as the father of criminal identification.

14. Who discovered blood grouping can be used for individual identification?

  1. Carl Lattes
  2. Leone Lattes
  3. Gregor Lattes
  4. Antonie Van Lattes

Answer: (2) Leone Lattes

Explanation:
-> In 1901, Dr. Karl Landstein discovered that blood can be grouped into different categories.
-> However, it was Leone Lattes (a professor at the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the University of Turin, Italy) used for the identification of individuals.

15. In 1915, who deduced a simpler procedure for the determination of blood group using a dried bloodstain?

  1. Leone Lattes
  2. Rachel Carson
  3. Charles Darwin
  4. Robert Hooke

Answer: (1) Leone Lattes

Explanation: Leone Lattes was an Italian scientist who devised the first workable procedure for typing dried bloodstains.

16. _____________, a US Army colonel who introduced bullet comparison using a comparison microscope?

  1. Albert S. Osborn
  2. Hans Gross
  3. Calvin Goddard
  4. Edmond Locard

Answer: (4) Calvin Goddard

17. Who is credited for the acceptance of documents as scientific evidence by courts?

  1. Hans Gross
  2. Calvin Goddard
  3. Edmond Locard
  4. Albert S. Osborn

Anwer: (4) Alber S. Osborn

Explanation: Osborn authored the first known book “Questioned Documents” which is known to be the reason for the early acceptance of documents as scientific evidence.

19. When the Osborn book, “Questioned Documents” was published?

  1. 1900
  2. 1901
  3. 1910
  4. 1911

Answer: (3) 1910

20. The fundamental principles of document examination were given by:

  1. Hans Gross
  2. Walter C. Mccrone
  3. Edmond Locard
  4. Albert S. Osborn

Answer: (4) Albert S. Osborn

Explanation: The early efforts at applying scientific principles to document examination are associated with Albert S. Osborn.

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