MCOLES State Licensing Practice Exam

Upon arriving at a murder scene where the suspect has left fresh footprints, what action should be taken?

1. Note direction

2. Follow prints

3. Preserve prints

The correct answer is: Preserve prints

When arriving at a murder scene where fresh footprints are visible, the most critical action is to preserve the prints. This is crucial because footprints are evidence that can provide significant insights into the movements of the suspect, including how they entered and exited the scene. Preserving the integrity of the evidence ensures that it can be analyzed accurately later on. Any disturbance to the footprints can compromise their value, making it difficult or impossible to use them in a forensic analysis or in court. Ensuring that the prints are preserved may involve documenting their location and condition through photographs and sketches, as well as preventing anyone from walking over or tampering with them. By preserving the prints, law enforcement can maintain the viability of this evidence for examination by forensic experts, who may extract valuable information from the footprint patterns, size, and depth. While taking note of the direction of the prints and following them may seem important, these actions should come after the preservation of the prints to avoid jeopardizing the evidence. Prioritizing preservation aligns with proper investigative procedures and helps establish a solid foundation for building a case.