NCIS Special Agent flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Chain of custody

Documented chronological record of evidence seizure, transfer, and storage, including signatures, dates, and locations, to ensure integrity and admissibility in court.

Miranda warning

Required notification before custodial interrogation: right to remain silent, statements may be used, right to counsel, and appointed counsel if indigent.

Probable cause

Reasonable belief based on facts and circumstances that a crime has been, is being, or will be committed, or that evidence will be found in a specific place.

UCMJ Article 15

Nonjudicial punishment imposed by commanding officer for minor offenses; member may demand trial by court-martial in most cases.

Cognitive interview

Non-accusatory technique using free recall, context reinstatement, and varied questioning to enhance memory retrieval without leading the witness.

Digital evidence volatility

Order of data persistence from most to least volatile: RAM, network connections, temporary files, disk storage, backups; collect volatile data first.

Brady disclosure

Prosecution's constitutional duty to disclose exculpatory evidence to the defense; failure can result in reversal of conviction.

Crime scene documentation

Systematic recording of scene through notes, photographs (overall, mid-range, close-up with scale), sketches with measurements, and evidence logs.

Report writing elements

Factual, concise, chronological account including who, what, when, where, why, how, and actions taken, written in active voice without opinion.

Deductive reasoning

Logical process applying a general rule to a specific case to reach a conclusion; if premises are true, conclusion must be true.

Conflict of interest

Situation where personal, financial, or other interest could compromise objectivity; must be disclosed and managed or avoided.

Search warrant exception

Recognized circumstances allowing search without warrant: consent, exigency, incident to arrest, automobile, plain view, and inventory.

Custodial interrogation

Questioning by law enforcement after a person has been taken into custody or deprived of freedom in a significant way; Miranda applies.

Biological evidence packaging

Collect in paper containers to allow drying, avoid heat and moisture, air-dry before sealing, and maintain temperature logs to preserve DNA.

Hash value verification

Cryptographic digest (MD5 or SHA-1) computed on forensic image and compared to original to prove bit-for-bit integrity.

NCIS jurisdiction

Felony crimes involving Navy and Marine Corps personnel, property, or operations; concurrent jurisdiction with FBI for terrorism and espionage.

Article 32 hearing

Preliminary hearing for general court-martial to determine probable cause; accused has right to counsel and to present evidence.

Logical fallacy

Flawed reasoning pattern such as ad hominem, straw man, false dilemma, or hasty generalization that undermines argument validity.

Use of force standard

Force must be objectively reasonable, necessary, and proportional to the threat; all incidents must be reported and documented.

Stored Communications Act

18 U.S.C. § 2703 governs government access to stored electronic communications; requires subpoena, court order, or warrant depending on content age.

Elements of proof

Facts that must be proven to establish each element of a charged offense; form the basis of investigative plan and case file.

Edwards rule

Once suspect invokes right to counsel, police may not reinitiate interrogation without counsel present unless suspect initiates further communication.

Nonjudicial punishment appeal

Member may appeal Article 15 punishment to next superior authority within 5 days; appeal does not stay execution of punishment.

Confirmation bias

Tendency to seek and interpret information that confirms existing beliefs; mitigated by considering alternatives and peer review.

Federal ethics rules

Prohibit accepting gifts or gratuities that could influence official actions; require disclosure of conflicts and outside employment.

Forensic image

Bit-for-bit copy of digital media created with write-blocker; verified by hash comparison and documented in chain of custody.

Investigative plan

Document outlining case theory, elements of proof, witnesses, evidence, resources, and timeline to guide investigation.

Report confidentiality marking

Designation such as 'Law Enforcement Sensitive' to control distribution and prevent unauthorized release of investigative information.

Automobile exception

Warrantless search of vehicle allowed when probable cause exists that contraband or evidence is inside, including containers.

Giglio disclosure

Prosecution duty to disclose impeachment evidence about government witnesses, including prior misconduct or bias.

Crime scene priority

First render aid, then secure scene, preserve evidence, document, collect, and maintain chain of custody.

Interview documentation

Record date, time, location, participants, warnings, waiver, questions, and verbatim answers; note any coercion or promises.