Types Of Evidence

Creative Project I Unit III

Testimonial evidence

Direct evidence

Circumstantial evidence
 Include almost any tangible object which is directly linked to a crime.

 May be observed by a judge and /or jury

 “Methods of recording the situation, conditions, and physical evidence found at the

crime scene include: notes, photographs, and sketches. Other methods used by some

agencies require audio or video recording equipment. Each method has a distinct

value in that it supplements the others; in general, however, all three should be used

to document the crime scene.” (Osterburg and Ward, 2007)


 Drugs  Petroleum products
 Explosives  Plastic bags
 Fibers  Plastic, rubber, and
 Fingerprints
 Firearms and ammunition other polymers
 Glass  Powder residues
 Hair  Soil and minerals
 Impressions
 Organs and physiological
 Tool marks
fluids  Vehicle lights
 Blood, semen, and saliva  Wood and other
vegetative matter
 Evidence and how it is collected
 Isolate the crime scene.

 “ Detain and separate any eyewitnesses so they cannot discuss their individual observations with each

other.”(Osterburg and Ward, 2007)

 “Priority must be given to evidence that has a short life and is easily destroyed.”(Osterburg and Ward,

2007)

 Use only fresh, clean containers for collecting samples.

 Handle evidence as less as possible.

 Photograph all evidence before moving it.

 “Do not place all clothing items from a suspect in one paper bag, nor all items from a victim in another

bag. Bag each item separately.” (Deedrick, 2000)

person to an unknown hair recovered from a scene or another person.

 Fibers may be compared using a comparison microscope

 “Instrumental analysis by microscopy, FTIR and SEM/EDS can determine the type of paint and

conduct comparisons between known and unknown source.” (Rhode Island State Crime Lab,

2008)

 D.N.A(Deoxyribonucleic acid )- goes through extensive forensics examination and are sent to

the “Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and the National DNA Index System

(NDIS).”(FBI,2009)
 Contaminated evidence can cause great issues in court.

 Contamination of biological evidence has had many cases dropped such as the

Russell John Gesah case. Gesah was charged with the 1984 murders of

Melbourne woman Margaret Tapp and her daughter Seana. Forensic scientists

allegedly found Gesah’s DNA on clothing belonging to nine-year-old Seana,

who had been raped. But six days after he was charged police forensics realized

there was a strong chance the evidence had been contaminated. (Dowsley,2008)
 To avoid contamination of evidence that may contain DNA.

Wear gloves and change them often.

Use disposable instruments or clean them thoroughly before and after

handling each sample.

Avoid touching the area where you believe DNA may exist

Avoid touching your face, nose, and mouth when collecting and

packaging evidence.

Deliver evidence as quickly as possible.

Whenever possible, variables must be controlled.

of a witness or suspect.

 May change or source may become "nonexistent' between original and

court version.

 Only testimonial evidence is protected by the Fifth Amendment's privilege

against self-incrimination.
 Evidence can provide clues to what occurred, if blood was collected it can tell us

the DNA structure and compare with the suspect in custody.

 Blood spatters can determine how the victim was injured or killed.

 The key to proper collection, preservation and analysis, of evidence is open

communication between investigators, forensic scientists, and prosecutors. This will

make the most of the evidence which can make or break a case.
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Retrieved March 15, 2009, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/evidence

Osterburg, James, & Ward, Richard (2007). Criminal Investigation, A method for Reconstructing the Past, 5th Edition. n.a.
Anderson Publishing.

Deedrick, Douglas W (January 2004). Microscopy of Hair Part 1: A Practical Guide and Manual for Human Hairs. Retrieved March
17, 2009, from Forensic Science Communications Web site:
http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/fsc/backissu/jan2004/research/2004_01_research01b.htm

Delana, Dr. Delana (na). Forensics. Retrieved March 15, 2009, from chemistry.armstrong.edu Web site:
http://chemistry.armstrong.edu/nivens/Forensics/CHem3100Chater3.pdf

Deedrick, Douglas W (July 2000). Hairs, Fibers, and Evidence. Retrieved March 17, 2009, from Forensic science communication
Web site: http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/fsc/backissu/july2000/deedric4.htm

Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory. (2008). Trace Evidence (na). Kingston, RI: na. . Retrieved March 17, 2009, from
http://www.uri.edu/pharmacy/crime_lab/trace.shtml
DNA. (2009). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary.
Retrieved March 17, 2009, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/DNA

Dowsley Anthony, Butler Mark & Higginbottem Nick , Herald Sun (Melbourne, Australia), August 8, 2008.

Testimonial evidence.(2009) In Dictionary.com Online Dictionary.

Retrieved March 15, 2009, from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/evidence?db=legal&q=evidence