Fsc100 final Exam Questions with Verified
Correct Answers
Evidence
- derived from "evidentia" meaning to be visible
- any information or material relied on in legal proceedings to prove or disprove a fact or
legal argument
Types of evidence
Testimonial, documentary, and real
Testimonial evidence
- Oral evidence or viva voce evidence
- Evidence given verbally by a witness during testimony
Documentary evidence
- consist of documents of any kind
- handwritten or mechanically produced
- ex. Affidavit
Real evidence
- may be subcategorized as either physical (non-living origin) or biological (living origin)
- evidence that CSI most concerned with
- collection and preservation at the crime scene
- analysis in the lab
- ex. A muddy footprint (physical)
- ex. Bloody footprint (biological)
,Physical Evidence
- real evidence that is non-living in origin
- ex. Fingerprints, footprints, Fibers, paint, tire impressions, firearms, tool marks, glass, and
more
Biological evidence
- real evidence that originates from a living source
- Ex. DNA and body fluids, hair, skin, bone, flora (flowers or pollen), fauna (animal
materials)
- examination and analysis may identify the living organism that deposited it
- important the CSI be aware how to properly preserve and collect these evidences
Biological vs Physical evidence
- biological may be traced back to a single source/common origin
- most of the, physical evidence can only be associated with a group
Class characteristics
Properties of evidence that can be associated only with a group and never with a single
source.
Individual characteristics
Distinct differences that allow association with a single source to a high degree of certainty.
- ex. The analysis of seminal fluid
Some physical evidence that may be individualized
- Toolmark analysis
- bullet and casing comparisons
,- tire impressions
- fingerprint analysis
Other classifications of real evidence
- associative, indicative, class, latent, and trace
Direct evidence
- proves or disproves an important fact beyond speculation
- based on personal knowledge or observation
- refers primarily to testimonial evidence
Circumstantial
- also known as indirect
- direct proof of a secondary fact which, by logical inference, demonstrates the ultimate fact
is to be proven
- may refer to testimonial or physical evidence
- most evidence examined in the crime lab is circumstantial
- relies at least partially on speculation but logically supports a fact
Associative evidence
- any real evidence that places an individual directly at the crime scene or as having direct
contact with the victim
- provides linkages between suspect and victim, victim and crime scene, or suspect and crime
scene
- ex. Fingerprints at a crime scene
Indicative evidence
, Any real evidence which substantiates or proves that a certain amount of time has elapsed
- generally cannot be collected for documentation but may be exceptions (such as
entomology)
Class evidence
- real evidence that requires precise classification for use in Court
- requires classification into a more narrow range
- collective in nature
- ex. Blood, semen, or hair
Latent evidence
- real evidence that is often not visible without chemical, photographic, or electronic
development or enhancement
- ex. Fingerprints
Trace evidence
- real evidence that must be extracted from another substance or item
- very small amounts
- may be naked to the human eye
How do we know what to call evidence
1. Establish evidence type (testimonial, documentary, or real)
2. Physical or biological?
3. What other classifications may apply? (Associative, indicative, trace)
Importance of real evidence
Correct Answers
Evidence
- derived from "evidentia" meaning to be visible
- any information or material relied on in legal proceedings to prove or disprove a fact or
legal argument
Types of evidence
Testimonial, documentary, and real
Testimonial evidence
- Oral evidence or viva voce evidence
- Evidence given verbally by a witness during testimony
Documentary evidence
- consist of documents of any kind
- handwritten or mechanically produced
- ex. Affidavit
Real evidence
- may be subcategorized as either physical (non-living origin) or biological (living origin)
- evidence that CSI most concerned with
- collection and preservation at the crime scene
- analysis in the lab
- ex. A muddy footprint (physical)
- ex. Bloody footprint (biological)
,Physical Evidence
- real evidence that is non-living in origin
- ex. Fingerprints, footprints, Fibers, paint, tire impressions, firearms, tool marks, glass, and
more
Biological evidence
- real evidence that originates from a living source
- Ex. DNA and body fluids, hair, skin, bone, flora (flowers or pollen), fauna (animal
materials)
- examination and analysis may identify the living organism that deposited it
- important the CSI be aware how to properly preserve and collect these evidences
Biological vs Physical evidence
- biological may be traced back to a single source/common origin
- most of the, physical evidence can only be associated with a group
Class characteristics
Properties of evidence that can be associated only with a group and never with a single
source.
Individual characteristics
Distinct differences that allow association with a single source to a high degree of certainty.
- ex. The analysis of seminal fluid
Some physical evidence that may be individualized
- Toolmark analysis
- bullet and casing comparisons
,- tire impressions
- fingerprint analysis
Other classifications of real evidence
- associative, indicative, class, latent, and trace
Direct evidence
- proves or disproves an important fact beyond speculation
- based on personal knowledge or observation
- refers primarily to testimonial evidence
Circumstantial
- also known as indirect
- direct proof of a secondary fact which, by logical inference, demonstrates the ultimate fact
is to be proven
- may refer to testimonial or physical evidence
- most evidence examined in the crime lab is circumstantial
- relies at least partially on speculation but logically supports a fact
Associative evidence
- any real evidence that places an individual directly at the crime scene or as having direct
contact with the victim
- provides linkages between suspect and victim, victim and crime scene, or suspect and crime
scene
- ex. Fingerprints at a crime scene
Indicative evidence
, Any real evidence which substantiates or proves that a certain amount of time has elapsed
- generally cannot be collected for documentation but may be exceptions (such as
entomology)
Class evidence
- real evidence that requires precise classification for use in Court
- requires classification into a more narrow range
- collective in nature
- ex. Blood, semen, or hair
Latent evidence
- real evidence that is often not visible without chemical, photographic, or electronic
development or enhancement
- ex. Fingerprints
Trace evidence
- real evidence that must be extracted from another substance or item
- very small amounts
- may be naked to the human eye
How do we know what to call evidence
1. Establish evidence type (testimonial, documentary, or real)
2. Physical or biological?
3. What other classifications may apply? (Associative, indicative, trace)
Importance of real evidence
