Why Is Physical Evidence Important

Physical evidence is anything that can establish a crime has occurred and anything that links the crime to a criminal. Three examples of physical evidence are fibers, weapons, and hair.

One of the most important purposes of physical evidence is to establish the identity of a suspect or victim. Some of the most valuable clues at a crime scene are fingerprints. "Processing a crime scene" is a long, tedious process that involves focused documentation of the conditions at the scene and the collection of any physical evidence that could possibly shed light on what happened and point to who did it.

However, back in the 1980s, detailed studies were done to try to accomplish this task. One specific comprehensive study was done in 1984 by Peterson et al. In this study, the analysts found that physical evidence was discovered in only about twenty to thirty percent of serious crimes (Peterson, 2013). When each of the crimes were studied separately, however, they found that only crimes such as homicide, drug, or rape resulted in a large chance of physical evidence being found at the crime (Peterson, 2013). Cases such as attempted murder, burglaries, and robberies yielded lower chances of the retrieval of physical evidence from the crime (Peterson, 2013). When considering all of these possible crimes, the most commonly collected evidence were controlled substances, and then in lesser amounts, there was other physical evidence such as blood, hair, firearms, and fingerprints (Peterson, 2013).

Forensic evidence plays a huge role in most criminal cases. After the Daubert trial, forensic scientific evidence was reevaluated in criminal and civil cases. Scientific and forensic types of evidence can be extremely helpful in proving the case. It can help identify the suspect in a criminal case. That will help put a criminal in prison. There are many different types of forensic evidence that can be considered as scientific evidence. The different types include DNA matching, fingerprint identification, and hair evidence. The methods used to show these types of evidence are usually beyond the scope of knowledge that judges and juries know. Those types of forensic evidence are usually introduced as scientific evidence. Scientific evidence can sometimes be omitted from a courtroom or

This is crucially important because it gives guidelines as to what evidence can be used in trial, and it keeps irrelevant facts from being introduced, which can confuse a jury change the outcome of a trial (Universal Class). There are so many distinct types of evidence that are allowed in court, but the most common are the following: demonstrative evidence, exculpatory evidence, physical evidence, and testimony. Demonstrative evidence has any representation of an object and is a form of common proof. Exculpatory evidence is a broader term meaning any evidence that gives favor to the defendant (Universal Class). One of the most scientific involved forms of evidence is pure physical evidence, which is any real evidence or material evidence that plays a role in the trial.

Examples of evidence: physical or chemical evidence left at the scene of a crime by a victim or suspect; recovered (stolen) property; or property currently under observation which is suspected to have been used in, or be the result of, the commission of a crime.

“In 1984, a British geneticist named Alec Jeffreys stumbled upon one of our most important forensic tools: DNA fingerprinting. Since his “eureka moment,” the scientific technique has been used successfully to identify perpetrators of a crime, clarify paternity and exonerate people wrongly convicted” (Jones). DNA evidence, specifically simple-mixture, is the most accurate type of forensic evidence we currently have at our disposal, but even it is not infallible. Other types of forensic evidence are much less accurate, but unfortunately their use is still permitted in U.S courtrooms. Jurors may be misled by experts within the courtroom as well. These misconceptions about the accuracy of forensic science and the field in general lead to many problems in the courtroom.

According to the article, Demonstrative Evidence legal Definition of Demonstrative Evidence, (2005), demonstrative evidence is other than testimony that is presented during the course of a civil or criminal trial. Demonstrative evidence includes actual and illustrative evidence. So many thing can be included in these categories but one good example that most lawyers use is a still photograph. Evidence that falls under this can be very useful to a jury in a physical injury case. There is also documentary and testimonial evidence. According to the article, Evidence, (2015), documentary evidence is a form of real evidence in document form such as a contract and testimonial evidence is the most basic form of evidence and is the only kind that does not require a prerequisite for its admissibility. Testimonial evidence consist of witness testimonies, expert opinions and ever thing that is said in the court.

Behind every court case there’s a train of forensic science evidence and research. Forensic science is the application of scientific principles of criminal justice. In many court cases a forensic scientists is the one on the scene collecting finger prints, photos, blood samples and other evidence. Unfortunately one of the controversial issues in the forensic world is the evidence and its lack of verification of its reliability. In the field of forensics there are issues in finding proof in generating conclusion, fundamental knowledge to solve problems, and the whole false memory defense in the court. These issues can be solved in many ways like extensive research, preparation and training. These issues

Physical evidence/scientific examinations is the evidence found at the scene of the crime. This can include clothing, blood, fingerprints, weapons and much more. An example of physical evidence could be any listed above but also a bloody knife or a casing from a bullet.

After doing their job in he crime scene, the evidence they took will be taken to the forensic scientist. Crime scene investigators will look at the photographs and connect their theories based on the crime that occurred. The forensic scientists will also examine the victim’s clothes, while the medical examiner will analyze the victim’s body for more clues and evidence that they may find and they will all be doing this in the crime lab. The things they may find could be hair, fiber, semen, blood, another person’s DNA, bruises and many more. After the forensic scientists

Forensics is the use of scientific tests conducted on evidence that is used to aid a criminal investigation. Forensics is so important because without it either the wrong person could go to prison or the police could not arrest anyone, leaving the criminal to remain at large. Forensics allows insight into multiple factors that help catch the criminal behind the crime. Factors like DNA and fingerprinting are the very first piece of evidence to be looked at in an investigation to catch the killer. If the forensic scientists mix something up or misses what they are trained to look for, then they can do a lot of harm to a case. Forensics provides that very important physical evidence that will help the police catch the killer and bring that needed closer for the loved ones of the victim.

Today, more than ever, the quality of evidence in criminal cases is scrutinized because of contamination. Contamination is the introduction of something that physically corrupts a substance at a crime scene that was not previously there; it comes in many forms and most often times comes from the humans who investigate a crime scene. It is imperative that prevention of cross-contamination is implemented when gathering evidence. Several of the more sensitive forensic techniques such as trace analysis, bloodspatter interpretation, and DNA comparison are not being used to their fullest potential. Items of physical crime scene evidence are not always visible to the naked eye and may be easily overlooked so deliberate and methodical approach to collection and preservation of evidence is essential. Prosecutors have lost cases due to crime scene contamination; this could be prevented by simple and productive behaviors. The U.S. Supreme Court, in a leading case on physical evidence, stated:

Physical evidence has certain physical dimensions like shape, size, width, state, pattern etc. Such evidence can be recorded, collected, preserved by using different techniques. Physical evidence can be also called as material, indirect, circumstantial evidence based on different context.

One piece of evidence that was used to help catch the killer, was the facial tissue under the victim 's fingernails (pg. 9). This would be biological evidence because it came from a living thing, and the person can be identified with DNA. It would also be circumstantial evidence because nobody saw the facial tissue being placed there or getting under the fingernails. This would also be classified as trace evidence because it can easily be transferred from one place to another. This evidence was used to help catch the bad guy. Since it was found on another victim thousands of miles away, it was easily linked to both murders. The facial tissue was found under the fingernails of the victim at the first crime scene. It also helps catch the bad guy