Documentary evidence is any type of written or recorded evidence, such as a recording of a telephone conversation or a video recording of a crime. The recording is typically authenticated by an expert to show that it hasn’t been doctored or manipulated in any way.
Demonstrative evidence is evidence that is used to help recreate or illustrate a crime. For example, a model of the crime scene might be created to help illustrate in a trial what happened during a crime and where items were at the crime scene.
Testimony is the evidence given by witnesses during a trial. Testimony might come from someone who witnessed the crime or from someone who testifies as a character witness for the suspect.
Identification is the process of determining the chemical or physical characteristics of a piece of evidence with as much certainty as possible. For example, a powder may have been collected at a crime scene.
Comparison is the process of testing a suspect sample with a known sample to prove whether or not they share a common origin. For example, a sample of blood from the crime scene may be compared to a sample of blood from the victim, suspect, and possibly other individuals who lived or worked at the crime site.
Probability is the frequency of an event. In this way, forensic scientists conclude how likely it is that two sources would share the same characteristics.
Comparing the Evidence
Individual characteristics are properties associated with a common source to a high degree of certainty.
Ridge characteristics or minutiae are the ridge endings, enclosures, and other details that make up a fingerprint.
Class characteristics are those that can only be associated with a group and not a single source. A type of evidence may have both class characteristics and individual