Types of Physical Evidence at the Crime Scene
Physical evidence can be classified according to its physical state, the type of crime, and the
nature of the evidence, its composition, or the types of questions to be resolved. Each of these
classifications is useful for offering conceptual ideas and practical approaches in the crime scene
investigation. It is important for a crime scene investigator to understand the value of physical
evidence, as well as the limitations of physical evidence, to appreciate the interaction of various
definitions or classifications of crime scenes, to recognize the theory of transfer evidence, and to
understand the proper methodologies for locating microscopic crime scenes within the more obvious
macroscopic crime scenes. It is from the analysis of the crime scene that the crime scene investigator
can determine what type of physical evidence will most likely be found at a particular type of crime
scene, where to find the physical evidence at a particular type of crime scene, and how to recognize,
collect, preserve and process the physical evidence. Finally, based upon the examination results of
physical evidence, the investigator should be able to accurately reconstruct the crime scene.
a) Transient evidence - Transient evidence is a type of evidence that is, by its very nature,
temporary, easily changed or lost. Commonly encountered transient evidence includes odors,
temperatures, color, and some biological and physical phenomenon such as rigidity or the drying of
blood. Due to its temporary nature, this type of evidence must be documented as soon as the evidence
is observed.
b) Conditional evidence - Conditional evidence is generally produced by a set of actions or
inactions. Similar to transient evidence, if conditional evidence is not observed and documented
immediately at the crime scene, the evidence will be lost forever. Examples of commonly encountered
conditional evidence include lighting conditions, television and computer settings, smoke or fire,
condition of the victim’s body, window positions, or exact locations of specific evidences within the
scene.
c) Pattern evidence - There are a variety of patterns that can be found at a crime scene. Most
of these patterns are in the form of imprints, indentations, striations, or other markings such as
fractures or depositions. The patterns commonly found at different crime scenes includes blood
spatter or stain patterns, glass fracture patterns, fire burn patterns, furniture position patterns,
projectile trajectory patterns, track-trail patterns, clothing or article patterns, tire or skid mark
patterns, modus operandi patterns, and gun powder or residue patterns.
d) Transfer evidence - Transfer evidence, also referred to as trace evidence, is generally
produced by physical contact between persons, objects, or persons and objects. Some most commonly
found transfer evidence is blood, fingerprint, hair, fiber, body fluids, soil, glass, drugs and chemicals.
This type of evidence is the traditional forensic evidence examined in the forensic laboratory.
e) Medical evidence - Medical evidence not only consists of victim’s, suspect’s, or witness’s
injuries, the type and degree of injury the location and condition of a wound, the number and size of
the wounds, but also includes medical history, the type of medical equipment on the person, house or
car, the prescription history, including date and amount prescribed.
f) Electronic evidence - Due to recent advances in and availability of electronic devices,
most individuals own a cell phone, PC, IPod, IPad and other personal devices. Many households and
businesses have installed surveillance cameras, monitors and other recording equipment.
Investigators should collect and preserve all these types of devices and any digital cameras, phone
answering machines, video cameras, computers and data storage devices. Examples of information
that may provide investigative leads include cell phone call records, e-mail messages recovered from a
suspect’s computer hard drive, and videotape recorded from a bank security camera
g) Associative evidence - During the course of an investigation, specific items located at a
crime scene may be used as evidence to associate a victim or suspect with a particular scene. It may
also be used to associate a victim to a suspect. Examples of associative evidence includes suspect’s
vehicle or wallet found at the crime scene, victim’s ring, watch or other personal belongings found on
the suspect, receipts, tickets or business cards