NAME: __________________________________________
DEFINITIONS:
1. CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE:
CH. 2 STUDY GUIDE
2. CONTROL SAMPLE:
3. HEARSAY:
4. INDIRECT EVIDENCE:
5. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE:
6. PROBATIVE OR PROBATIVE VALUE:
7. TESTIMONIAL EVIDENCE:
QUESTIONS:
1. Which type of evidence is considered more reliable – physical or testimonial evidence? A: PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
IS MORE RELIABLE BECAUSE IT CAN PROVE A CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED & SET THE SCENE FOR THE
INVESTIGATION; BACK UP WITNESS TESTIMONY OR PROVE IT FALSE; LINK A SUSPECT WITH A VICTIM OR WITH
THE CRIME SCENE; DETERMINE IDENTITY OF PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH A CRIME; HELP INVESTIGATORS
RECONSTRUCT A CRIME
2. Which type of evidence has more probative value – class or individual evidence?
3. Explain the difference between class & individual evidence and include examples for both. A: CLASS EVIDENCE
HAS CHARACTERISTICS COMMON TO A GROUP OF SIMILAR OBJECTS –EX: TIRES; BLOOD TYPE
INDIVIDUAL EVIDENCE CAN BE LINKED TO A UNIQUE, SINGLE, SPECIFIC SOURCE – EX: TIRES WITH A CERTAIN
WEAR PATTERN; DNA FROM BLOOD
4. Explain how class evidence is used to narrow a list of suspects?
A: THE MORE CLASS EVIDENCE THAT EXISTS, THE STRONGER THE CASE, USING PROBABILITIES CAN BE
MULTIPLIED TOGETHER TO PROVIDE STRONGER EVIDENCE & NARROW THE LIST OF SUSPECTS.
5. Explain how probability & statistics can be of value when dealing with circumstantial evidence.
A: NARROWS THE POSSIBILITIES TO A SMALL GROUP OF POSSIBLE CANDIDATES. THE MORE CIRCUMSTANTIAL
EVIDENCE THE STRONGER THE CASE.
6. Do fingerprints fall under class or individual evidence? A: INDIVIDUAL EVIDENCE
7. List some circumstances which would affect the reliability of an eye witness’s account of a crime.
A: TYPE OF CRIME, LIGHTING, LENGTH OF TIME FROM INCIDENT TO QUESTIONING, HOW THE INTERVIEWER
ASKED QUESTIONS, ETC.
8. Case study, Ronald Cotton, state the main why he was accused & later convicted of a crime.
A: MAIN REASON FOR CONVICTION WAS THE EYEWITNESS’ TESTIMONY, WHICH WAS NOT ACCURATE.
9. List of examples for physical evidence.
A: FIBERS, SOIL, BLOOD, WEAPON WITH BLOOD, TOOLMARKS, RIFLE MARKS, HAIR, BROKEN GLASS PIECES, ETC.
10. Where could a forensic scientist obtain a known sample? A: THE VICTIM, SUSPECT, CRIME SCENE
11. Case study for Helle Craft, explain how forensic evidence was used in the conviction of her husband.
A: CONVICTED ON CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE BECAUSE THE BODY WAS NEVER FOUND.