Physical evidence consists of tangible objects, such as biological material, fibers and

latent fingerprints. It can connect a victim or suspect to a crime scene. Many physical
evidence of biological type contain DNA and these are not always visible to the naked
eye.
Evidence may aid an investigator in re-creating the crime scene and establishing the
sequence of events. Physical evidence can corroborate statements from the victim,
witness and suspect. Physical evidence is objective and, when documented, collected
and preserved properly, may be the only way to reliably place or link someone to a
crime scene. Physical evidence is often referred to as the "silent witness."
Physical evidence refers to a wide range of physical objects, a lot of these are minute
in size. Examples of physical evidence include:

 hairs, fibers, glass, paint, and other trace evidence

 firearms and fired ammunition
 fingerprints
 toolmarks, tire tracks, and footwear impressions

Hair evidence Footwear impression

Evidence Found at Crime Scenes

The concept known as “Locard's Exchange Principle" states that every time someone
enters an environment, something is added to and removed from the scene. The
principle is sometimes stated as “every contact leaves a trace," and applies to contact
between individuals as well as between individuals and a physical environment. Law
enforcement investigators should always assume that physical evidence is left behind at
every scene.
The amount and nature of the physical evidence deposited will be largely dependent on
the circumstances of the crime and may include:

 Trace evidence (e.g. fibers, hair, glass, paint chips)

 Biological evidence ((e.g. blood, saliva, semen)
 Comparative evidence (e.g. latent fingerprints, tool marks)
Items of physical evidence are not always visible to the naked eye and may be easily
overlooked. A methodical approach to the collection and preservation of evidence is
essential. One exception is that if evidence integrity is at risk, it is important to make
rapid decisions to prevent degradation or loss. Agency protocol dictates who collects
this type of evidence.
 
Depending on its use, a physical evidence can be presented in court as incriminating
evidence or as an exculpatory evidence. It can be used also as rebuttal evidence or as
a probative evidence.
Physical evidence found at the crime scene may be considered as:

 corroborative evidence, which tends to confirm or support the theory of the crime,
 circumstantial evidence, which indirectly infers a particular conclusion regarding
the crime.

Specialized crime investigators must, therefore, be aware of the many types of

evidence.
Many physical evidence that are collected from the CS or any 'place-of-interest' are
used as circumstantial evidence during the investigation, prosecution and trial of
criminal cases. A circumstantial evidence is indirect evidence that can be used to
imply a fact but that does not directly prove it. No one, other than the suspect and
victim, actually sees when circumstantial evidence is left at the crime scene. But
circumstantial evidence found at a crime scene may provide a link between a crime
scene and a suspect. For example, finding a suspect’s gun at the site of a shooting is
circumstantial evidence of the suspect’s presence there.
Circumstantial evidence can be either physical or biological in nature. Although
examples of physical evidence are already mentioned earlier, let us clarify the
difference between this type of evidence and biological evidence.
Physical evidence includes impressions such as fingerprints, footprints, shoe prints, tire
impressions, and tool marks. Physical evidence also includes fibers, weapons, bullets,
and shell casings. Biological evidence includes body fluids, hair, plant parts, and
natural fibers. Most physical evidence, with the exception of fingerprints, reduces the
number of suspects to a specific, smaller group of individuals. Biological evidence may
make the group of suspects very small, or reduce it to a likely individual, which is more
persuasive in court.
One of the subtypes of physical evidence that is often used as circumstantial evidence
is trace evidence. Trace evidence is a type of circumstantial evidence, examples of
which include hair found on a brush, fingerprints on a glass, blood drops on a shirt, soil
tracked into a house from shoes, and others.
Physical evidence can also be divided into class evidence and individual
evidence. Class evidence narrows an identity to a group of persons or things. Knowing
the ABO blood type of a sample of blood from a crime scene tells us that one of many
persons with that blood type may have been there. It also allows us to exclude anyone
with a different blood type. Individual evidence narrows an identity to a single person
or thing. Individual evidence typically has such a unique combination of characteristics
that it could only belong to one person or thing, such as a fingerprint.

7.2 - Guidelines in Handling

Physical Evidence
Here is a basic guide in collecting physical evidence at the crime scene or at any 'place
of interest'.

1. The most ideal way of collecting evidence is for the investigator to go to the crimes
scene personally and gather physical evidence.
2. Evaluate and determine the weight of the evidence in relation to the corpus delicti of
the crime.
3. Determine the quality and amount of specimen needed for forensic purposes.
4. Before collecting any physical evidence, take photographs from at least 4 angles.
5. During the actual collection, get every item of possible value. Normally, the closer to
the center of the crime, the more the valuable the evidence is.
6. Observe proper collection techniques/procedures to avoid errors in the presentation
of evidence.
7. Know and follow protocols in marking and/or tagging physical evidence.

 
Relevant physical objects at the crime scene must be recovered in order to have
forensic evidence that can:

 establish, trace, or identify the suspect.

 establish the modus operandi of suspect/s
 prove or disprove alibi
 connect or eliminate suspects
 identify stolen property, contraband and other illegal property
 identify victims, if their identities are unknown
 provide investigative leads
 prove the statutory elements of an offense

 
Certain type of physical evidence, such as latent fingerprint, are fragile in nature that a
simple mishandling can destroy their forensic value.
Physical evidence presented in court should be in a condition similar to the time when it
was discovered at the crime scene.
There are three important procedures required for forensic identification of collected
physical evidence in the future legal proceedings:

 Marking
 Tagging
 Maintaining ‘chain of custody’ of physical evidence

Evidence that has been collected must be protected until the time that the case goes to
court. During the trial, if appropriate evidence marks are missing, evidence is not
properly identified, or evidence has been altered, the evidence is inadmissible. The total
accounting of evidence is known as the chain of custody.
If chain of custody is not properly maintained, an item of evidence may be inadmissible in court.
The chain of custody insures continuous accountability. Chain of custody is defined as the
documented account of all those who had custody of the evidence since its acquisition until its
disposal. It begins when the item is collected at the crime scene and is maintained until it reaches
the court.
Each person in the chain of custody is responsible for the care, safekeeping and
preservation of an item while it is under his control.  Because of the sensitive nature of
the evidence, an evidence custodian assumes responsibility for the item when not in
use by the investigating officer or other competent authority involved in the
investigation.

7.3 - Evidence Collection, Handling

and Transportation
In the conduct of CSI for crimes of violence and other crimes, the crime scene
processing or the evidence collection, handling and transportation shall primarily be
conducted by the SOCO specialists of CL (Crime Laboratory). However, in some
instances the FR or the IOC may have to collect evidence that might otherwise be
destroyed or contaminated if uncollected. In such cases, the collection should be
properly handled and documented.

The following procedures are set as guide not only for the SOCO team but may also
apply to any crime scene investigator in the collection and handling of evidence. The
collection and submission of standard samples for comparison, however, must be done
by the CL.
 

General Rules for the Collection and Preservation of Biological Materials
1. Use protective gloves.
 If possible, avoid touching individual smears/traces. Remember that gloves can
entail a risk of contamination.
 Change gloves after handling each kind of material and otherwise as necessary.
 Use disposable equipment for preliminary tests and collection of trace evidence.
 Cover surfaces where materials are to be placed with protective paper.
 Keep victims' and suspects' clothes in separate conainers.

2. Avoid coughing or sneezing on evidence/materials.
3. Packaging of biological materials.

 Use paper packaging for all biological materials or materials that are soiled with
biological matter. Although plastic bags are useful in many cases, they cannot be
recommended for routine use on account of residual moisture.
 Separate outer packages are to be used for trace evidence and for clothes from
persons involved.
 Do not mix materials/samples from different people, for example clothes, in the
same parcel.
  Fold the opening of the bag twice and seal with tape. Envelopes should also be
sealed with tape.

4. Special precautions

 Make an explicit note if a person from whom material has been collected is
suspected of having an infectious disease.
 Prevent contamination by avoiding all contact between collected evidence and
clothes seized from people.
 Packages containing collected materials must not be opened until the examination in
the laboratory is to commence. The only exception is when moist or wet material
must be dried out under normal room conditions.