8.3: The Manifestations of Evidence
- Page ID
- 53080
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)It is important not only to understand the various types of evidence, but also to be able to recognize and identify the manifestations of evidence as noted in the following effects and details:
- Predictable effects
- Unpredictable effects
- Transitory effects
- Relational detail
- Functional detail
Predictable Effects
Predictable effects of evidence are those changes to the crime scene or the evidence within the scene that occur with regularity or that will provide the investigator with a factual reference or inference as to the time the event may have occurred. An example of predictable effects would be the analysis of insect activity at the scene of a homicide scene wherein a forensic entomologist can establish a period of death based on the stage of insect development.
Unpredictable Effects
Unpredictable effects of evidence are those changes in the crime scene or the evidence within the scene that occur in an unexpected or random fashion, thus altering the original scene. Examples of this would be officers and emergency services personnel who are the first to arrive on the scene moving the body of a decedent, turning on lights in the house, opening windows, moving items of evidence, or “making safe” a firearm found at the scene. These changes can have serious deliberate consequences for the overall investigation. The crime scene investigators follow a meticulous scientific methodology to prevent creating, or including, unpredictable effects in the crime scene documentation or subsequent analysis.
Transitory Effects
Transitory effects are those temporary conditions of a crime scene that might be overlooked if not noticed by a trained and experienced technician. Examples of transitory effects include un-melted ice in a drinking glass, a still smoldering cigarette, or the smell of cologne or burnt gunpowder. If this evidence is overlooked during the initial inspection of the scene, it will likely result in the loss of significant evidence, especially for the establishment of a timeline of events.
Relational Details
Relational details of the scene are provided through the investigator’s ability to physically recognize the relationship between items of evidence in the scene. Examples of this can be found in bloodstain pattern analysis and the ability to associate the bloodstains in the scene with the actions that created the stains, the sequence of the deposition of the bloodstains, and position of the participants of the blood-letting event. The relationship between bullet defects and fired cartridge casings in the scene is also an example of the relational details of the scene.
Functional Details
Functional details of the scene present themselves in the operational condition of the evidence found in the scene. These details are determined by the investigator to determine if a handgun found in the scene was capable of being loaded and fired, if a door was capable of being locked, or if a mechanical defect in an automobile caused an accident. Functional details are useful in supporting or disproving specific allegations, to support or refute witness statements, or it can help define a timeline of events.
Understanding the relevance and importance of the various types of evidence discovered during the investigation of a crime is decisive to the criminal court proceedings because it has the most direct effect on the decision-making by the judge or jury when determining the guilt or innocence of the defendant who is being charged with the crime.