Types of Evidence
What is evidence used for?
It is used to determine how a crime was committed and who committed the crime.
What does observation mean?
An observation uses the senses to to measure or collect information.
What are footprints?
The impression left by a foot or shoe on the ground or a surface.
What are tire footprints also know as?
Tire treads.
What is soil?
Soil is formed from rock and mineral fragments as well as living organisms, plants and decomposed material.
Circumstantial, hard/factual, and physical evidence.
What does inference mean?
A statement that explains an observation.
If the footprints are closer together, we can infer that...
The person was walking.
List 3 items that have tires.
Car, truck, bicycle, unicycle, wheelbarrow, scooter, motorbike, trailers, etc.
List 3 colours soil can be.
Red, orange, grey, beige, white, black.
What is physical evidence?
Gathered at a crime scene, directly links suspect to crime. Eg. Fingerprints, footprints, DNA, hair, fibers, etc.
Make an observation about the weather.
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How can footprints help us make inferences about human activity?
It can tell us where people were, how fast someone was going, what direction they were travelling, etc.
What is the difference between a tire track and a tire tread?
A tire track is left by the tire and a tire tread is the pattern on the tire.
What is compost made of?
Decaying plant and animal matter.
What is hard/factual evidence?
Documentary or digital evidence, gathered during the investigation. Eg. Bank records, business documents, emails, videos, cell data, etc.
Make an inference about the weather.
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Describe three characteristics of footprints that can provide information about the person who made them.
Speed, direction, weight, height, and where the person has been.
List 3 features of tire treads.
Spacing, depth, shape, design, evidence of wear, and damage to the tire.
List 3 characteristics of soil.
Colour, texture, odour, composition, shape and size.
What is circumstantial evidence?
Can help build a case but is not definite proof. Eg. Eyewitness reports.
Describe two challenges when using evidence from human activity to make inferences.
There's too much evidence, you can't read minds, there are too many people, etc.
Explain how analyzing the depth and size of footprints can help determine the weight and height of the person who made them.
The deeper the footprint, the heavier the person. Large footprints can be used to estimate the height of the person.
Describe a situation where it could be useful to collect evidence of tire tracks.
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Explain why soil can be used as evidence.
Soil can point to a specific area and person.