Police Cadets - Research Paper Example

The Major Categories of Evidence as Seen in Criminal Cases, the Manner in which they happen to Differ from One Another and their Subsequent Significance in Investigations Name: University: What is Real Evidence or physical Evidence? Physical evidence is seen to primarily involve the various objects that happen to be found at the scene of a particular crime. Ingram has variously defined physical or real evidence as being as a fact, evidence whose existence happens to be particularly perceptible to the senses.

When compared to an intangible concept, real evidence is seen to possess a primarily physical existence and essence that can easily be handled, observed and touched. In the event that a given party wishes to try and introduce real evidence, it is important for the party to aptly demonstrate that the actual object that was involved in the particular crime is being introduced and that it has not in any way been subject to any form of tampering. Real evidence is also seen to include implements and weapons that have been that are seen to have been used in the actual commission of a crime in addition to its being evidence of a given crime scene’s appearance as is obtained by a jury when its members go to view the crime scene (24).

Examples of physical evidence can variously consist of all the various objects that happen to be found to consist of prints such as handprints, cut marks, finger prints, tool marks, foot prints and tide marks. The evidence might also include weapons, hairs, soil blood and documents that are found at the given crime scene and whose contents are judged to pertain to the particular crime (USLegal.com 2013). Importance of Real or Physical Evidence to an investigation The importance attributed to physical evidence is seen to primarily depend on its general ability to establish the commitment of a crime as well as indicate by whom, the how and when the given crime was committed.

Physical evidence such as DNA and finger prints can variously be used in the provision of positive identification while some evidence such as blood type can be used in the elimination of an individual as a suspect (Hess & rthmann, 2010). Methods of Demonstrative Evidence that might potentially be used in the Clarification of Issues Pertaining to Action or lack of action thereof at a given Crime Scene for a Jury or a Judge Demonstrative evidence is generally the evidence that might be used to effectively illustrate or help explain oral testimony or aid in the recreation of a tangible event.

Some of the demonstrative methods that might be used include the use of scale models that can help the triers in better understanding a given crime by enabling them to essentially gaining a better perspective on the events of a crime, the use of videotapes that provide firsthand information to the triers on a given event and computer animation or reconstructions that can effectively be used in the recreation of a crime and thus help the triers to better understand some of the more particularly challenging aspects of a crime (Epstein & Freedman, 1999).

While direct evidence is generally described as being the physical evidence or testimony of a given fact, as is seen in the event that a witness happens to assert actual knowledge of a given fact, the evidence provided by this witness is perceived to be direct evidence, however, circumstantial evidence is regarded as being evidence pertaining to a fact or given circumstances for which a reasonable degree of inferences may possibly be drawn. An example illustrating this difference is that if a witness happens to testify to having watch a given suspect shoot another individual, this is considered to be direct evidence, however if the witness happens to testify to having watch the given suspect walk into a victims office and to hearing a shot being taken shortly afterwards, before his walking into the office and finding the suspect to be holding a gun while standing over the victim’s body, this is then considered to be circumstantial evidence (Craig 2009).

The Concept of Overwhelming Circumstantial Evidence: While circumstantial evidence is defined as being indirect evidence that may individually be able to prove or not prove a given fact, in the event that there happens to be enough clues which are seen to all be pointing in the same general direction, this results in the development of overwhelming evidence. While it is often difficult to convince an individual using this type of evidence as was seen in the Casey Anthony and OJ Simpson trials, there are a number of cases that have been definitely decided by the presence of a relatively overwhelming number of clues, corroborating stores and witness despite there being no irrefutable proof of the given crime (Champion 2007).

References Champion, D. (2007). Sentencing: a reference handbook. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO. Craig, C. (2009). Basic labor and employment law for paralegals. Austin : Wolters Kluwer Law & Business ; New York: Aspen Publishers. Epstein, B. & Freedman, H. (1999). New York objections : trial practice, tips, and cases. [Santa Ana, CA] : James Pub. Gupta, P. (2012). I'll Put 3 Chips On God - just in case there is one. CopperPages Inc. Hess, Ka?ren & Orthmann, C. (2010). Criminal investigation / Karen M.

Hess ; Christine Hess Orthmann. Clifton Park, NY : Delmar, Cengage Learning. Ingram, J. (2012). Criminal evidence. Waltham, MA : Anderson. USLegal.com. Physical Evidence Law & Legal Definition. Retrieved Oct 12, 2013 from http://definitions.uslegal.com/p/physical-evidence/