When evidence can be associated only with a group and never with a single source

Class Characteristics are properties of physical evidence that can be associated only with a group and never with a single source. If evidence is determined to possess class characteristics it may serve as a mechanism to reduce the number of suspects, but it cannot be directly connected to one person or source.

What are the two types of associative evidence?

Two types of associative evidence are identi- fied: that with class characteristics and that with individual characteristics. Associative evidence that has class characteristics can be classified only as belonging to a certain class of objects; such an item may be excluded as belonging to other classes of objects.

What is an associative evidence?

Associative evidence is exactly what the name implies. It is about evidence that can link people with people, people with objects, or people with places. This is the basis of Kirk's concept of making the things at the crime scene talk, his silent witnesses.

What type of evidence can be linked to a unique single specific source?

The best evidence is anything that can be linked to a unique, single, specific source. This is called individual evidence. Examples are fingerprints, handwriting, DNA patterns, and sometimes physical matches, such as a piece of broken glass that fits exactly to another, like a jigsaw puzzle piece.