Legal Terminology Quiz

Questions and Answers

What is testimonial evidence?

Material that can be related to a single source.

Evidence based on suggestion.

Tangible items that prove material facts.

What is said in court by a competent witness. (correct)

What is physical evidence?

Tangible items that prove some material fact.

What are three factors that may affect the memory of an eyewitness?

The time between the crime and questioning. 2. New information influencing memory. 3. The type of crime and the witness.

Which of the following are types of physical evidence? (Select all that apply)

Pattern evidence Signup and view all the answers

What is transient evidence?

Temporary; easily changed or lost. Signup and view all the answers

What is pattern evidence?

Evidence produced by direct contact between a person and an object or between two objects. Signup and view all the answers

What is conditional evidence?

Evidence produced by a specific event or action. Signup and view all the answers

What is transfer evidence?

Evidence produced by contact between people and objects. Signup and view all the answers

What is associative evidence?

Items that may associate a victim or suspect with a crime scene. Signup and view all the answers

What is circumstantial evidence?

Evidence based on suggestion rather than personal knowledge. Signup and view all the answers

What is significant about the Ronald Cotton case?

Ronald Cotton was wrongfully convicted based on mistaken eyewitness testimony. Signup and view all the answers

What is class evidence?

An object with common characteristics shared with similar objects. Signup and view all the answers

What is individual evidence?

Material that can be related to a single source through individualization. Signup and view all the answers

Can class evidence be used to link a suspect with certainty to a crime?

False Signup and view all the answers

How can class evidence be helpful?

It can narrow down suspects or eliminate some. Signup and view all the answers

What is direct evidence?

Direct evidence is the same as testimonial evidence. Signup and view all the answers

Where is physical evidence found and collected?

At the crime scene by police or crime scene investigators. Signup and view all the answers

Why is physical evidence important and what can it prove?

It proves a crime was committed and can link a suspect to a scene. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by a control sample?

Material from a proven or known source for comparison. Signup and view all the answers

How can class evidence be used to narrow a field of suspects?

It shares characteristics with many items but can be narrowed down by unique combinations. Signup and view all the answers

How can individualized evidence have probative value?

It connects to a unique, single source. Signup and view all the answers

How can class evidence have probative value?

By increasing its uniqueness through distinctive traits. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Testimonial Evidence

Testimonial evidence refers to what is stated by a competent witness in court.
Also known as direct evidence or prima facie evidence.

Physical Evidence

Consists of tangible items that can substantiate material facts.
Also referred to as real evidence, this includes all material or objects tied to a crime.

Factors Affecting Eyewitness Memory

Time elapsed between the crime and witness questioning can degrade memory.
New information, such as viewing mugshots or suggestive questioning, can alter recollection.
Types of crimes and characteristics of witnesses can influence memory performance.

Types of Physical Evidence

Transient evidence: temporary and easily lost or changed.
Pattern evidence: created through direct contact between a person and an object.
Conditional evidence: arises from specific events; vital for crime scene reconstruction.
Transfer evidence: results from contact between people and objects.
Associative evidence: items linking a victim or suspect to a crime scene.

Circumstantial Evidence

Based on inference rather than direct personal knowledge; relies on assumption.

Ronald Cotton Case Significance

Ronald Cotton was wrongfully convicted of a crime he did not commit.
Served 11 years in prison based on eyewitness testimony, lacking substantial evidence.
DNA evidence ultimately exonerated him, underscoring issues with reliance on witness accounts.

Class vs. Individual Evidence

Class evidence: grouped by common characteristics among similar items; cannot provide certainty.
Individual evidence: uniquely related to a single source; requires comparison for individualization.

Class Evidence Utilization

Class evidence narrows down suspect possibilities and can eliminate certain individuals.
Increased probative value comes from accumulating related evidence.

Direct Evidence Explained

Direct evidence is synonymous with testimonial evidence, consisting of sworn statements from witnesses.

Collection and Importance of Physical Evidence

Collected at crime scenes by police or investigators, then analyzed in forensic labs.
Essential for proving crimes, corroborating witness testimony, linking suspects to victims or scenes, identifying individuals, and reconstructing crime scenarios.

Control Samples

Control samples originate from a known source, offering a basis for comparison with unknown samples.

Narrowing Suspect Fields with Class Evidence

Class evidence, which shares traits with multiple items, can help reduce the number of suspects.
Unique combinations of class evidence (e.g., clothing) increase specificity and can pinpoint potential suspects.

Probative Value of Evidence

Individualized evidence offers the highest probative value due to its connection to a unique source, like fingerprints or DNA.
Class evidence can gain probative value through unique characteristics or the collection of multiple evidence types to link suspects to crimes.

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Description

Test your knowledge on key legal concepts such as testimonial evidence, physical evidence, and factors affecting eyewitness memory. This quiz will help you understand the definitions and implications of these terms in a legal context.