Discuss trace evidence and provide examples of what is commonly considered trace evidence

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The term trace evidence is usually very loosely defined; however, it most often is applied to minute or microscopic bits of materials that are not immediately apparent to even a trained investigator. Thus, trace evidence is usually in the hard- to-find category. Because trace materials resulting from exchanges are less likely to excite the attention of the criminal, or even to be apparent to him, there is far less probability that the criminal will deliberately eliminate these materials than is the case with larger items of evidence or latent fingerprints. Examples would include glass fragments, fibers from clothing or carpeting and strands of hair.