What type of evidence is used to demonstrate linkages between a victim, suspect, or location?

Associative evidence serves to establish connections between individuals, such as a victim or suspect, and specific locations involved in a crime. This type of evidence can be particularly critical in linking a perpetrator to the crime scene or the victim through various means, such as clothing fibers, hair strands, or trace materials.

For example, if a suspect's hair is found at a crime scene and that same hair type is also present on the victim, this can substantiate a link between the two. Similarly, if a victim's DNA is discovered at a suspect's house, it supports the idea that the victim was present in that location.

The other types of evidence, while relevant in different contexts, serve different purposes. Class characteristics help to categorize evidence into groups, but do not establish unique connections between specific individuals or locations. Individual characteristics provide unique identifiers, such as a fingerprint, which can point to a specific person, but may not always demonstrate a direct linkage to locations in the same way associative evidence does. Transient evidence refers to temporary evidence that can change or disappear, and while it can indicate a link, it may not provide the same level of reliability or permanence as associative evidence does.

Thus, associative evidence is fundamental in crime scene investigations for illustrating