In the Philippine settings of criminal justice,

laws are continually being amended and

revised to counter the alarming increase of
crime rates, in response to public
concerned, law enforcement agencies have
expanded their patrol, police visibility
upgrade  investigative capabilities and
procurement of modern equipment's hoping
to stem down the arising number of crime. 
Continuous training of forensic examiner
and modernization of scientific equipment's
of the Crime Laboratory plays a  pivotal role
on Crime Scene Investigation. Examination
of object and physical evidence recovered
from the crime scene leads to the immediate
prosecution of the Crime committed.
 Small, often microscopic,
quantities of material have
always been of interest to crime
scene investigators. These
particles can be the key to a
successful investigation. An
individual or object leaves
behind and/or picks up traces
of materials from another
person or an environment,
however brief and slight the
contact. This concept is
referred to as Locard's Principle
of Exchange.
 Evidence that results from this exchange can
suggest a link between the suspect with the
victim and the crime scene. The connection is
established by the comparison of trace
evidence from a questioned source with
samples from a known source
(reference/control); for example, a person is
attacked in their home by an intruder, the
intruder may leave hairs and fibers on the victim
and on the victim’s furniture or carpet. Likewise
the intruder may take away hairs or fibers from
the victim’s residence on his clothing or in his
shoes. Lastly, since the intruder had to get into
and out of the scene there is a possibility of the
intruder leaving shoeprints either in the house
or outside of the house at a point of entry. The
timely collection of known samples from the
victim, suspect, and the crime scene is critical.
  In its broadcast sense , Forensic science can be considered the application of science to those
criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system. Which of the
"sciences " can be forensic? Just about any science can be a forensic science if it can have any
application to justice or judicial matters. It is a very large umbrella of expert fields.

    The doctrine of exchange or transfer is based on

(Wagner, 1986) 

              1.  The perpetrator will take away traces of the

victim and the scene.

              2.  The victim will retain traces of the perpetrator and

may transfer.  
                    traces of himself on the perpetrator.

              3.  The perpetrator will leave behind traces of himself at

the scene.
 1. Physical vs. Non-Physical 

2.  KNOWN vs UNKNOWN 

3.  CLASS vs. INDVIDUAL

TYPES OF
EVIDENCE
 CLASS EVIDENCE

relates to the
category of
materials that a
piece of evidence
came from and
non- specific .
INDIVIDUAL EVIDENCE

relates to the actual

object, person, victim
or perpetrator that it
came from, deals with
unique characteristics
and is very specific it
refer to as
"individualization".
 PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
encompasses any and all objects that can
establish that a crime has been committed
or can provide a link between a crime and
its victim or a crime and its perpetrator. Or
it can also be a print or pattern left at the
scene , this may also refer to evidence in
very small amounts, which may be easily
overlooked  or lost if not looked for
carefully and with correct techniques
employed.
 A.    Body Evidence

 1. Human body and its parts

Examples  2. Body trace evidence

of Physical  3. Fluids such as blood, semen,

stool, sweat, and saliva
evidence  4. Body tissues and hair

5. From clothing and other

attachment applied to or worn on
the body.
B.    Non-Body Evidence
      1. Questioned Documents  
        2. Illicit drug and controlled chemicals
        3. Fire and chemical residues in cases of arson, including petroleum
products.
        4. Explosives and explosives residues and other ingredients.
        5. Fabrics and fibers
        6. Prints and impressions
        7. Firearms and ammunitions
        8. Powder residues, glass, paints and plastics
        9. Soils
      10. Tool marks and serial numbers
11. Adhesives
12. Ropes and cords 
13. Audio visual / electronics devices
14. Miscellaneous
THE VALUE OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE MAY BE UTILIZED IN FORENSIC
INVESTIGATIONS IN THE FOLLOWING MEANINGFUL AREAS;

  1. Defining the elements of the crime. Such as the identification and 

quantitation of a drug or controlled substance in the determination of the quantity
of alcohol in the blood of a person driving while intoxicated.

2.Providing investigative leads for a case. An example of this would be the

identification of vehicle type in a hit-and-run case through automotive paint  and
glass analysis.

3. Linking a crime scene or a victim to a suspect. This like may be

provided through analysis of various types of physical evidence such as hair,
blood semen, and fingerprints.
4.  Corroborating or refuting a suspect's statements alibi. In fatal gunshot case,
the examination of bloodstained pattern at the scene and on the suspects
clothing may establish weather the victim was struggling with an assailant as
may be claimed.
5.  Identifying a suspect. The identification of the suspect is not limited to
but often established through fingerprint comparison or DNA.
6.  Inducing a confession from a suspect. In some cases presenting
factual Information to a suspect establishing through the examination of
physical evidence such as the victim's blood identified on their clothing
of fingerprints identified on a weapon, will encourage the person to
admit involvement in a crime.
7.  Exonerating the innocent. Physical evidence may be found that may prove a
person did not commit a crime. This is often referred to as exculpatory
evidence.
8.  Providing expert testimony in court. The presentation of physical evidence in
court by an expert is the ultimate test of the validity of the evidence.