The type of evidence that cannot be linked to a particular person or object is known as what?

• A. Class evidence
• B. Direct evidence
• C. Circumstantial evidence
• D. Physical evidence

Answer: (A)

Class evidence consists of characteristics that link a sample to a group rather than to a single source. Because these features are shared by many items, they cannot pinpoint a particular person or object; they only indicate membership in a broader class. For example, a fiber type or a paint from a general batch can show the item came from that class, but not from a specific garment or vehicle. This is in contrast to individual evidence, which ties directly to a unique source, such as a fingerprint or DNA profile. Direct evidence proves a fact on its own, while circumstantial evidence relies on a chain of inferences. Physical evidence simply refers to any tangible material, and it can be either class or individual in nature depending on its attributes. The description given fits class evidence exactly because it cannot be traced to a specific person or object.