Colorado POST Practice Exam

What constitutes physical evidence?

1. Documents and records

2. Real evidence that can be seen or felt by the jury

3. Audio recordings

4. Witness statements

The correct answer is: Real evidence that can be seen or felt by the jury

Physical evidence refers to tangible objects or materials that can be observed or physically examined. This type of evidence plays a critical role in legal proceedings as it can be directly perceived by the jury and can often help establish facts in a case. Real evidence, which includes items such as weapons, clothing, or biological samples, can either be seen or felt. This direct interaction allows jurors to form their own informed conclusions based on their sensory experience with the evidence. While documents and records, audio recordings, and witness statements are all important forms of evidence, they do not fall under the category of physical evidence in the same way. Documents and records are considered documentary evidence, audio recordings are classified as electronic evidence, and witness statements are categorized as testimonial evidence. Each of these types serves different legal purposes and may rely on physical evidence to support their validity, but they do not possess the tangible quality that characterizes physical evidence.