What distinguishes class evidence from individual evidence?

Class evidence is defined by its ability to narrow down a group of possible sources rather than identifying a specific individual source. This type of evidence typically links an object or substance to a broader category or a class, which may share common characteristics. For example, fibers from a shirt can be class evidence if they match fibers found at a crime scene, as these fibers may come from many shirts of the same brand or type rather than pinpointing it to one specific shirt owned by an individual.

In contrast, individual evidence is unique and can be linked to a specific source with a high degree of certainty. Examples of individual evidence include DNA or fingerprints, which can uniquely identify an individual.

The distinguishing factor here is the degree of specificity: class evidence is useful for connecting evidence to a type of object or group, helping investigators consider various possibilities while individual evidence allows for a definitive conclusion about a particular source.