Utah Special Function Officer (SFO) Practice Exam

Which of the following is considered circumstantial evidence?

1. Eyewitness testimony

2. Footprints

3. Confession

4. Video recording

The correct answer is: Footprints

Circumstantial evidence refers to evidence that does not directly prove a fact but allows a jury to make inferences about that fact. Footprints serve as an example of circumstantial evidence because they can suggest someone's presence at a crime scene or involvement in an event without directly confirming it. For instance, if footprints are found leading away from a crime scene, they can imply that an individual was there, but they do not definitively prove who was there or what exactly occurred. Eyewitness testimony, while important, directly relays an individual's account of what they saw and therefore serves as direct evidence. A confession directly reveals a person's guilt regarding a crime, and a video recording provides direct visual evidence of an event. In contrast, footprints rely on interpretation and context, thereby categorizing them as circumstantial evidence.