Utah Special Function Officer (SFO) Practice Exam

Which of the following is considered real or physical evidence?

1. An eyewitness testimony

2. Recorded confessions

3. Guns and drugs

4. Police reports

The correct answer is: Guns and drugs

Physical evidence, also known as real evidence, refers to tangible items that can be physically collected and analyzed in relation to a crime. Guns and drugs are prime examples of physical evidence because they can be seized at a crime scene and are directly linked to the criminal activity being investigated. Their presence can corroborate or refute testimony, and they can be subjected to forensic analysis. In contrast, eyewitness testimony and recorded confessions, while potentially valuable pieces of evidence, are not physical entities but rather accounts of events or statements made by individuals. Police reports are documentation created by officers detailing their observations, actions, and conclusions, but they also do not constitute physical evidence. Therefore, the correct answer emphasizes the nature of guns and drugs as real, material objects that can provide concrete evidence in legal proceedings.