What type of evidence can fingerprints provide at a crime scene?

Fingerprints are a crucial form of physical evidence that can uniquely identify individuals at a crime scene. Each person's fingerprints have distinct ridge patterns that are unique and can remain unchanged throughout a person's life, making them an effective means of establishing identity. When collected from a crime scene, fingerprints can link a suspect to the scene or to objects related to the crime, thus providing vital information in forensic investigations.

The uniqueness and permanence of fingerprints enable law enforcement agencies to match prints found at crime scenes with those stored in databases, leading to the identification of suspects. This process is a fundamental aspect of criminal investigations and highlights the importance of fingerprints as a cornerstone of physical evidence in solving crimes.