What type of evidence is considered most commonly recovered at crime scenes?

Latent prints are considered the most commonly recovered type of evidence at crime scenes because they can be left behind by individuals in a variety of situations. These prints are often found on surfaces such as doorknobs, windows, or any place where someone may have touched. The nature of latent prints is that they can be invisible to the naked eye, which means they require special techniques, such as powdering or chemical developers, to be visualized and collected. This makes them extremely valuable in linking a suspect to a crime scene, as they can be directly associated with the presence of an individual at the location where a crime occurred.

The widespread occurrence of latent prints at crime scenes makes them a critical focus for investigators. Their ability to be linked back to specific individuals through fingerprint databases enhances their importance in forensic investigations.