When does absence of evidence constitute evidence of absence?

Abstract

<p><em>Negative forensic evidence</em> can be defined as the failure to find a trace after looking for it. Such evidence is often dismissed by referring to the aphorism “absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.” However, this reasoning can be misleading in the context of forensic science. This commentary is designed to help <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/forensic-scientist" title="Learn more about Forensic Scientist from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">forensic scientists</a> understand the probative value of negative forensic evidence.</p>