What is forensic science?
Forensic science simply means that
scientific procedures are being applied
to legal problems. Virtually all fields
of science touch upon this discipline.
Proof of criminal charges
Not long ago, proof of criminal charges
depended mainly on eyewitnesses and
other subjective means. With scientific
advances, objective evidence has taken
on a greater role in criminal trials.
Governments rely increasingly on
science to help enforce a growing number
of regulations.
Because science is now used routinely
in litigation, various groups, including
lawyers, judges, enforcement officials,
and the public, need to know what
forensic science can - and cannot - do.
Forensic science is used to enforce
laws and government regulations and
statutes, to resolve disputes, to assess
blame and establish responsibility, and
to enhance public safety.
Forensic science involves the
collection of information about the
physical characteristics, chemical
composition and occurrence of materials
of forensic interest. It looks at the
scientific association between such
samples, based on their origins,
manufacture, packaging and distribution
characteristics.
Chemical fingerprinting
Every time we enter or leave a room we
potentially leave behind evidence that
we were there. Examples are biological
samples such as hair, blood, saliva,
urine, or seminal fluid, and other
physical evidence such as fibres, or
particulate matter including glass
fragments and paint chips. Fingerprints
may also be left behind.
Forensic science relies upon chemical
and physical methods of analysis to
create "fingerprints" or "signatures" of
people.
Chemical fingerprinting techniques and
sample association methods are generally
far more effective in excluding an
association than establishing a
connection between samples.
To confirm an association, all points
of comparison must be identical, which
usually requires exhaustive analysis and
a thorough understanding of the
sample.To show that samples are
different, it's enough to establish a
single point of dissimilarity.
The traditional disciplines of forensic
science include:
- Toxicology (study of alcohol and
drugs)
- Serology (study of blood and other
biological fluids)
- Questioned document examination
(examination of documents, handwriting
comparison, study of inks, typewriter
imprints, counterfeiting etc.)
- Forensic chemistry
- Firearms identification and
ballistics (study of marks and
striations on bullets)
- Hair and fibre analysis
- Pathology
- Odontology (study of bite marks,
teeth structure)
Other specialties include
- Disaster identification (e.g.,
identifying bodies, and cause of
death)
- Analysis of lip prints (cheiloscopy)
- Forensic engineering
- Meteorology (impact of weather on a
case)
- Blood spatter identification
- Voice print analysis
- Retinal scanning (e.g., for
identification purposes)
- Forensic entomology
- Forensic anthropology
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