What is Forensic Science?
First and foremost, forensic scientists are scientists , but when they apply their scientific knowledge to assist juries, attorneys, and judges in understanding the physical evidence of a criminal case, they become forensic scientists. The word “forensic” applies to the use of scientific methods and techniques to investigate a crime and help resolve legal issues in a court of law. As you might imagine, forensic science is highly important to law enforcement in the United States. Forensic scientists are instrumental in identifying and convicting criminals, and their analysis of forensic evidence often confirms the guilt or innocence of possible suspects in a crime.
What Do Forensic Scientists Do?
Simply stated, forensic scientists study the details of a crime and report their findings to a court of law. To do this, forensic scientists perform physical and chemical analyses on criminal evidence submitted by the police or other law enforcement agencies. The physical evidence may be found at the scene of a crime, on a victim, or both. Regardless, forensic scientists use a variety of problem-solving methods, mathematical principles, complex instruments, and microscopic examining techniques to explain the intricacies of each piece of evidence from a case. Some forensic scientists work in laboratories, while others conduct their analysis at the scene of the crime.
After analyzing the physical evidence, forensic scientists draw links between the suspect, the victim, and the crime scene. For example, they may use physical evidence to determine the make, model, year, and even the identity of the owner of a car associated with a crime. Then, they explain the results of their analysis and describe the methods they used to reach their conclusion in a report, which they will cite while providing testimony in court. Throughout this process, forensic scientists ensure that their examination of physical evidence is complete, tests are administered correctly, the data interpretation is accurate, their report is clear and concise, and their testimony is truthful.
Subdivisions of Forensic Science
Some forensic scientists are generalists. Their focus may be on field or laboratory investigation, clinical work, communication, education, and/or research. A forensic scientist may also be a generalist if he or she is involved with a newly emerging forensic science specialty, or established area of forensic science that does not fit within one of the following specializations:
- Criminalists analyze, compare, identify, and interpret physical evidence. They use natural and physical science techniques to examine hair, blood, body fluid stains, fibers, alcohol, paint, drugs, glass, soil, flammables, and/or botanicals—any physical evidence. Criminalists also perform firearm and toolmark identification, which involves matching bullets to the gun that fired them.
- Forensic toxicologists deal with the medico-legal aspects of toxicology. Their work is guided by this question: “Did alcohol or drugs lead or contribute to this individual's intoxication or death?”
- Forensic engineers apply the science and art of engineering to the law. These forensic scientists are typically involved in resolving civil suits or regulatory matters. Their reports may include a review of maintenance procedures, failure analysis, investigation of the cause of a fire or explosions, design review, accident reconstruction, etc.
- Digital and multimedia science professionals either develop the scientific foundations for digital forensics through research and publication, or manage digital forensic labs. Digital photography is an important area of research and development for its potential to aid in the documentation of crime scenes and injuries. With new technology, these professionals may be able to understand and interpret digital imagery, video, and audio in the context of a crime.
- Forensic anthropologists specialize in human skeletal biology. Typically, they are trained in archaeological methods, skilled in the identification of skeletal materials, and use their training to identify the dead. Their work may involve recovering human remains from various locations, such as deserts or rivers.
- Forensic dentistry (ondontology) involves the use of dental science to help identify unknown individuals or human remains after natural disasters, terrorist activities, etc. The evidence analyzed by forensic dentists includes bite marks and physical and biological dental evidence. Their findings are used by law enforcement to identify unknown persons.
- Forensic pathologists apply the principles of pathology to the legal needs of society. Typically, they are involved in investigations surrounding an individual's cause of death. It is common for them to perform an autopsy as part of their analysis.
- Forensic psychologists and psychiatrists address a range of legal issues in criminal and civil cases and family and domestic relations law. They may be involved in making decisions about involuntary psychiatric hospitalization, a patient's right to refuse treatment, juvenile delinquency, child custody, domestic abuse, etc.
Article Resources:
Forensic Scientists: A Career in the Crime Lab
So You Want to Be a Forensic Scientist!
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