The Art of Forensic Science

“Forensic Science is a kind of science that involves a handy notebook and a magnifying glass – a well-defined observation and sharp eyes.”

First, let us define what is a Forensic Science. “Forensic “, in a more modern context, applies to judicial system. Combine that with “science”, and forensic science means applying scientific methods and processes to solving crimes. Forensic science plays an important role in the investigation of serious crimes.

This has been popularized due to forensic science writings made by the medical practitioners since 16th century. That caused to reveal the first evidence of modern pathology in the late 18th century. In fact, it leads to the formation of the first school of forensic science in 1909; the development of forensic science has been used to uncover mysteries, solve crimes, and convict or exonerate suspects of crime for hundreds of years.

Furthermore, a Forensic Science Technician, a.k.a. Crime Scene Technician or Forensic Lab Technician, is a person who helps investigate crimes through collecting and analyzing physical evidence present in the crime scene. They need to master the crime scene investigations and laboratory analysis because they may work long hours under distressing conditions.

In the areas of DNA and trace evidence, forensic science may be a very complex study. The study of forensic science is grounded in fundamental concepts and techniques that are gathered from the natural sciences. In fact, the study of forensic science involves a multi-disciplinary approach that covers everything from biological methods to analytical chemistry techniques (crimesceneinvestigatoredu, 2019).

The majority of forensic scientists study a specific physical science, such as chemistry or biology, while others pursue forensic science degrees that are rooted in either chemistry or biology. It is like the same with pursuing medical technology as well as complex sciences such as biology and chemistry.

As well as from the fields of criminal justice and the law, comprehensive degree from a college or university draws from the biological sciences. With this, students learn to develop an appreciation of both the scientific and social environment of the criminal justice system, and many students go on to focus their potential degrees on specific areas of forensic science, such as DNA, trace evidence, toxicology, latent prints, or questioned documents, for example. This kind of science is quite interesting since it involves investigations to solve crimes.

As part of my studying, I became interested in this course subject because I want to go further the term “crime” and that involves solving the questionable incidents.

For more ideas on forensic science-related careers, here are some of the lists (crimesceneinvestigatoredu.org, 2019):

• Trace Evidence Analysis
• Forensic Toxicology
• Forensic Psychology
• Forensic Podiatry
• Forensic Pathology
• Forensic Optometry
• Forensic Engineering
• Forensic DNA Analysis
• Forensic Botany
• Digital Forensics
• Criminalistics

Often forensic science includes even more specialized fields, such as forensic accounting, forensic engineering, and forensic psychiatry, and among others.

Now you may wonder and ask, “What are the goals of a Forensic Science?” According to Williams (2016), there are two goals of Forensic Science: (1)analyze evidence accurately and (2)must be able to present and defend their findings.

Unlike eyewitness testimony or circumstantial evidence, forensic science must not provide opinions or assumptions, rather, it must be concrete facts. Making a connection to a crime is dependent on correctly analyzing such evidence as fingerprints; blood, semen, saliva and urine samples; and trace evidence of fibers, hair, glass, tape and gunshot residue. They may also reconstruct crime scenes in the laboratory to determine such facts as the trajectory of bullets or the pattern of blood splatters. Their work must be precise and exact. After that, they will provide information to other members of the criminal justice team, such as attorneys, investigators, judges and juries. Whether oral or written, their expert testimony must be logical and capable of being clearly understood by lay people. In addition, forensic scientists must exercise ethical behavior. Even if they work for the prosecution and their findings exonerate the prosecution’s prime suspect, forensic scientists must tell the complete and necessary truth.

References:

Former Forensic Science Technicians on CareerExplorer. (n.d.). Forensic Science Technician. Retrieved from https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/forensic-science-technician/

What is Forensics? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.crimesceneinvestigatoredu.org/what-is-forensic-science/

Williams, T. (2016, July 14). Two Main Goals for a Forensic Scientist. Retrieved from https://woman.thenest.com/two-main-goals-forensic-scientist-21273.html