Allow Cookies!
By using our website, you agree to the use of cookies
Forensic Science, also known as criminalistics, is the application of methodologies and techniques of science to criminal investigations, civil cases, and legal procedures. The term ‘forensic’ has two meanings:
1) Crime-solving:
Providing scientific or subjective evidence in issues related to law, archaeology, medicine, dentistry, etc.
2) Debating:
Related to debates and formal arguments characterized by individuals competing in a plethora of different events. The term started to be applied to legal proceedings in the 17th century.
Modern forensic science has a broad range of applications in practical scenarios:
The legal system widely recognizes the application and the necessity of forensic science in trials and investigations. Attorneys often call upon criminalists or forensic examiners to give their expert opinion in the trial, especially related to results of a laboratory test or an autopsy. Such expert testimonies are given by specialists who are recognized by the court to have knowledge of forensics and the evidence related to the case. Expert testimony can be of two types:
1) Science-Based:
The alcohol level in the blood, DNA analysis, presence of drugs or toxic elements, etc.
2) Opinion-Based:
Fingerprints, Documents, Handwriting, etc.
The findings of the former are governed by scientific methods and instrumentations while the latter is primarily determined by long training and practical experience.
Branches of Forensic Science Used in Legal System:
1) Forensic Chemistry:
Forensic chemists analyze the trace evidence found at the crime scenes. The evidence can range from collecting fingerprints found at the place where the crime occurred and then matching them to those of the suspects to taking samples of blood and urine to look for the presence of poison and drugs. They also calibrate breath analyzing machines that are mostly used by the traffic police to check if a person is drunk while driving or not.
2) Forensic Biology:
It is also known as pathology. It is concerned with the study of diseases and how they impact the body. The experts in this field help law enforcement by conducting autopsies. Autopsies are done by dissecting a cadaver and examining the body fluids and organs to find out the cause of death. Based on the information provided by forensic pathologists, the investigators are able to determine if they should pursue a certain person as a suspect or even close a case if the body is found out to have died due to natural causes.
3) Forensic Psychology:
Forensic Psychology is also referred to as Forensic Behavioural Science. It is applied in criminal cases in which the accused party's mental fitness to stand trial or testify is in dispute. Forensic psychologists or psychiatrists are also called upon by the court to opine in cases related to the rights of a patient such as in case of involuntary hospitalization, disability claims, or refusal of treatment. The experts can also help in cases where polygraph, Narco test, or brain fingerprinting is required.
4) Cyber Forensics:
It has been used in criminal cases since the 1980s and is also called computer forensics. It involves the collection and analysis of evidence found in digital devices such as personal computers, pen drives, mobile phones, memory cards, etc. Cyber Forensics involves recovering data from formatted, erased, or damaged electronic sources. It is also used for e-mail examination, video examination, tracking the IP address, etc.
5) Forensic Anthropology:
Forensic anthropology is used to determine the age, gender, height, and race of compromised human remains or skeletons usually after natural calamities, terrorist attacks, and a plane crash. It is also used to establish the time period elapsed since death and sometimes even involves using skulls to reconstruct the face of the victim. The findings are generally released to the public to generate leads.
6) Forensic Ballistics:
It is the branch of forensic science that deals with the motion, dynamic, angular movement, and the flight path of projectiles. It is generally used to determine the angle and the distance at which the bullet was fired from the gun to hit the specific target. Bullets found at the crime scene are examined to reveal the type of gun that it was fired from which can link suspects with the crime.
7) Forensic Dentistry:
It is also known as Forensic Odontology. Forensic dentists often help to identify victims when the body of the victim is found in an unidentifiable state. This specialization deals with the collection, evaluation, and proper handling of dental evidence. These dental records collected by examining the alignment and the anatomy of the teeth, including any dental corrections such as cavity fillings or veneers are utilized to identify bodies and skeletal remains and investigation of bite marks.
Other branches of forensic science include Forensic Toxicology, Dactyloscopy, Forensic Accounting, Forensic Botony, etc.
86540
103860
630
114
59824