FORENSIC SCIENCE

Abstract

Forensic science applies natural, physical, and social sciences to resolve legal matters. The term forensics has been attached to many different fields: economics, anthropology, dentistry, pathology, toxicology, entomology, psychology, accounting, engineering, and computer forensics. Forensic evidence is gathered, examined, evaluated, interpreted, and presented to make sense of an event and provide investigatory leads. Various classification schemes exist for forensic evidence, with some forms of evidence falling under more than one scheme. Rules of evidence differ between jurisdictions, even between countries that share similar legal traditions. This makes the sharing of evidence between countries particularly problematic, at times rendering this evidence inadmissible in national courts. Several measures have been proposed and organizations created to strengthen forensic science and promote best practices for practitioners, researchers, and academicians in the field.

Definition

Forensic science involves the application of the natural, physical, and social sciences to matters of law.

Introduction

Forensic science refers to the application of natural, physical, and social sciences to matters of the law. Most forensic scientists hold that investigation begins at the scene, regardless of their associated field. The proper investigation, collection, and preservation of evidence are essential for fact-finding and for ensuring proper evaluation and interpretation of the evidence, whether the evidence is bloodstains, human remains, hard drives, ledgers, and files or medical records. Scene investigations are concerned with the documentation, preservation, and evaluation of a location in which a criminal act may have occurred and any associated evidence within the location for the purpose of reconstructing events using the scientific method. The proper documentation of a scene and the subsequent collection, packaging, and storage of evidence are paramount. Evidence must be collected in such a manner to maintain its integrity and prevent loss, contamination, or deleterious change. Maintenance of the chain of custody of the evidence from the scene to the laboratory or a storage facility is critical. A chain of custody refers to the process whereby investigators preserve evidence throughout the life of a case. It includes information about: who collected the evidence, the manner in which the evidence was collected, and all individuals who took possession of the evidence after its collection and the date and time which such possession took place.