"Forensic science, also known as criminalistics, is the application of science to criminal and civil laws."
Understanding the principles of evidence collection and preservation methods for different types of evidence, including physical, chemical, and biological evidence.
Chain of Custody: The process of identifying, documenting, and tracking the movement of evidence from the crime scene to the laboratory and throughout the legal system.
Physical Evidence: Various types of evidence such as hair, fibers, blood, semen, saliva, DNA, fingerprints, etc. that can be collected and analyzed to identify suspects and link them to crime scenes.
Crime Scene Investigation: The process of gathering, analyzing, and preserving physical evidence from a crime scene, including documenting the scene, collecting and preserving the evidence, and processing the evidence in the laboratory.
Principles of Forensic Analysis: The methodology used by forensic chemists to identify, analyze, and interpret physical evidence collected from a crime scene.
Chemical Analysis Techniques: The various techniques used by forensic chemists to analyze physical evidence including microscopy, chromatography, spectrometry, and other instrumental techniques.
Forensic Toxicology: The study of the effects of drugs and other chemicals on the human body, including the detection and analysis of drugs and other substances in biological samples.
DNA Analysis: The use of DNA profiling to identify individuals and establish links between individuals and physical evidence found at the crime scene.
Photography and Documentation: The use of photography and other documentation techniques to record and preserve crime scene evidence.
Legal Issues in Evidence Collection and Preservation: The laws and procedures governing the collection, preservation, and use of physical evidence in criminal investigations and court proceedings.
Ethics in Forensic Science: The ethical considerations involved in forensic science, including issues of accuracy, bias, and conflicts of interest.
DNA analysis: DNA evidence is collected from biological samples, such as hair, saliva, blood, or tissue, and analyzed to determine the identity of individuals.
Trace evidence analysis: Analysis of small bits of evidence such as fibers, hairs, and particles, to determine information about the source, location, or activity involving the evidence.
Chemical analysis: Chemical tests are performed on evidence, such as blood or fingerprints, to determine the composition and identity.
Toxicology analysis: Testing for the presence of drugs, poisons, or toxins in hair, tissue, or other biological samples.
Ballistics analysis: Study of firearms, ballistics, and other ammunition-related evidence to determine the identification of a weapon or ammunition and whether a firearm was used in a crime.
Fingerprint analysis: Examining fingerprint evidence to match them to individuals, since fingerprints are unique to individuals.
Fire investigation: Examining the evidence of a fire, such as debris, ashes or burn patterns, to determine the cause and origin of the fire.
Document examination: Analyzing documents, such as writing, signatures, and paper or ink, to determine their authenticity, identity of the author, or when they were created.
Digital forensics: Examining digital devices, networks, or data storage, to identify cybercrime or data breaches.
Anthropology and entomology: Analyzing bones, teeth, insects, or other biological material, to determine information about the nature, duration, or location of a crime or death.
"It is governed by the legal standards of admissible evidence and criminal procedure."
"It is a broad field utilizing numerous practices such as the analysis of DNA, fingerprints, bloodstain patterns, firearms, ballistics, and toxicology."
"Forensic scientists collect, preserve, and analyze scientific evidence during the course of an investigation."
"While some forensic scientists travel to the scene of the crime to collect the evidence themselves, others occupy a laboratory role, performing analysis on objects brought to them by other individuals."
"Still others are involved in the analysis of financial, banking, or other numerical data for use in financial crime investigation."
"They can be employed as consultants from private firms, academia, or as government employees."
"In addition to their laboratory role, forensic scientists testify as expert witnesses in both criminal and civil cases."
"They can work for either the prosecution or the defense, and any field could technically be forensic."
"Certain sections have developed over time to encompass the majority of forensically related cases."
"Criminalistics, also known as forensic science, is the application of science to criminal and civil laws."
"It is governed by the legal standards of admissible evidence and criminal procedure."
"...analysis of DNA, fingerprints, bloodstain patterns, firearms, ballistics, and toxicology."
"Forensic scientists collect, preserve, and analyze scientific evidence."
"Some forensic scientists travel to the scene of the crime to collect the evidence themselves, while others perform analysis on objects brought to them."
"They can be involved in the analysis of financial, banking, or other numerical data for use in financial crime investigation."
"They can be employed as consultants from private firms, academia, or as government employees."
"Forensic scientists testify as expert witnesses in both criminal and civil cases."
"They can work for either the prosecution or the defense."
"Certain sections have developed over time to encompass the majority of forensically related cases."