Forensic Science

Forensic science is a unique discipline in which the principles and techniques of the basic sciences (biology, chemistry, and physics) are used to analyze evidence, thereby retrieving information to help solve problems related to civil and criminal law. Forensic scientists may be employed by a public agency, such as a law enforcement department or a medical examiner's office, or they may work for private commercial laboratories. Criminalists are forensic scientists who deal almost exclusively with criminal matters, working cooperatively with law enforcement personnel, pathologists, and other forensic specialists as well as with prosecutors and defense attorneys. They use the scientific method to develop factual information that is presented in a written report and in oral testimony for jurors so that they can make an informed decision as to the guilt or innocence of a defendant. The adversarial criminal justice system uses the Socratic method of question and answer to arrive at the truth; thus, forensic scientists must be cognizant of scientific and legal issues as they perform their function. Some forensic scientists consider themselves generalists, whereas others consider themselves specialists. Generalists have a broad range of knowledge in the field and are skilled in the technical aspects of scientific analysis of many forms of evidence. The latter have good general knowledge of the disciplines of forensic science and advanced skills in a specialized area. Most forensic scientists function as specialists. Because of the exponential growth of the field, owing in part to the recognition of the importance of scientific analysis and testimony in criminal matters, a large body of knowledge and numerous skills must be acquired. Although there have been significant advancements over the past two decades in technology used by forensic scientists, the fundamental nature of the discipline remains the same. Criminalists collect and analyze evidence that can link a suspect to a victim or crime scene. They reconstruct the events of a crime, write a report, and testify about their findings. Unlike any other witness, the expert may render an opinion during his or her testimony.