Introduction to Forensic Science

What is Forensic Science?Taken from Chapter 1 Introduction to

Forensic Science by Gaensslen, Harris and Lee

What is Forensic Science?O A broad definition: “science in the service of

the law”O Forensic means having to do with the lawO Forensics is NOT the same!

O Means debating, not science

O A narrower definition involves criminalisticsO Scientific examination of evidence for legal

purposes

Science in the Service of the Law

O Forensic science is science usually applied to criminal cases

O Forensic science can also involve civil and administrative matters:O Product failure liability, disputed paternity,

and so onO Most “expert witnesses” actually work on

civil matters, not criminal cases

Value of Forensic ScienceO Most public forensic science labs are funded by

local, state or federal governmentO The scientists must provide government with

reasons for funding their programsO Corpus delicti – “elements of a crime”O Support disprove statementsO Identify substancesO Identify personsO Provide investigative leadsO Establish linkages or exclusions

History of Forensic ScienceO Some date the specialty back to China AD

1250O Most historians think it began in the

Western world between 1800 and 1850O Advancement of chemistry as a scienceO New technology like the microscopeO More advanced medical programs

History of Forensic ScienceO Mathiu Orfila (1787-

1853)O Best known medico

legalist (looking at death cases)

O PhysicianO “father of forensic

toxicology”

History of Forensic ScienceO Alphonse Bertillon

(1853-1914)O First scientific

system of personal identification

O Series of body measurements

O Used until fingerprints evolved in early 1900’s

History of Forensic ScienceO Francis Galton

(1833-1911)O First to study

fingerprints and apply them to identification

O Still the most used method for identification today