Forensic Science Basics

When asked, many people cannot actually define what forensic science is. Forensic science is the process of using science to resolve legal issues. This is done by applying scientific principles to matters in which the law has become involved.

Forensic science is becoming more and more common place in crime scene investigation and other fields and forensic technology continues to evolve. There are a lot of different fields in which a forensic scientist can put their education to use.

The job of a forensic scientist is two fold, despite what many people think. The first job is to analyze physical evidence and the second task is to share this information through written word or even through expert testimony in a court of law.

Fields of Forensic Science

Because many cannot define forensic science they assume that people who do this for a living are only into crime scene investigation. While that is a huge area for forensic science, it is not the only area. There are many different fields that involve forensic science including and not limited to:

• Forensic Anthropology which is the study of the human body and social relationships
• Forensic Chemistry which is the study of properties of matter
• Forensic Entomology is the study of bugs
• Forensic Mathematics is the process of finding patterns between crime scenes and evidence
• Forensic Nursing can involve helping survivors of crimes such as rape and assault
• Forensic Odontology is the study of the development and abnormalities found in teeth
• Forensic Reconstruction is the process of recreating a crime scene to provide factual testimony
• Forensic Technology is the process of solving crimes with advanced technology
• Forensic Toxicology involves the study of poisons or toxins
• Latent Print Identification: Identifying objects such as fingerprints, palm prints, even foot prints or shoe prints

As you can see, there are many areas of study when you go into forensic science. While many of these jobs can be criminal in nature, meaning to help solve crimes, these careers can get very specific to a certain niche of the forensic science world that interests you most. Many people start out with a very generalized job and then they get more focused the more they learn and work.

The Importance of Forensic Science

Forensic science is interwoven into the way that things are done today. Without forensic science we wouldn’t have a lot of the knowledge that we currently have about crimes that have been committed, fingerprints, poisons, the human body, bugs, relationships, and so much more.

Forensic science not only allows for us to learn more and explore our world in new and fascinating ways, it helps us to make the world we live in a much safer place.