1 What is Forensic Science?
What does the word “forensic” mean? Anything related to use in courts or legal matters. So forensic science is the application of basically any scientific procedure – chemical, biological, physical, archaeological, engineering, dental, medical – to matters legal. In general, it means providing evidence and facts for use in court proceedings. What do forensic scientists do? Unlike fictional television characters who seem capable of anything scientific, a real forensic scientist is confined to a particular discipline (eg chemistry) and often to a specialty within that discipline. Although at times a scientist may contribute the major piece of evidence in a particular case, generally their evidence is contributory, a piece in the jigsaw that comprises the total evidence presented to the court from other witnesses, including police investigators. To assist in conviction of offenders is not the function of the scientist. In many instances the scientific examinations help to eliminate suspects and establish innocence. The scientist must be impartial and not an advocate for the defence or prosecution. Forensic scientists work in laboratories, at crime scenes, in offices, and in morgues. They may work for federal, state and local government, forensic laboratories, medical examiners offices, hospitals, universities, toxicology laboratories, police departments, medical examiner/coroner offices, or as independent forensic science consultants. Possible roles of a forensic scientist (though not necessarily a single person) 
identify illicit drugs 
analyse drugs and poisons in human tissue and body fluids including blood alcohol results 
examine and compare materials such as fibres, paints, cosmetics, oils, petrol, plastics, glass, metals, soils and gunshot residues 
examine items of human and animal biological material to be compared with victims and suspects using DNA profiling 
identify deceased persons using dental records, fingerprints etc 
conduct botanical identification of plant materials at trace levels, and whole‐plant identification such as cannabis 
conduct document examinations, both physical (e.g. handwriting, typewriting) and chemical (e.g. analysis of inks and papers) 
examine and document crime scenes (via notes, physical measurements, video and photographs) 
identify firearms and ammunition (forensic ballistics) 
detect, enhance, recover and identify latent fingerprints, footprints, tool marks, shoe marks, tyre marks and tracks 
examine fire and explosion scenes to establish the origin and cause 
enhance and analyse audio recordings 
produce reports, appear in court and present scientific and/or opinion testimony accurately and in a manner which is readily understood by the court 
liaise with, and provide advice to, police investigators, scientists and pathologists across a broad range of disciplines What is Forensic Science?
Areas of forensic science The easiest way to illustrate the very broad scope of specialities in forensic science is to use the Table of Contents of one of the major books published in the area: Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques, Stuart James & Jon Nordby (editors), Taylor and Francis, 2005. Chapter 1.
Here we stand : what a forensic scientist does Chapter 2.
The role of the forensic pathologist Chapter 3.
Forensic nursing Chapter 4.
Investigation of traumatic deaths Chapter 5.
Forensic toxicology Chapter 6.
Forensic odontology Chapter 7.
Forensic anthropology Chapter 8.
Forensic taphonomy Chapter 9.
Forensic entomology Chapter 10.
Crime scene investigation Chapter 11.
Recognition of bloodstain patterns Chapter 12.
The forensic laboratory Chapter 13.
Identification and characterization of blood and bloodstains Chapter 14.
Identification of biological fluids and stains Chapter 15.
Techniques of DNA analysis Chapter 16.
Microanalysis and examination of trace evidence Chapter 17.
Fingerprints Chapter 18.
Forensic footwear evidence Chapter 19.
Forensic tire impression and tire track evidence Chapter 20.
Firearm and tool mark examinations Chapter 21.
Questioned documents Chapter 22.
Analysis of controlled substances Chapter 23.
Structural failures Chapter 24.
Basic fire and explosion investigation Chapter 25.
Vehicular accident reconstruction Chapter 26.
Use of computers in forensic science Chapter 27.
Investigation of computer‐related crime Chapter 28.
Forensic psychology Chapter 29.
Forensic psychiatry Chapter 30.
Serial offenders : linking cases by modus operandi and signature Chapter 31.
Criminal personality profiling Chapter 32.
Countering chaos : logic, ethics, and the criminal justice system Chapter 33.
Forensic evidence Chapter 34.
Legal issues in forensic DNA Looking at such a list, it is hopefully even more obvious that a single person cannot possibly do of the above. Collection of evidence Many of these areas of expertise require substantial levels of education (i.e. university degree) and experience. They are not something you walk into and just do. However, evidence collection at the crime scene is a skill that is appropriate to a less highly educated forensic officer. In some countries, they are scene‐of‐crime officers (SOCOs). They tend to be non‐specialists who have a range of technical skills that are more at a level consistent with a TAFE diploma, since they do not require the level of knowledge that some of the specialised areas (eg dentistry) do. Introduction To Forensic Science IS1.2 What is Forensic Science?
Are all forensic scientists police officers? No. In fact, very few are. Much of the specialised forensic analysis (eg chemical analysis of fire residues, DNA fingerprinting, dental matching) is done by scientists employed in private industry, universities or government laboratories. Even those employed by the police force do not have to be police officers. They may be civilians employed solely for the purpose of collecting and analysing evidence, though they can be police officers who have transferred within the department to the forensic unit. Forensic evidence can be used by either party in a court case. Therefore, the person(s) charged with an offence can use forensic evidence that they have gained from employing forensic scientists. What type of evidence does forensic science provide? Evidence is defined as something legally submitted to a court (or similar) which provides a means of determining the truth of a matter. Evidence can be divided into two basic types: 
testimonial – given in the form of statements by people under questioning (witnesses and suspects) 
physical – any type of evidence that has a real form, i.e. something shape, form and substance (not just words) Forensic evidence is the latter. It does not rely on people’s answers to questions and recollections of what happened. It is therefore more reliable, though not totally so. It is at least objective – it doesn’t have a favourite side. What can physical evidence do? 
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prove a crime has been committed or establish key elements of a crime place the suspect in contact with the victim or with the crime scene establish the identity of persons associated with a crime prove a suspect innocent back up or disprove the victim’s testimony cause the suspect to make admissions or admit guilt provide more reliable, objective evidence than witnesses provide a public perception of reliable evidence Introduction To Forensic Science IS1.3