Forensic Science is the application of scientific principles in terms of LAW for the purpose of Justice. Whenever, we apply science to solve a legal problem it becomes forensic science. For instance, you encountered a red stain on the carpet. The first question that comes to your mind "Oh is this blood"? Now to answer this question you require number of scientific methods:
1. Whether it is Blood or Not?
2. If it is blood, then whether an Animal blood or Human blood?
3. If animal, then which species or which animal?
4. If human, then what is the blood group, male or female, DNA identification etc.
In the above example, we need a bit if chemistry (to test whether it is blood or not), bit of biology (species origin test, antigen-antibody reaction, DNA) and some time bit of physics (to identify the source and force applied).
There are various branches of forensic science including some very edge cutting:
1. Forensic Toxicology: Deals with the Analysis of the toxins (poisons) etc.
2. Forensic Pathology: Forensic pathologists determines the cause of death, manner of death, nature of injuries during medical examination (post-mortem).
3. Forensic Odontology: Application of dental science for legal investigations. A single tooth can be utilized to identify the individual.
4. Forensic Linguistics: Also known as language to the law. It is the application of linguistic knowledge and analytical methods to the forensic context of law.
5. Forensic Geology: Also called as Geo-forensics, is the study of evidence encountered beneath the earth like minerals, oil, petroleum, objects, dead bodies, fossils etc and used to answer questions raised by the legal system.
6. Forensic Entomology: Study of the different species of insects (arthropods) and their life cycles on the dead bodies or decomposed bodies to determine the time since death.
7. Forensic Engineering: Is the study of engineering principles to the investigation of failures or other performance problems like plane crash, building collapse, bridge collapse etc.
8. DNA Profiling: Also named as DNA Fingerprinting and is one of the major branch of Forensic Science, deals with the extraction, isolation, identification and comparison of DNA from the body fluids and other biological matter.
9. Forensic Psychology: A very broad area and the application of psychological parameters in the legal system. Used for criminal profiling, court procedures, corrective measures, preventive forensics etc.
10. Forensic Archaeology: It is the field of forensic science which involves application of archaeological methods in the investigation of a crime to identify the related evidences and to reconstruct crime scene. Forensic archaeologist are employed to excavate and recover human remains, personal items, weapons, etc.
11. Forensic Anthropology: It deals with the study of skeletal remains of humans and animals. It answers number of questions related to a piece of bone or complete skeleton. Basically deals with the procedure of identification and individualization on the basis of skeletal remains.
12. Digital Forensics: Digital Forensics is characterized as the method that can be used by the court of law to store, locate, extract and record computer evidence.
13. Forensic Ballistics: Deals with the study of firearm and related evidences in a shooting incident. A forensic ballistic expert is required to identify the type of firearm used, range of firing, direction of firing, link the suspected firearm with the incident etc.
14. Forensic Biology: Application of biology to equate a person(s), whether suspect or victim, with another person (victim or suspect, respectively) in a venue, object (or set of items).
15. Forensic Chemistry: In order to identify the unidentified materials and match specimens to recognized substances, forensic chemists examine non-biological trace evidence (Chemical) collected at crime scenes. They also uses various instrumental techniques like chromatography, mass spectrometry, atomic absorption spectroscopy, FTIR and others to identify and quantify these true materials.
16. Forensic Physics: It deals with a combination of ballistics, explosives, blood splatters, the measurement of density, index of refraction, and birefringence, force of impact, voice analysis, audio-video analysis etc.
17. Forensic Photography: Forensic photography, sometimes referred to as documentation of the crime scene, is an event that documents the initial appearance of the crime scene and physical evidence to provide the courts with a permanent record. A forensic photographer is always required to be on the scene and off the scene at various stages of investigation.
18. Forensic Sculpting: Forensic sculptors combine artistic talent with anatomy knowledge to assist the identification of law enforcement. Sculptors may perform facial reconstructions on unknown remains or use techniques of age-progression to build missing people's bust.
19. Questioned Document Analysis: A questioned document examiners deals with the identification and examination of handwriting, signature frauds, fake currency, fake passports and many other such matters in legal investigations. It is the most commonly used branch of forensic science in current scenario due to increase number of cheque frauds, will/property frauds etc.
20. Dactyloscopy or Fingerprinting: Comparison of fingerprints, development and lifting of latents (hidden) fingerprints on the crime scene and on other objects, collection of impression evidences is the very crucial task dealt by the investigators.
There're many more branches like nano-forensics, tele-forensics, wildlife forensics, proactive forensics, IoT forensics etc.
Career Options in Forensic Science:
There are various branches of forensic science including some very edge cutting:
1. Forensic Toxicology: Deals with the Analysis of the toxins (poisons) etc.
2. Forensic Pathology: Forensic pathologists determines the cause of death, manner of death, nature of injuries during medical examination (post-mortem).
3. Forensic Odontology: Application of dental science for legal investigations. A single tooth can be utilized to identify the individual.
4. Forensic Linguistics: Also known as language to the law. It is the application of linguistic knowledge and analytical methods to the forensic context of law.
5. Forensic Geology: Also called as Geo-forensics, is the study of evidence encountered beneath the earth like minerals, oil, petroleum, objects, dead bodies, fossils etc and used to answer questions raised by the legal system.
6. Forensic Entomology: Study of the different species of insects (arthropods) and their life cycles on the dead bodies or decomposed bodies to determine the time since death.
7. Forensic Engineering: Is the study of engineering principles to the investigation of failures or other performance problems like plane crash, building collapse, bridge collapse etc.
8. DNA Profiling: Also named as DNA Fingerprinting and is one of the major branch of Forensic Science, deals with the extraction, isolation, identification and comparison of DNA from the body fluids and other biological matter.
9. Forensic Psychology: A very broad area and the application of psychological parameters in the legal system. Used for criminal profiling, court procedures, corrective measures, preventive forensics etc.
10. Forensic Archaeology: It is the field of forensic science which involves application of archaeological methods in the investigation of a crime to identify the related evidences and to reconstruct crime scene. Forensic archaeologist are employed to excavate and recover human remains, personal items, weapons, etc.
11. Forensic Anthropology: It deals with the study of skeletal remains of humans and animals. It answers number of questions related to a piece of bone or complete skeleton. Basically deals with the procedure of identification and individualization on the basis of skeletal remains.
12. Digital Forensics: Digital Forensics is characterized as the method that can be used by the court of law to store, locate, extract and record computer evidence.
13. Forensic Ballistics: Deals with the study of firearm and related evidences in a shooting incident. A forensic ballistic expert is required to identify the type of firearm used, range of firing, direction of firing, link the suspected firearm with the incident etc.
14. Forensic Biology: Application of biology to equate a person(s), whether suspect or victim, with another person (victim or suspect, respectively) in a venue, object (or set of items).
15. Forensic Chemistry: In order to identify the unidentified materials and match specimens to recognized substances, forensic chemists examine non-biological trace evidence (Chemical) collected at crime scenes. They also uses various instrumental techniques like chromatography, mass spectrometry, atomic absorption spectroscopy, FTIR and others to identify and quantify these true materials.
16. Forensic Physics: It deals with a combination of ballistics, explosives, blood splatters, the measurement of density, index of refraction, and birefringence, force of impact, voice analysis, audio-video analysis etc.
17. Forensic Photography: Forensic photography, sometimes referred to as documentation of the crime scene, is an event that documents the initial appearance of the crime scene and physical evidence to provide the courts with a permanent record. A forensic photographer is always required to be on the scene and off the scene at various stages of investigation.
18. Forensic Sculpting: Forensic sculptors combine artistic talent with anatomy knowledge to assist the identification of law enforcement. Sculptors may perform facial reconstructions on unknown remains or use techniques of age-progression to build missing people's bust.
19. Questioned Document Analysis: A questioned document examiners deals with the identification and examination of handwriting, signature frauds, fake currency, fake passports and many other such matters in legal investigations. It is the most commonly used branch of forensic science in current scenario due to increase number of cheque frauds, will/property frauds etc.
20. Dactyloscopy or Fingerprinting: Comparison of fingerprints, development and lifting of latents (hidden) fingerprints on the crime scene and on other objects, collection of impression evidences is the very crucial task dealt by the investigators.
You can be a
- Crime Scene Investigator
- An Evidence Collector
- A Forensic Photographer
- Crime Lab Analyst
- Forensic Pathologist
- Forensic Toxicologist
- DNA Forensic Expert
- Fingerprint Expert
- Questioned Document Examiner
- Cyber Forensic Expert
- Forensic Accountant
- Ballistic Expert
- Forensic Auditor
- Forensic legal advisor for the court of law and lawyers
- Forensic Biologists
- Environmental Forensic Expert
- Document Analyser
- Fraud Investigator
- Forensic Lecturer or Professor
- Researcher
- Forensic Instrumentation Technician and so on.
For more queries, ask me at sharmabk81@gmail.com
By
Dr. Bhoopesh Kumar Sharma (B K Sharma)
Forensic Expert and Associate Professor
Forensic Science.
Very informative Blog,really nice.Keep posting.If you want to know,more about the Basic concepts,PG entrance, UG exams,FMGE and Apps for Forensic Medicine please visit ourBest App for NEET & PG Entrance Exam Students
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