THE BASICS

What does it mean?

Forensic Science = derived from the Latin word forensis, which means public or
pertaining to a forum, it simply means the application of scientific techniques and
principles to the law
2 primary functions: identifying evidence & linking individuals, objects, and/or
locations, through physical evidence
Types of Forensic Scientists - Disciplines of AAFS (American Association of Forensic
Science): Anthropology, criminalistics, digital & multimedia sciences, engineering
sciences, general, jurisprudence, odontology, pathology/biology, psychiatry &
behavioral science, questioned documents, toxicology

Some History
Roman Quintilian During the time of Ancient Rome he used a bloody palm print to
prove that his client who was a blind man, did not in fact commit a murder. His client
was acquitted and he became the first ever forensic scientist in history.
1784 Physical evidence used in criminal case. First recorded instance of physical
matching of evidence leading to a murder conviction (John Toms, England). The
evidence was a torn edge of newspaper in a pistol that matched the newspaper in his
pocket.
Development In 1932, the first crime expert labs are built, FBI establishes its own
crime lab. 1967 First national crime system. FBI established the National Crime
Information Center, a computerized national filing system on wanted people, stolen
vehicles, weapons, etc.