 Computational forensics.

 Computational science to study and solve problems of various

fields of forensic science.
 Digital forensics. It specialises in recovering data from electronic and digital media.
 Forensic accounting. It examines and studies evidence related to accountancy.
 Forensic anthropology. It refers to application of anthropology and osteology to
determine facts involving a human body in advanced stage of decomposition.
 Forensic archaeology. This field of forensic science employs archaeological methods.
 Forensic astronomy. Application of celestial constellations to solve problems relevant to
law is relatively rare. It is most often used to solve historical problems.
 Forensic Ballistics-Forensic Ballistics involves the analysis of any evidence related to
firearms (bullets, bullet marks, shell casings, gunpowder residue etc.)
 Forensic botany. Plant leaves, seeds, pollen and other plant life on the crime scene,
victim or the accused can provide strong evidence of presence of the accused on the crime scene.
 Forensic chemistry. It is focused on the study of illicit drugs, gunshot residue and other
chemical substances.
 Forensic dactyloscopy. It refers to gathering, preservation and study of fingerprint
evidence.
 Forensic document examination. It examines, studies and determines facts about
documents in dispute in a court.
 Forensic DNA analysis. This field of forensic science focuses on collection and study of
DNA evidence that can be used in the court.
 Forensic entomology. It studies insects found on the scene of crime or victim and is
particularly helpful for determining the time and location of the victim’s death.
 Forensic geology. It involves application of geological factors such as soil and minerals
to gather evidence related to crime.
 Forensic linguistics. It refers to the study of the language relevant for legal proceedings.
Examples include emergency calls, voice identification, ransom demands, suicide letters, etc.
 Forensic meteorology. It involves application of weather elements to determine facts
about a crime. It is most often used in cases involving insurance companies and murders.
 Forensic odontology. It refers to the study of dental evidence.
 Forensic pathology. This field of forensic science deals with examination of a corpse
and determining things such as cause of death.
 Forensic podiatry. It refers to the study of footprint evidence.
 Forensic toxicology. A forensic toxicologist studies toxic chemicals such as drugs, e-
liquid and poisons on or in a body.

Forensic Science is an applied science that is mainly pertaining to law and judiciary system.

It derives it principles and techniques from basic sciences and that's why it has n no. Of
branches, Some of them are:

 Forensic Serology: The study of viscera and various body fluids.

 Forensic Toxicology: The study of poisons and drugs.
 Forensic Odontology: The study of dental sciences with Forensic aspect.
  Cyber Forensics: The branch mainly dealing with the cyber crimes and online
frauds etc.
 Forensic Biology: The study of plants and pollens.
 Forensic Physics: The study of buildings and such branch dealing with the
measurements.
 Forensic Chemistry: This branch deals with all the tests to detect the presence of
various chemicals.
 Forensic entomology: Science dealing with the study of insects and flies to know
the time since death.
 Forensic medicine: Science dealing with the postmortem examination of the
deadbody.
 Forensic engineering: Dealing to find the reason for building and bridges
collapse and similar things.
 Forensic ballistics: The study of arms and ammunition for the purpose of court
of law.
 Forensic fingerprints: Branch dealing with the study of fingerprints for the
judicial purpose.
 Forensic Document Examination: Science to resolve cases of disputed wills and
official papers.
Anthropology: Reconstructing a Life

The American Board of Forensic Anthropology (ABFA) defines its field as the

application of the science of physical or biological anthropology to the legal process.

Forensic anthropology is made up of several sub-disciplines: cultural anthropology,

archaeology, linguistics, and physical (biological) anthropology. Together, all of these
areas of expertise can, as the AAFS says in its career guide, “attempt to reconstruct as
much as possible about a person’s life and death.” To do this, forensic anthropologists
examine skeletal remains to find characteristics, cause of death, injuries or diseases,
how much time has passed since death, and other findings that could lead to solving a
crime, identifying an unknown victim, or even helping with excavated remains on an
archaeology dig.

Forensic anthropologists generally have a Ph.D., and they typically do not work in
forensics full-time. Rather, they might work for a university, a museum, a branch of the
armed forces, or a medical organization and provide their services to local crime labs
when needed. While an advanced degree is needed to don this title, technicians may
also work alongside forensic anthropology professionals, such as in collecting,
preparing, analyzing, and documenting specimens as part of a forensic investigation.

Criminalistics: Understanding the Evidence

When people think about what a forensic scientist does each day, they likely picture
tasks associated with criminalistics, such as forensic ballistics. Many items are collected
from a crime scene, but not all are relevant. That’s where criminalists come in.

Most often housed in a forensic lab, these professionals have two main goals: to identify
evidence and to link individuals, objects, and place through that evidence. Criminalists
sometimes specialize in specific areas of physical evidence, some of which require
additional training, including:

 Firearms (forensic ballistics).

 Toolmarks.
 DNA.
 Fire and explosion debris.
 Controlled substances.
 Trace evidence.
 Wildlife.

Criminalistics experts can work for a variety of organizations, including state and federal
crime labs, police departments, federal agencies (like the FBI, DEA, or ATF), medical
examiners’ offices, and even the U.S. Postal Service.

The Master of Forensic Sciences at National University offers a specialization in

criminalistics, which includes courses in trace evidence, advanced forensic toxicology,
advanced forensic serology, and forensic anthropology.

 
Digital and Multimedia Sciences: Thumb Drives to
Massive Networks

Today, law enforcement and labs are dealing with crimes (and, thus, evidence) that
didn’t exist decades ago. This means the field of forensics will continue to evolve as
technology changes, and the area of digital and multimedia sciences is one of those
ever-changing areas.

According to AAFS, forensic professionals in this discipline examine hardware tools,

software applications, and digital files (audio, text, image, video, etc.) to find and
analyze evidence. A key word here is “find” because, often, there are terabytes of data,
hours of footage (say from security or traffic cameras) to sort through before finding
anything meaningful or relevant.

Here are just a few examples of a digital forensic scientist’s duties:

 Determining if a digital image has been altered.

 Analyzing acoustics of a recording.
 Finding out what devices connected to a system.
 Determining if files have been deleted from a drive or device.
 Locating a remote system or user.
 Finding a victim or suspect based on data.

A good forensic science program will provide training in this area. For example, National
University’s Digital Evidence course covers a range of digital investigation procedures
and techniques related to crimes like fraud, stalking, and identity theft.

Like other types of forensic science, there is a professional organization for digital
specialists: The International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists.

Engineering and Applied Sciences: Natural and

Manmade Disasters
The AAFS says this discipline is home to the most varied group of forensic
professionals: problem-solvers with a background in one of the many sub-disciplines of
engineering, chemistry, or physics. These experts are called upon in both criminal or
civil cases to investigate things such as:

 Automobile collisions.
 Building collapses.
 Train derailments.
 Explosions.
 Product failures.
 Environmental contamination.

This area is ideal for someone with a solid background in science — and an interest in
crime scene investigation. In fact, many people enter a master’s of forensics online
degree program after earning a bachelor’s in chemistry, biochemistry, or engineering.
An understanding of math, biology, and geology is also helpful.

General: A Variety of Forensic Science Expertise

The AAFS uses the general category to hold specialties in forensic lab investigation,
field investigation, clinical work, and education and research that do not fit into other
larger disciplines. These include a range of focus, including:

 Accounting.
 Veterinary services.
 Nursing.
 Consulting.
 Art and sculpting.
 Radiology.
 Management and administration.

This category also houses emerging areas, such as forensic veterinary science and
forensic nursing. Sometimes a specialty area grows enough to become a stand-alone
discipline, such as digital and multimedia sciences; other times, more niche specialties
will remain listed under general.

(Because opportunities in forensic science are so broad, this post “What are the
Different Types of Crime Scene Investigation Degrees?” might be helpful to you.)

Jurisprudence: Practicing Forensics

“Jurisprudence” isn’t a word you hear often in everyday conversation. In short, it’s
considered the philosophy of law. Members practicing this discipline of forensic science
must also be licensed to practice law.

Any forensic scientist, from DNA analysts to anthropologists, could be asked to provide
testimony in criminal and civil cases; however, what if there were lawyers who also had
expertise in forensic science fundamentals and investigation? There are. Sometimes
casually referred to as “forensic attorneys,” these legal professionals are also trained in
crime scene investigation. They work, either independently or alongside other lawyers,
to support court cases. This could include collecting and studying evidence in order to
draw conclusions, advise clients, and form litigation strategies.

Lawyers with forensic science expertise can work for law firms, court systems, federal
agencies, nonprofit organizations, and even serve as private consultants. As an
example, Brooklyn Defender Services in 2019 posted a job for a “special forensic
science counsel: homicide/major felony unit.”

Odontology: Finding Answers Tooth by Tooth

Odontology, better known as forensic dentistry, can play an important part in crime
scene investigation and natural disaster response and recovery. Like forensic
anthropologists, these professionals aid in identifying human remains. And, like the
jurisprudence discipline, the odontologist must have a professional degree: in this case,
a doctor of dental medicine, a doctor of dental surgery, or an equivalent degree.

A dental expert can contribute to a forensic investigation in many ways, such as:

 Comparing dental remains with dental records.

 Comparing dental records.
 Evaluating bite marks.
 Aging of an individual.
 Evaluation of dental or other oral injuries.

The American Society of Forensic Odontology offers a wealth of information about this

dental specialty.

Pathology/Biology: Forensics Down to a Science

The AAFS combines forensic biology and forensic pathology into one discipline, but
each area has its own focus. Pathology is the study of disease, and a forensic
pathologist would use these skills and expertise to assist in legal matters. Sometimes,
this involves performing an autopsy, which allows the pathologist to examine organs,
tissue, and fluids to find a cause or circumstances of death. Other times, the forensic
pathologist might work in a lab, studying smaller specimens.

Pathologists are typically medical doctors, however, forensic science technicians can
assist in gathering and analyzing this medical evidence. National University’s Master of
Forensic Sciences provides a foundation for this with its Forensic Pathology I and II 
courses.

Forensic biology experts study organisms or cells of organisms that might be relevant to
a crime. This area spans the life sciences: entomology (insects), botany (plants),
ecology, genetics, and microbiology. Examples of how these specialties can aid in a
death investigation, according to AAFS, could include:
  A plant scientist identifying stomach contents or finding hidden graves.
 A veterinarian assisting in animal welfare cases.
 An entomologist helping to determine a timeline (for example, when insects might
take over human remains).
 A geneticist helping to confirm the identity of an organism.

AAFS says most forensic biologists have a master’s or Ph.D. in the biological science
field and typically work for museums or universities.

Psychiatry and Behavioral Science: Understanding

Human Nature

Psychiatrists, psychologists, and other behavioral science experts can contribute to the
field of forensics through assessing individuals or providing testimony in criminal or civil
cases.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who likely received extra training in how their field
relates to the law. In fact, some choose medical residency programs specific to this type
of training. They might help determine if someone is fit to stand trial or evaluate mental
illness as it relates to a crime. Forensic psychiatrists may also aid in cases involving
domestic violence, child abuse, adoption, foster care, and custody.

When you think of forensic psychology, criminal profiling might come to mind. This is
definitely one area in which psychologists can assist law enforcement professionals;
however, they can use their specialized training for so much more.

Questioned Documents: Not Just Paper Pushers

This branch of forensic science focuses on examining physical documents, and it

involves a lot more than analyzing handwriting. This expertise, according to the AAFS,
might be used to:
  Look for alterations in a document.
 Decipher erased entries.
 Restore burned or damaged documents.
 Classify and identify computer printers and typewriters.
 Discover authorship of a signature or other writing.

Questioned documents experts typically have a forensic science degree and then
participate in a structured two-year on-the-job training program.

Toxicology: Substances and the Law

Toxicology refers to the study of adverse effects of chemicals (ex: drugs, alcohol) on the
human body. So forensic toxicology is looking at these effects in the context of the law.
They analyze various specimens — including blood, urine, tissues, hair, and fluids (such
as from the eye, liver, or brain) — and then interpret the results. Our blog post “What is
Forensic Serology” provides more details on working with biological specimens.

Forensic toxicologists focus on one of three main areas:

 Post-mortem toxicology: helping to identify the cause or manner of death.

 Human performance toxicology: to determine impairment during a crime.
 Forensic drug testing: used in the workplace, athletics, and probation/parole.

Forensic toxicologists typically enter the field with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry or
the life sciences. Bachelor and master’s forensic science programs often provide an
introduction to toxicology. It’s also common for a forensic lab to offer additional on-the-
job training in this area as well.