Running head: FORENSIC SCIENCE

Forensic Science

Name

Institution
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Forensic Science

Forensic science is define as the study and application of scientific knowledge to

matters of civil and criminal law (Mirakovits, 2016). According to Cambridge Dictionary, the

word forensic is described as the scientific techniques used to solve crime, which comprise

examination of substances or objects involved in the crime scene. Moreover, the term

forensic emanates from the Latin forensis denoting forum, a place which was public and

where senators and legislatures performed, debated and organized judicial proceeding.

Therefore, forensic science utilizes knowledge of science to matters of law so as to solve

crimes.

Forensic science owes its roots to persons like Goddard, Galton, Bertillon, Locard,

Lattes, and Osborn, who created scientific techniques and principles requires to recognize or

link physical evidence. In criminal justice, forensic science is highly adapted to testing

biological and physical evidence to assess impartial notion concerning the where, when, who

and what happened in the crime scene (Rossy & Morselli, 2017). Hence, forensic science

incorporates an assortment of fields such as chemistry, microscopy, and biology in solving

crimes. Though forensic scientists usually examines DNA, firearms, hair, footwear, firearms,

human bodies, and drugs, emergent new disciplines have come up like the investigation of

hard disk drives in computer for material. DNA profiling and fingerprinting is currently

utilized globally in forensic science to help law enforcement officers in solving homicides

crimes together with immigration and paternity rows (Mirakovits, 2016).

Role of Forensic Science in Criminal Justice

Forensic science plays a significant role in the trial and investigation of offenders.

Cases that are criminal in nature are resolved by forensic scientists. For criminal cases,

forensic science could be helpful in linking the suspect to committing the crime and/or
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ascertain the suspect’s version untrue, this is done by forensic scientists carrying out

investigation of physical traces. Rossy and Morselli (2017) argue that forensic science plays a

significant role in a majority of criminal prosecutions, particularly the high-level criminal

ones. Looking at the Oscar Pistorius case, units in forensic science like blood pattern, biology

and ballistic, forensic scientists got a chance to appear in court, where their forensic evidence

was pivotal in the course of trial. Forensic scientists are involved in the crime scene, starting

from the gathering, examination of evidence, and report writing of the conclusion drawn

during their analysis utilizing forensic science.

New research technologies in forensic science for analyzing miniaturized and more

degraded DNA samples have surfaced. The growth in mitochondrial DNA analysis that are

helpful in analysis of kidnapping crimes and the unearthing of skeletal remains in which

nuclear DNA is unavailable, has revolutionized the abilities of forensic scientists in crime

scene investigation.

First System of Personal Identification

The first system of personal identification employed by criminal investigators,

utilized bodily identification, and was developed by, Alphonse Bertillon, a French police

official. The identification system was the very first biometric personal identification, it was

known as anthropometry based on anthropometry classification (Mirakovits). While at work

in Paris, Bertillon noticed that there was room to offer a meticulous, yet shorthand

anthropometric record for individual suspects under incarceration. Bertillon’s objective was

to create a blanket documentation of tiny cards having images, dimensions, and accounts of

individual suspects, known as ‘Signaletics.’ This database could rapidly and suitably link

each individual to his particular portrait so as to ascertain his or her identity (Mirakovits,

2016).
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Criteria in Identification

Given that Alphonse Bertillon was cherished with being the first to employ the usage

of ‘straight’ photographic portraits (that is profile and full face, side by side) in criminal

database documentation, there were a number of criteria used. The criteria employed so as to

distinguish individuals was based on three data points. First criteria used to distinguish

individuals was the body part measurements like the ear, head, and finger. The second criteria

to distinguish individuals was using facial descriptions. Lastly, the third criteria was based on

“peculiar marks” notations like birthmarks, scars, and tattoos. Dimensions were taken using

calipers by specifically trained workers, and were accompanied by profile images and full-

face photographs, in addition to individual traits like demeanor, complexion, voice, and hair

color (Byers, 2016).

How It Was Used and If It Is Currently Used

Clerks would take the dimensions and write them on index cards, then later place then

in huge cabinets with rows and columns, meant specifically for the cards, each card contained

specific body part. The cards would be categorized into gender, head length (big, medium,

and small). Clerks then sub-categorized the index cards by head width; length of middle

finger, and eye color, besides other bodily dimensions. Later, individual groups would be put

in individual file drawers and organized by length of ear (Byers, 2016). A suspect under

police custody would have the clerks try and match information to the anthropometric

information database. With the anthropometry classification, bureaucrats would connect

persons with enumerated bodily data, which was impartial and systematic compared to earlier

methods employed in the past. Furthermore, instead of having to depend on the memory of
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officials or individual knowledge, the records were methodically structured, and hence easy

to access.

Notwithstanding anthropometry usage globally, the method was established to be

skewed in the case pitting Will West vs. William West, which rather showed the fingerprint

based systems to be more reliable. Onwards, anthropometry classification usage as a method

for personal identification has been discontinued and others more modern biometric methods

are in use.

Contribution of Francis Henry Galton

Francis Henry Galton, a cousin of Darwin, is tasked with coming up with the first

conclusive research on fingerprints and their cataloguing. Galton was the one that came up

with basic nomenclature and introduced the “arches,” “loops,” and “whorls,” of finger

patterns. This was one of his major contribution to forensic science and was a success of

Galton’s work. The finger-print system of identification is still used up-to-date owing to its

simplicity and economy hence its ongoing use. Additionally, the usefulness of fingerprints

has extended over identity authentication. Whorls and loops contained in prints could be

linked to the ones established by criminal investigators at crime scenes, helping in solving a

high number of criminal cases. The finger based identification system was later impressively

improved by technological advances (Byers, 2016).

Father of Toxicology

Mathieu Joseph Bonaventure Orfila (1787-1853), a Spanish scientist, is renowned as

the father of toxicology owing to his extraordinary model in the field forensic science (Rossy

& Morselli, 2017). In 1807, he underwent a course in chemistry at the University of

Barcelona and medicine at the University of Valencia. He later got a scholarship to the

University of Madrid to study mineralogy and chemistry but rather went to Paris. At that
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time, it was traditional to call on the services of a forensic science to analyze the dead body

and food consumed in instances of supposed poisoning. Orfila functioned to ensure that

chemical analysis was a routine procedure of forensic science and did studies on the

decomposition of corpses, asphyxiation, and exhumation.

Hans Gross Contribution to Forensic Science

Hans Gross was the Founder of Scientific Criminal Investigation. A public prosecutor

and afterwards a judge from Graz, he inscribed the first major book piece detailing the use of

scientific knowledge in the solving of criminal cases, in 1893. The book described the

application of scientific knowledge from disciplines like biology, microscopy, and chemistry

to criminal investigation. Later, the book was interpreted to English around 1906 under the

title Criminal Investigation and it is still highly valued in the forensic science field.

Another contribution was his key book meant for the medical expert, was known as

“Criminalistic Activity and Position of the Physician,” published in 1908 and having

thousands of pages. The book illuminated the medical expert concerning assistance he would

acquire from novel criminalistics and psychology when dealing with investigations criminal

in nature. Whereas the book was purposed for examining justice to draw the attention of the

lawyer to the work of the forensic scientist, the book’s aim is reverse. The forensic scientists

need to learn to what help he could likely anticipate from the lawyer and to what degree the

lawyer was reliant on him (Rossy & Morselli, 2017).

His 2 books have had a high contribution in the field of forensic science, depicting

real case scenarios. Anyone that reads the two books is immersed in insight into how a

criminal investigator may be successful in his or her work. At the demise of Hans Gross, in

1915, he left behind firm knowledge in the science of forensics. His work has endured time to
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be valued in criminalistics both in practice and theory. Gross works is the desire of any

unlawfully convicted individual and feared by offenders’ cognizant of guilt.

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References

Byers, S. N. (2016). Introduction to forensic anthropology. Taylor & Francis.

Mirakovits, K. (2016). Forensic science: the basics. CRC Press.

Rossy, Q., & Morselli, C. (2017). The contribution of forensic science to the analysis of

crime networks. In The Routledge International Handbook of Forensic Intelligence

and Criminology (pp. 191-204). Routledge.