Introduction to Forecsic Science
Criminology and Forensic Science
The word forensic comes from the Latin term forensis, meaning of or before the forum [35] The history of the term
originates from Roman times, during which a criminal charge meant presenting the case before a group of public
individuals in the forum. Both the person accused of the crime and the accuser would give speeches based on their sides
of the story. The case would be decided in favor of the individual with the best argument and delivery. This origin is the
source of the two modern usages of the word forensic as a form of legal evidence and as a category of public
presentation. In modern use, the term forensics in the place of forensic science can be considered correct, as the term
forensic is effectively a synonym for legal or related to courts. However, the term is now so closely associated with the
scientific field that many dictionaries include the meaning that equates the word forensics with forensic science.
Origins of Forensic Science and Early Methods
The ancient world lacked standardized forensic practices, which aided criminals in escaping punishment. Criminal
investigations and trials heavily relied on forced confessions and witness testimony. However, ancient sources do
contain several accounts of techniques that foreshadow concepts in forensic science that were developed centuries
later. [39] The first written account of using medicine and entomology to solve criminal cases is attributed to the book of
Xi Yuan Lu (translated as Washing Away of Wrongs), (40.41] written in China in 1248 by Song Ci (1186- 1249) who was a
director of justice, jail and supervision, (42) during the Song Dynasty. Song Ci ruled regulation about autopsy report for
court, [43] how to protect the evidence in the examining process, the reason why workers must show examination to
public impartiality/441 He concluded methods on how to make antiseptic (using sunlight under red-oil umbrella and
vinegar) 1451 how to to weather and insects): [46] how to wash dead body for examining the different reasons of death.
147 At that time, the book had given methods to distinguish suicide of pretending suicide.
Methods from around the world involved saliva and examination of the mouth and tongue to determine innocence of
guilt, as a precursor to the Polygraph test. In ancient India, 149) some suspects were made to fill their mouths with dried
rice and spit it back out. Similarly, in ancient China, those accused of a crime would have rice powder placed in their
mouths. [50] In view of the aforesaid early origin or methods of forensic science, the succeeding provided development
of forensic science.
Development of Forensic Science Legal Medicine
Ambroise Pare's surgical work laid the groundwork for the development of forensic techniques in the following
centuries.
In 16th-century Europe, medical practitioners in army and university settings began to gather information on the cause
and manner of death. Ambroise Paré, a French army surgeon, systematically studied the effects of violent death on
internal organs [51.52] Two Italian surgeons, Fortunato Fidelis and Paolo Zacchia, laid the foundation of modern
pathology by studying changes that occurred in the structure of the body as the result of disease (53) In the late 18th
century, writings on these topics began to appear. These included A Treatise on Forensic Medicine and Public Health by
the French physician Francois Immanuele Fodéré(54) and The Complete System of Police Medicine by the German
medical expert Johann Peter Frank [55] As the rational values of the Enlightenment era increasingly permeated society
in the 18th century, criminal investigation became a more evidence- based, rational procedure - the use of torture to
force confessions was curtailed, and belief in witchcraft and other powers of the occult largely ceased to influence the
court's decisions.
CRIMINALISTICS
It is one subdivision of forensic sciences (Forensic Sciences encompass a variety of scientific disciplines such as medicine,
toxicology, anthropology, entomology, engineering, odontology, including criminalistics).
The profession and scientific discipline directed to the recognition, identification, individualization, and evaluation of
physical evidence by application of the physical and natural sciences to law-sciences matters (American Board of
Criminalistics).
✓ A professional occupation concerned with the scientific analysis and examination of physical evidence, its
interpretation, and its presentation in court (California Association of Criminalistics).
✓ The term comes from the German word "kriminalistik", invented by Australian Criminalist Hans Gross (1847-1915) -
Father of Criminalistics. Even though the Field of criminalistics started long before Gross' time, the first serious well-
documented application of scientific principles to a legal purpose started in the middle Nineteenth Century.
As an integral part of the forensic sciences, criminalistics encompasses the broadest variety of disciplines. These
commonly include the examinations of tool marks, firearms, fingerprints, shoeprints, tire tracks, soil, fibers, glass, paint,
serial numbers, light bulbs, drugs of abuse, questioned documents, fire and explosion, biological fluids, and last but not
least, crime scenes. Criminalistics also typically includes physical evidence that is not directly studied by another field of
forensic sciences. The main goal of criminalistics is to apply the principles of sciences to the examination of evidence in
order to help the justice system determine that a crime has been committed, to identify its victim(s) and perpetrators,
and finally, determine the modus operandi, or method of operation. Criminalistics uses other scientific disciplines to
examine physical evidence. Among these are chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics. People performing referred
to as criminalists. criminalistics are
Forensic Photography
✓ It deals with the study of notion of photography its application to law enforcement work and the preparation of
photographs for court It is is also called crime presentation scene photography.
Forensic - is derived from the word "forum"- which means place for legal debate.
Photography-is derived from the Greek words, "photos" which means light and "graphy" which means - to draw.
Micro Photography the IS art or process of photographing minutes objects and magnified by means of the microscope
and enlarge from 10 times up.
Macro Photography-is photographing of object at greater that 1:1 ratio up to nine (9) times magnification. It is the
making of enlarge copies of prints such as photographs of tampered serial number of firearms, engine number and
chassis number of motor vehicle and the like.
Infra-Red Photography is the art or process of photographing or recording unseen objects by the naked eye by means of
infra-red light.
Ultra-Violet Photography is the art or process of photographing unseen objects by the naked eye with the use of ultra-
violet rays and filters.
Mug-shot - is the process of taking photographs of the suspect/s in full length, half body, right and left side ews, and two
quarter views. To unidentified cadavers, include marks on the victim's body especially tattoo/ scar for identification.
Dactyloscopy – It is the practical applications of dactyloscopy – making of identifications by fingerprint comparison and
the classification of fingerprints. It was derived from the words dactyl (finger) and skopein (to examine).
Dactylography is the scientific study of fingerprints as a means of identification. The term was derived from the words
dactyl (finger) and graphia (to study).
Fingerprint is the most positive means of personal identification. It has been found out that the intricate pattern on the
fingers are permanent, unique and never undergo a natural change, except in the size of the pattern during the life time
of a person.
Friction skin patterns/designs/ formations appear on the finger tips, palms of the hands and soles of the feet five (5)
months before birth and this remain unchanged during the life of individual until decomposition sets in after DEATH.
Fingerprints probability of an individual to have the same fingerprint is 1:64 billion.
Fingerprint as an impression is the reproduction on some smooth surfaces of the pattern or design formed by the ridges
inside the end joint of the fingers or thumb, through the medium of ink or any coloring substance capable of producing
visibility.
Forensic Chemistry
✓ It is the branch of chemistry that deals with the application of chemical theories and principles in the solution of legal
problems in connection with the administration of justice.
CHEMISTRY-a science that deals with the composition, structure, and properties of substances and with the
transformations that they undergo.
FORENSIC CHEMIST is a person who is expert in forensic chemistry tasked to analyze the chemical specimen using
analytical methods available.
TOXICOLOGY (toxic poison, and ology-study) may be defined as the branch of science which deals with poisons, their
origin, physical and chemical properties, physiological action and treatment of their noxious effect, and methods of
detection.
POISON - is a substance which, when introduced into the body and is absorbed through the blood stream and acting
chemically, is capable of producing noxioms effect or destroy life.
FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY - focuses on medical-legal aspects of chemical exposure and toxic injury.
Application of Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology
1. Detection of Drugs in Blood and/or in Urine
One of common applications of forensic chemistry that our crime laboratory is doing is the detection of drugs in blood
and/or in urine. In layman's term we called it drug testing. Drug of abuse testing is done in two stages; first is the initial
second is the confirmatory testa or screening test and
2. Explosive and Explosive Residue
mixture that under the influence of heat, pressure, mposhock, undergoes or decomposition. or
3. Identification of Poisons
4. Gun Shot Residue Analysis
It is composed of burned and unburned particles from the explosive primer, the propellant, as well as components from
the bullet, the cartridge case and the firearm used.
Questioned Documents Examination
Document - any material which contains mark, symbols or signs, either visible or invisible, that may presently or
ultimately convey meaning or message to someone.
Questioned Document - any document about which some issue has been raised or under scrutiny with respect to its
genuineness and its origin.
✓ Any signature, handwriting, typewriting, marks whose source or authenticity is in or is doubtful. or other dispute
Graphology - it profiles character or personality by drawing conclusions from certain types of characteristics in the
handwriting sample.
Polygraphy
✓ It is the scientific method of detecting truth or deception through the use of the Polygraph machine. Polygraph
testing is often used confirm or exonerate person's involvement in any suspected activity or w wrongdoing. In the
absence of any other corroborative evidence, this is of great significance.
Polygraph is a composition of two words, "poly" which means "many" and "graph" which means "writing chart". It is
defined as a scientific instrument especially designed to record psycho-physiological changes that occur within the body
especially of lying when questioned. This is not an electrical device that detects lies or truth, but is an instrument used
to determine whether or not statements made by the subject taking the test are deceptive.
Polygraph Test - is a series of relevant, irrelevant, and controlled questions prepared by the examiner, for the matter
under investigation, and asking the person being examined.
Forensic Ballistic
It is defined as the SCIENCE dealing with the MOTION of PROJECTILES and the conditions governing that motion.
✓ The term ballistics was derived from the Greek word "ballo" or "ballein" which means "to throw"
Col Calvin Hooker Goddard he was as the cofirearms identification beonsidered his remarkable contribution in the
developcause of equipment that will compare and analyze fired bullet and fired shell to a specific firearm. He also
participated in various criminal cases where he had proven the identity of firearm used in crime.
Branches of Ballistics
1. Interior Ballistics It refers to the properties and attributes of the projectile while still inside the gun.
2. Exterior Ballistics It refers to the attributes and movements of the bullet after it has left the gun muzzle, which
includes the condition of the bullets' movement and flight up to the target.
3. Terminal Ballistics - It refers to the effects of the impact of the projectile on the target.
4. Forensic Ballistics - It refers to the investigation and identification of firearms by means of ammunition fired through
them.
5. Shot Ballistics It is the study of shotgun ammunition including its characteristics spread and trailing.
6. Wound Ballistics It refers to the study of the effects of a projectile on a target and the conditions that affect them.
Digital forensics
is a forensic science field that involves the identification, collection, analysis, and reporting of electronic data. It's a
crucial part of law enforcement investigations because electronic evidence is a component of most criminal activities
PT
1. Pieces of evidence play the most important role to prove that the crime has been committed. In this connection,
identify and explain all the Forensic Sciences that will help to the investigator to identify the suspect and justice
will be served.