Introduction to Forensic Science

Learning Objectives

  • Define forensic science and list its major disciplines.

  • Recognize key contributors to the development of forensic science.

  • Account for the rapid growth of forensic laboratories over the past forty years.

  • Describe the services provided by a comprehensive crime laboratory within the criminal justice system.

  • Compare and contrast the Frye and Daubert decisions on admissibility of scientific evidence.

  • Explain the role and responsibilities of the expert witness.

  • List specialized forensic services, beyond the crime laboratory, available to law enforcement personnel.

Definition and Scope of Forensic Science

Forensic science is broadly defined as the application of science to the law. It merges scientific knowledge and technology with civil and criminal law enforcement.

Each year, expanding regulations on food quality, drug potency, vehicle emissions, water purity, and environmental safety rely on scientific techniques and expertise. Similarly, rising crime rates have driven law enforcement to seek technical support from the scientific community.

While science cannot resolve underlying social or psychological issues, it provides accurate, objective information about events at crime scenes—an indispensable tool for criminal investigations.

Disciplines and Professions in Forensic Science

The American Academy of Forensic Science organizes its members into ten main sections, reflecting the field’s diversity:

  1. Criminalistics

  2. Engineering Science

  3. General

  4. Jurisprudence

  5. Odontology

  6. Pathology/Biology

  7. Physical Anthropology

  8. Psychiatry and Behavioral Science

  9. Questioned Documents

  10. Toxicology

Additional specialized skills—such as fingerprint analysis, firearm and tool‐mark examination, digital evidence analysis, and forensic photography—also support law enforcement investigations.

Focus of This Textbook

To maintain clarity and depth, this book narrows its coverage to the disciplines most directly tied to crime‐scene evidence analysis:

  • Chemistry

  • Biology

  • Physics

  • Geology

  • Computer Technology

Topics like forensic pathology, psychology, anthropology, and odontology are acknowledged as critical but are only briefly introduced, with readers directed to specialized texts and online resources for deeper study.