Department of Natural Science, Albany State University
What is Forensic Science?
In general, forensic science is defined as the methods of science applied to public matters.
While it doesn't necessarily have to do with crime, the term has evolved to refer to the application of science to court or criminal matters.
Definition
Refers to science applied to criminal and civil law.
Any science can be a forensic science if it has some application to justice.
Crime Scene Investigators
Usually, but not always, police officers trained for and then assigned to the crime scene unit.
May or may not have a science education background.
Responsibilities include:
Recognizing evidence
Protecting evidence from contamination
Collecting evidence properly
Thoroughly documenting evidence location and condition
Maintaining chain of custody to help authenticate the evidence in court.
Criminalistics
The term “criminalistics” was first coined by Paul Kirk, considered to be the father of forensic science in the United States.
Forensic Pathologist
A medical doctor who first specialized in pathology and then in forensic pathology.
Determine the cause and manner of death in cases where someone dies under suspicious or other circumstances as prescribed by state law.
Often work for state or local medical examiners or coroners.
Medical examiners and coroners are appointed or elected officials who decide when a medicolegal autopsy (an autopsy in a case of suspicious death or homicide) is needed and sign death certificates.
Medical examiners and coroners employ forensic pathologists to perform autopsies.
Forensic Anthropologists
Work with skeletal remains.
Identify bones as being human or animal; if animal, determine the species.
If human, determine from what part of the body the bone originated.
Determine gender (if the right bones are available).
Approximate age, racial characteristics, and potentially estimate socioeconomic status.
Help determine the cause of injury or death if there is damage to the skeleton or major bones.