Forensic Science in the 21st

Forensic Science in the 21st Century of Criminal Justice Forensic Science

Forensic science in the 21st century

The role of forensic science in the 21st century has assumed an increasing importance for the criminal justice system. The use of the various scientific methods and procedures in modern forensics has been used extensively in the solving of crimes as well as in court process and procedures. This paper will highlight some of the main aspects of contemporary forensics and how it contributes to crime fighting in terms of the process of criminal justice.

Forensics can generally be defined as the application of science to law (A Career In Forensic Science: What is Forensic Science?). In essence this refers to the process of investigation, gathering and analyzing evidence in order to prove that a crime has in fact occurred and to discover the instigator of the crime. It is important to realize that forensics is a complex and varied discipline with many areas of expertise. Forensics makes use of the knowledge from disciplines such as biology, chemistry, analytical science and mathematics, among others (What is Forensics?). Forensic scientists often specialize in one area of investigation -- for example, drug crime investigations and data analysis.

2. The importance of modern forensic science

One of the main reasons given for the importance of this disciple is the often crucial role that it plays in the identification of crime and criminals. A useful description of forensics that explains something of its importance is provided by the FBI. In order for crimes to be successfully investigated and prosecuted in the legal system, a central requirement is the "… the collection, preservation, and forensic analysis of evidence" (Handbook of Forensic Services). Forensic analysis is therefore in many cases " crucial to determinations of guilt or innocence" (Handbook of Forensic Services). In other words, forensics is an essential part of criminal investigation and procedure. This view of forensic also applies to its role in the justice system. There are instances where the value of forensics and forensic investigations has been proven to be necessary and many crimes would not have been solved without the intervention of forensic science.

An extremely important aspect of forensics is that it makes use of the latest technologies and scientific discoveries in the investigation of crime. For instance, through DNA technology and analysis of DNA sequences, living organisms can be identified at the crime scene. Therefore, the ability to determine facts in a case from very small particles of matter has proven to be of invaluable assistance in criminal investigation and procedure; for example, forensic analysis has been used successfully in many paternity cases.

3. Myths and realities

There many misconceptions surrounding forensic science and especially CSI or Crime Scene Investigation. This is mainly due to the way that CSI has been portrayed in film and media. As has been suggested above, forensic science and CSI is much more complex than is generally known.

CSI procedures are based on the fact that "….An extremely diverse array of materials may be located or associated with a crime scene. Each may have some potential for providing reliable forensic evidence" (Horswell and Fowler, 2004, p. 45). Therefore, in reality the forensic scientist usually specializes only in one area, which means that it usually takes a team of specialists to determine the facts of a case. CSI investigations are therefore much more complex and time-consuming than is portrayed in the popular media.