Forensics in Very General Terms,

Forensics

In very general terms, forensics can be defined as the application of science to law. (a Career in Forensic Science: What is Forensic Science?) Forensics is usually referred to in the context of criminal cases and investigations. This discipline influences the study of criminal cases and is involved in the exploration of associations between suspects and criminal actions through scientific investigation. There are many areas and aspects of forensics and a career in this field can be varied. For instance, some forensic scientists specialize in drug crime investigations and analyze data and specimens to determine drug abuse. (a Career in Forensic Science: What is Forensic Science?)

In essence, the field of forensics plays a crucial role in the identification of crime and of criminal activities and in the process that can lead to the conviction of criminals. The purpose of forensics is described by the FBI as follows. "The successful investigation and prosecution of crimes require, in most cases, the collection, preservation, and forensic analysis of evidence. Forensic analysis of evidence is often crucial to determinations of guilt or innocence" (Handbook of Forensic Services). This view clearly implies that forensics is an essential part of criminal praxis and procedure.

What is of importance in this context is that forensics is a career that plays an invaluable part in many disciplines and fields of inquiry. In the area of criminal justice, the value of forensics and forensic investigations has been proven and many crimes would not have been solved without the intervention of forensic science.

The extent and purpose of forensics

As referred to above, the primary focus of forensic science in the field of criminal investigation relates to the process of gathering and analyzing evidence in order to prove that a crime has in fact occurred and to discover the instigator of the crime. To this end the science of forensics make use of the knowledge from disciplines such as biology, chemistry, analytical science and mathematics (What is Forensics? (www.uclan.ac.uk/facs/science/forensic/whatis/")

An interesting aspect of forensics that makes a career in this science so enticing is that forensics takes advantage of the latest technologies and scientific discoveries in the investigation of crime. One of the most innovative of these new technologies is the use of DNA technology in forensic investigation. This refers to the fact that the examination of DNA sequences can identify any living organism. This also includes the possibly of individual identification from DNA, which is of invaluable assistance in criminal investigation.

Forensic investigations using DNA analysis can therefore "...Identify potential suspects whose DNA may match evidence left at crime scenes" (DNA Forensics) This form of analysis can also be used in crimes and disasters where identification has become difficult. Forensic analysis has also been used successfully in many paternity cases. Furthermore, the advantages of Forensic DNA technology are extensive and have been employed in forensic fields such as the detection of bacteria and various other pollutants in water and in the matching of recipients in organ donor programs.

It should also be noted that forensics is a field that covers many areas and fields of knowledge and which can provide careers in a number of related disciplines. One of the careers in this discipline is that of a medical examiner. This requires a medical degree and specialisation in forensics. A forensic odontologist specializes in dental forensics, while a crime laboratory analyst usually requires a degree in chemistry.

A crime scene examiner analyses the crime in any situation, whether indoors or outdoors. This specialization is possibly one of the most interesting but involves direct contact with crime victims, which can be disconcerting for some people.