Forensic Science
Antaria Sandoval
ENG 121: English Communications
November 12, 2014
Fred Fuller, Facilitator
IMBC
Introduction
Forensic science is the scientific method of gather and examining information about the past collected through DNA. Forensic Science is used in nearly all police departments, prosecutors, and defenders. The small bits of DNA left behind for forensics can implicate or clear a potential suspect.
Understanding Forensic Science
According to Criminal Justice Careers (2014), "forensic science utilizes scientific principles to support, negate, or author theories surrounding the evidence discovered at the scene of a crime." The information gathered is then used in the court of law. In the United States, there are over 12,000 forensic science technicians.
Deoxyribonucleic acid, known as DNA, is present in nearly every cell of our bodies. Without realizing it, each person leaves cells behind everywhere they go: flakes of skin, drops of blood, hair, and saliva. Each individual has a specific DNA that is that is not shared with any others, though there are some exceptions such as identical twins.
Criminalists are a subdivision of forensic science that answers questions regarding the evidence received and gathered at a crime scene (My Criminal Justice Careers, 2014). Criminalists gather DNA or biological evidence, footwear, tire tracks, fingerprints, ballistics, legal and illegal drugs, and any other evidence connected to a crime scene.
Scientific principles are used to analyze forensic findings, such as DNA, fingerprinting, bone fragments, fingernails, and blood. These are generally collected at a crime scene and from living suspects. Experts are able to analyze fibers, fabrics, dust, soils, paint chips, glass fragments, paper, ink, and fire accelerants. These are evaluated in a lab.
Duties of Forensic Criminalists and Technicians
There are seven duties generally used by all forensic scientists. Case...