INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC SCIENCE

BY: DEAN NIÑO M. KABILING, Ph.D. Crim.

For Forensic Science Program

1st SEM. S.Y. 2020-2021
Holy Angel University
Angeles City

OVERVIEW OF FORENSIC SCIENCE

Forensic Science
▪ Is the application of the principles of various sciences in solving problems
in connection with the administration of justice.
▪ Also referred to as Criminalistics or Police Science.
Foresnic
▪ It was derived from the Latin word “Forum” which means a “market
place”, a place where people gathered for “public discussion” . When it
is used in conjunction with other sciences it simply connotes the idea of
application to law or for the administration of justice. Sometimes it is also
referred to as “legal”.

Science
▪ It originally came from the Latin word scientia which meant knowledge, a
knowing, expertness, or experience. By the late 14th century, science
meant, in English, collective knowledge

▪ Any system of knowledge that is concerned with the physical world and its
phenomena and that entails unbiased observations and systematic
experimentation. In general, a science involves a pursuit of knowledge
covering general truths or the operations of fundamental laws.

DEVELOPMENT OF FORENSIC SCIENCE

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

▪ Popularized physical detection methods in a crime scene Developed the

character Sherlock Holmes
▪ 1887 published first novel, A Study in Scarlet

Mathieu Orfila (1787 – 1853)

▪ Father of Forensic Toxicology

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BY : DEAN NIÑO M. KABILING, Ph.D. Crim.
 ▪ 1814 - Treatise on detection of poisons & their effects on animals.

Alphonse Bertillon (1853-1914)

▪ Father of Criminal Detection

▪ He devised the first scientific system of personal identification, using body
measurements known as anthropometry in 1879.

Francis Galton (1882-1911)

▪ Conducted the first definitive study of fingerprints and their classification. 1892
– Treatise entitled Finger Prints

Thomas Dwight ( 1843 – 1911)

▪ Fatehr of Forensic Anthropoly in U.S.

▪ He was the 1st to write articles and essays and give lectures on human skeletal
identification.

Leone Lattes (1887-1954)

▪ Devised a simple procedure for determining the blood type (A,B,O,AB) of a dried
bloodstain

Calvin Goddard (1891-1955)

▪ Used a comparison microscope to determine if a bullet was fired from a specific

gun Published study of “tool marks” on bullets

Albert S. Osborn (1858-1946)

▪ Developed fundamental principles of document examination 1910 – Treatise

Questioned Documents Was responsible for the acceptance of documents as
scientific evidence by the courts

Edmond Locard (1877- 1966)

▪ Demonstrated how the principles developed by Hans Gross could be incorporated

into a workable crime lab.
▪ Locard's exchange principle states that once contact is made between two
surfaces a transfer of material(s) will occur.

Dr. Oscar Amoedo

▪ father of forensic odontology

▪ identified the victims of a fire accident in Paris, France, in 1898

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BY : DEAN NIÑO M. KABILING, Ph.D. Crim.
 ▪ establishment of forensic odontology as a unique discipline has been attributed to
him

Alec Jefreys

▪ 1984 he discovered a method of showing variations between individuals' DNA,

inventing and developing genetic fingerprinting

Dr. Hans Gross

▪ An Australian magistrate to described “Search for Truth” as the ultimate goal of all
investigative and detective works. He is known as the Father of Modern
Criminalistics.

Dr. Paul Kirk

▪ Father of Criminalistics in U.S.

August Vollmer

▪ the Head of the First comprehensive Crime Laboratory in U.S.

PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION

“Law of Multiplicity of Evidence”

The greater number of similarities or dissimilarities; the greater is the probability for the
conclusion to be correct.
Alphonse Bertillion
Father of Personal Identification. The first to devise a scientific method of identification
called Anthropometry. He is also known to be the father of “Mug shot” photography.
Anthropometry
is the first scientific method of personal identification which is done by measuring the
various bony structure of the human body.
Law of Municipality of Evidence (is true in the case of identification.)
The greater the number of similarities or dissimilarities, the greater is the probability for
the conclusion to be correct.
* The value of the different points of identification varies in the formulation of conclusion.
* The longer the interval between the death and the examination of the remains for
purposes of identification, the greater is the need for experts in establishing identity.

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BY : DEAN NIÑO M. KABILING, Ph.D. Crim.
 * It is necessary for the team to act in the shortest possible time specially in cases of
mass disaster. * There is no rigid rule to be observed in the procedure of identification of
persons.
Importance of Identification of Persons:
1. In Criminal case, the identity of the offender and that of the victim must be established,
otherwise it will be a ground for the dismissal of the charge or acquittal of the accused.
2. Identification of missing person or presumed dead will facilitate settlement of the estate,
retirement, insurance and other social benefits. It vests on the heirs the right over the
properties of the identified person.
3. Identification resolves the anxiety of the next-of-kin, other relatives and friends as to
the whereabouts of a missing person or victim of calamity or crime.
4. Identification may be needed in some transaction, like cashing of check, entering a
premise, delivery of parcels or registered mail in post office, sale of property, release of
dead bodies to relatives, parties to a contract, etc.
Methods of Identification
1. By comparison – with the used of standard specimen, evidence under question can
be compared in order to effect identification.
2. By exclusion - is two or more persons have to be identified and all but one is not yet
identified, then the one whose identity has not been established may be known by the
process of elimination
FORENSIC CHEMISTRY
That branch of chemistry, which deals with the application of chemical principles in the
solution of problems that arise in connection with the administration of justice. It is
chemistry applied in the elucidation of legal problems. It is chemistry used in courts of
law. Chemistry belonging to the court of law.
SCOPE OF FORENSIC CHEMISTRY
1. It includes the chemical side of criminal investigation
2. It includes the analysis of any material the quality of which may give rise to legal
proceeding.
3. It is not limited to purely chemical questions involved in legal proceedings.
4. It has invaded other branches of forensic sciences notably legal medicine, ballistics,
questioned documents, dactyloscopy, and photography.
FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY
▪ Primarily involves the identification and examination of skeletal remains, in order
to determine if the remains are human or another type of animal.
▪ If human, ethnicity, sex, approximate age, and manner of death can often be
determined by an anthropologist.

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BY : DEAN NIÑO M. KABILING, Ph.D. Crim.
FORENSIC ENTOMOLOGY
▪ The study of insects and their developmental stages.
▪ Can help to determine the time of death by knowing when those stages normally
appear in the insect's life cycle.
FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY
▪ The study of human behavior and legal proceedings in both civil and criminal cases
▪ In civil and criminal cases, competency often needs to be determined
▪ criminal trials, the evaluation of behavior disorders is often required in order to
establish the psychological profile of a suspect.
FORENSIC ENGINEERING
▪ Used to analyze construction accidents, and the causes and origins of fires or
explosions.
FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHY
▪ Photography Derived from the Greek word “Phos” or “Photos” which means
“light” and “Grapho” means “Writing” or “Graphia” meaning “to Draw”.
▪ is the art and science of reproducing image by means of light through some
sensitized material with the aid of a camera, Lens and its accessories and the
chemical process required in order to produced a photograph.

FORENSIC BALLISTICS
▪ the study of the motion of the projectile as applied to law or simply the science of
firearm identification by means of the ammunition fired through them.
QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION (QDE)
the examination of documents potentially disputed in a court of law. Its primary purpose
is to provide evidence about a suspicious or questionable document using scientific
processes and methods.
FORENSIC ENTOMOLOGY
▪ the scientific study of the invasion of the succession pattern of arthropods with
their developmental stages of different species found on the decomposed
cadavers during legal investigations.
▪ It is the application and study of insect and other arthropod biology to criminal
matters.
POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION
▪ popularly referred to as a lie detector test
▪ is a procedure that measures and records several physiological indicators such as
blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity while a person is asked
and answers a series of questions.

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BY : DEAN NIÑO M. KABILING, Ph.D. Crim.
DIGITAL FORENSICS
▪ It includes the recovery and investigation of material found in digital devices, often
in relation to computer crime.
FORENSIC ODONTOLOGY
▪ proper handling, examination, and evaluation of dental evidence, which will be
presented in the interest of justice.
▪ The evidence that may be derived from the teeth, the age (in children) and
identification of the person to whom the teeth may belong.
FORENSIC PATHOLOGY
▪ focuses on determining the cause of death by examining a corpse.
▪ A post mortem is performed by a medical examiner, usually during the
investigation of criminal law cases and civil law cases in some jurisdictions.
FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY
▪ The application of clinical specialties to legal institutions and people who come into
contact with the law

END/DEANNMK2020
“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.”

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BY : DEAN NIÑO M. KABILING, Ph.D. Crim.