ROLE OF FORENSIC CHEMISTRY IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE

Case Study

Presented to College of Criminology

Iligan City, Philippines

In Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirement for the Subject

Practicum (On the Job Training and Community Immersion)

Submitted by:

Names of Groups

May 2021
INTRODUCTION

Forensic Chemistry is the application of chemical science or chemistry in solving

or proving the crime in the court of law. Specialists in this field have a wide array of

methods and instruments to help identify unknown substances. These include high-

performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, atomic

absorption spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thin layer

chromatography. 

Forensic chemistry is one of the subfield of forensic science which plays a very

vital role in the administration of justice. In fact, police detectives and criminal

prosecutors recognize the importance of forensic chemistry in criminal investigation for

it helps analyze chemical pieces of evidence found at the scene of a crime. These

pieces of evidence are identified and examined for proving the diversity of crimes like

homicides, sexual assaults, suicides, accidental poisoning, health and occupational

hazards associated with metallic poisons, pesticides, insecticides, and others.

Forensic chemistry, just like any other sciences like forensic medicine, forensic

ballistic, dactyloscopy, is very important in the conduct of criminal investigation and

administration of justice since most of the evidence found at the crime scene are

physical and chemical evidence, thus, these pieces of evidence are vital in the

identification of suspect/s and providing evidence for their guilt. However, despite the

significant role that it plays, forensic chemistry is not given that much importance here in

the Philippines given the fact that the government does not give much importance in the

purchase of needed equipment in the field of forensic chemistry.

Forensic Chemistry 

Forensic chemistry deals with the identification and analysis of chemical pieces

of evidence found at the scene of a crime. These shreds of evidence are identified and

examined for proving the diversity of crimes like homicides, sexual assaults, suicides,

accidental poisoning, health and occupational hazards associated with metallic poisons,

pesticides, insecticides, and others.

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.

Significance of Forensic Chemistry in Criminal Investigation

1. Identification of alcohol, narcotics, designer and commonly abused drugs like

LSD, Cannabis, Opium Derivatives, Cocaine and others present in an

unknown sample.

2. Identification of synthetic and natural poisons such as arsenic, mercury,

barium, cadmium, lead, croton, datura, calotropis, and others.

3. Examination of petroleum products.
 4. Examination of inks, paints, dyes and other colouring agents.

5. Analysis of firearm, explosive and arson residues.

6. Examination and identification of trace metal elements.

7. Examination and identification of volatile and flammable materials especially

found in suspected cases of arson cases.

8. Identification of adulteration in concrete, bricks and other building materials.

9. Identification of level and concentration of alcohol, drugs, poisons in the blood,

urine, hair and other human and animal biological materials.

10. Identification of the composition of the pesticides and insecticides suspected

poisoning deaths.

11. Identification of the type of lubricant in sexual assault cases.

12. Identification of the type of acid or alkali in the cases of chemical lab hazards.

13. Identification of adulterants used in food items like milk products, spices,

pulses, etc.

14. Examination of blood, tissues, viscera in suspected poisoning cases.

15. Examination of beauty cosmetics like lipsticks, eye shadow, face powders

associated with allergies, and health ailments.

Collection and Preservation of the Chemical Evidences

1. Powder, pills, and solids: This evidence should be collected and preserved in

the metallic pillbox, or a paper fold called a druggist fold and sealed with tape

to prevent reaction with the external air.

2. Petroleum products: These should be collected in airtight metallic containers.

 3. Acids and alkalis: Portable glass containers should be used. The containers

should be labelled with alkali or acid.

4. Blood, urine, and organs: These should also be preserved in the glass

containers.

5. Gunshot residues, explosive residues: These should be collected in airtight

metallic containers.

6. Other trace evidence like trace metal, cosmetics: These should be packed in

ice cream containers, powder box, and metal pillbox.

Analytical Techniques used for Specialized Cases

Identification of Drugs and Poisons

Specialized techniques like gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, and high-

performance liquid chromatography are useful for the identification of trace amounts of

drugs and poisons obtained from a drug peddler to once obtained from post-mortem

tissue matter.

Drunk and Drive Cases

The blood alcohol concentration estimation by gas chromatography is a suitable

efficient technique for determining the quantity of alcohol in the blood. The

chromatograph obtained can be useful for proving the fact that the person was drunk at

the time of the crime.

 Investigation of Arson Cases

To set up a deliberate fire, a criminal may use a particular fuel to set up a fire as well

as an accelerator which will increase the duration of fire at the chosen site. The fire

residues can be collected in an airtight container to identify the type of fuel and

accelerant used. Techniques like Gas-Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry can

be proved to be useful for the quantitative estimation of the fuel.

Identification of Gunshot Residues and Post-Explosion Residues

The gunshot residues and the post-explosion debris include the mixers of primer and

propellants which can be identified by instrumental techniques like Scanning Electron

Microscopy (SEM), Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) and Energy Dispersive

Spectrometry (EDS).

Dye and Ink Analysis

Techniques like paper and thin layer chromatography have been found useful in the

separation of ink and dye components. Gel electrophoresis is also helpful for this

procedure. The chemical analysis of ink is especially beneficial in the question

document examination. The dye can exhibit toxic components which may have been the

reason for death; therefore, the concentration and amount of the component is required

to be known.
Instrument used for Analysis

Gas Chromatography

Gas chromatography separates unsteady substance into different components

by passing the volatile materials through a long absorbent column. technology is used in

a case where it is necessary to identify a person body and analyze blood found in the

crime scene.

In the PNP, it is widely used in identifying drugs and its metabolites in performing

Confirmatory Examination on urine samples presumed positive for the presence of

dangerous drugs. At present, the PNP has only one functional GCMS and is stationed

at the CL headquarters. This was procured through DBM in 2015.

Mass Spectrometry

Mass spectrometry breaks samples apart and separates the ionized fragments

by mass and charge. Forensic chemists use this to analyze samples to determine its

molecular makeup.

Ultraviolet Spectrophotometry

It is used to analyze compounds in the ultraviolet regions of electromagnetic

spectrum , it helps differentiate between samples of proteins and nucleic acids.

Ted Bundy Case – Famous case where forensic chemistry was used

Ted Bundy was an American serial killer who kidnapped, raped, and murdered

numerous young women and girls during the 1970s and possibly earlier. After more

than a decade of denials, he confessed to 30 homicides, committed in seven states

between 1974 and 1978. His true victim total is unknown, and believed by some

investigators to be higher. Physical evidence were collected to connect and find the

estimated number of people who were killed.

FINDINGS

1. Forensic chemistry plays a very significant role in the conduct of criminal

investigation and administration of justice.

2. Forensic chemistry, despite its significance, is underrated in the Philippines.

CONCLUSION

1. Forensic chemistry, just like any other sciences like forensic medicine, forensic

ballistic, dactyloscopy, and any other, is very important in the conduct of criminal

investigation and administration of justice. Most of the pieces of evidence found at the

scene of the crime are physical and chemical evidence, thus, these pieces of evidence

are vital in the identification of suspect/s and providing evidence for their guilt. In fact,

majority of crimes like homicide, rape and arson are successfully solved through the use

of forensic chemistry.

2. Forensic chemistry is not given much importance in the legal field despite its

significant role in elucidating legal matters. In fact, at present, the PNP has only 1

instrument called Gas Chromatography which is found in crime laboratory headquarter.

Given the fact, this only shows that the government lack support to purchase necessary

tools and equipment in forensic chemistry.

RECOMMENDATION

1. Since forensic chemistry plays a vital role in the administration of justice and

elucidating legal problems, the government should provide for ways to produce qualified
and competent forensic chemist in the field of law enforcement. The government should

provide training for our forensic chemist as it would be beneficial in the administration of

justice.

2. The government should provide and allocate adequate funds in the purchase of

instruments used in forensic chemistry like gas chromatography, mass spectrometry,

thin layer chromatography and more.

REFERENCES

https://sciencemonk.com/forensic-chemistry-applications-of-forensic-chemistry/

http://www.pnp.gov.ph/images/Downloads/CLGServices.pdf