Running head: FORENSIC SCIENCE 1

Forensic science

Name

Institution
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Question 1. Based on what you have read and studied in this unit, how would you define

forensic science in your own words? Why is the analysis of forensic evidence important

within law enforcement?

Forensic science is the application of scientific methods by law enforcement in the

criminal justice system. Law enforcement is dependent on science because science can

provide concrete, objective, and accurate information regarding crime scene events. The term

forensic scientist however does not refer to one individual as the study depends on a variety

of expertise from other professionals. For example, a toxicologist is required to test for the

presence of drugs or toxins and determined if their consumption is related to the cause of

death. Forensic science also depends on odontology. Forensic odontology is crucial in the

identification of victims whose bodies have been damaged, rendering them unrecognizable.

In summary, forensic science is an interdisciplinary effort, crucial at assisting law

enforcement to apprehend criminals and uphold the law.

The analysis of forensic evidence is important to law enforcement as it takes

advantage of the scientific method to formulate hypotheses and draw conclusions. This is

very important to avoid convicting the wrong person. Other sources of information such as

eyewitness testimony can be exaggerated or misleading, detectives may also have biases that

distort their view of objective truth (Cooper & Meterko, 2019). By adherence to the scientific

method, forensic science follows strict rules on how evidence should be collected, organized,

and analyzed. Hence, forensic science forms a neutral scientific basis, where evidence can be

analyzed objectively without being tainted by human error.

Question 2. Briefly discuss the origins of forensic science and the development of crime

laboratories in the United States.

Since forensic science is an interdisciplinary study, each field has individuals who

contributed to its development. Hence, forensic science has contributions from different
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experts from the 19th century to the present (Roy & Saferstein, 2021). For Example, an

important milestone for forensics was the rise of toxicology. Mathieu Orfila is credited with

being the father of the study, establishing toxicology as a scientific field of study. Another

important milestone is the development of fingerprinting as a genuine method for personal

identification. Francis Galton was the first to develop methods of classifying and filing

fingerprints after a comprehensive study.

Despite the contribution of various scientists to the field of forensic science, the

overall philosophy of the study can be traced to the advocacy of Hans Gross and Edmond

Locard. Hans Gross was the first to describe how different scientific fields could be applied

to criminal investigations, he is hailed for developing important principles on how to conduct

criminal investigations and the benefits of using the scientific method. Unlike Gross, Locard

offered technical contributions to the field of forensic science. Locard was responsible for

developing the notion that an individual who comes into contact with objects or people

engages in an active transfer of materials (Roy & Saferstein, 2021). This is known as

Locard’s exchange principle.

The progress of forensic science in the United States can be traced to the

establishment of national and state crime laboratories. The first crime laboratory in the United

States is operated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation established in 1932. The laboratory

is currently the world’s largest and is a prime example for all laboratories within the country

and worldwide. The growth of crime laboratories in the US can be accounted for by factors

such as improved technology, pressure on law enforcement to ensure evidence is

scientifically evaluated, and the increased drug abuse among offenders. In summary, crime

labs offer ideal conditions not only for the development of forensics but also in assisting law

enforcement.
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References

Cooper, G. S., & Meterko, V. (2019). Cognitive bias research in forensic science: A

systematic review. Forensic Science International, 297, 35–46.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.01.016

Roy, R., & Saferstein, R. (2021). Criminalistics: an introduction to forensic science.

Pearson.