WHAT IS FORENSIC SCIENCE?

Forensic Science 

                              is defined as the application of science to those criminal and civil laws that are
enforced by the police agencies in a criminal justice system.  Forensic Science deals with the
application of the knowledge and methodology of various disciplines of science to legal matters. It
involves the use of multiple disciplines such as physics, chemistry, biology, computer science and
engineering for evidence analysis as well as Forensic Medicine(Legal Medicine).

                              Forensic Science also known as criminalistics, is the application of science to

criminal and civil laws, mainly- on the criminal side - during criminal investigation, as governed by the 
legal standards of admissible evidence and criminal procedure.

THE ROLE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS

                            Forensic science is that piece without without which the puzzle of criminal investigation
is incomplete. without the application of forensic science, criminals can never be convicted unless an
eyewitness is present.  while detectives and law enforcement agencies are involved in the collection of
evidence, be it physical or digital, it is forensic science that deals with the analysis of those evidence in
order to establish facts admissible in the court of law.

                            The duties and responsibilities of a forensic scientist in a criminal investigation is

crucial as it involves the careful examination of an evidence while ensuring that it is not tampered with.
A diverse pool of forensic scientists and forensic tools go into the investigation of a criminal act.

                             For instance, forensic pathologist are skilled at determining the cause of a death by
performing autopsies. An autopsy helps establish the cause and manner of death through the
examination of body fluids and tissues. Forensic scientists analyze physical evidence (fingerprints,
blood, hair etc.) collected from the incident scene to identify suspects. additionally, forensic
professionals use image modification tools to search for criminals absconding from the law for a long
time. This tool enables them to digitally age a photograph to understand how the individual would look at
aging.

IMPORTANCE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE IN LAW

                         The word forensic which means a  forum. The origin and very definition of forensic

science points to its close association with the legal system. Forensic science involves the collection,
preservation, and analysis of evidence suitable for prosecuting an offender in the court of law. The
application of forensic science in the criminal justice system is, therefore, an apparent picture.

                          The legal system widely recognizes the role of forensic evidence in the trial of criminal
offenders. This is because when scientific techniques and methods are used, there is not much scope
for bias and injustice. That is why DNA profiling and a host of other forensic evidence are widely
accepted in courts across the world. interestingly. the first forensic technique ever used involving finger
and a palm print identification dates back to the Chinese (650 A.D).

THE SCOPE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE

FORENSIC BIOLOGY/DNA :

                           DNA PROFILLING is commonly used forensic technique in criminal investigations.

DNA being as unique to an individual as fingerprints, help forensic professionals identify or confirm an
unidentified person, or to eliminate suspects from a list of accused. The biological evidence most
commonly used for DNA profiling include blood, saliva semen, skin, urine, and hair. However, DNA
fingerprints are usually never used as the single piece of evidence in the court of law.

FORENSIC ODONTOLOGY:

                            forensic odontology helps in the identification of victims when the body is left in an
unrecognizable state. This is achieved through an examination of their teeth, the alignment, and overall
structure of the mouth. Forensic dentists or odontologists aid in the comparative identification of a
person by examining the development and anatomy of the teeth including any restorative dental
corrections such as filling. it is often applied to criminal investigations for bite mark analysis.

CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES:

                             Chemicals that are legally recognized as having the potential for abuse are called
controlled substances. This includes "street drugs" such as ecstacy or heroin and prescription drugs
such as oxycodone. The ability to detect andFORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY:

                              This deals with the examination of compromised human remains or skeletons to help
determine the age, height, gender and ancestry. it also helps establish the time since death by
identifying victims, especially in cases where the bodies are beyond recognition.

identify such controlled substances plays a crucial role in aiding law enforcement agencies in their fight
against drug abuse and drug-based violence.

FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY:

                             Forensic toxicology involves analysis of biological samples to check for the presence
of toxins and drugs. This branch of forensic science is of prime importance in road accidents, poisoning,
sexual violence etc. the toxicology reports furnish key information about the nature of substances
present in an individual pertaining to an incidence. It also determines whether the quantity of substances
are normal as per a therapeutic dosage or exceed the permissible level. since newer variants of drugs
are developed each day, this branch of forensic science is ever-evolving and demands up-to-date
approach.

FORENSIC PATHOLOGY AND MEDICO-LEGAL DEATH INVESTIGATIONS:

                               Forensic pathology is a branch of pathology that helps determine the cause of death
by examining the cadaver. Forensic medicine involves the collection and analysis of medical samples to
deduce facts admissible in the court of law. For instance, the identification of wound pattern can help
determine the weapon used to inflict the wound. Additionally, forensic pathologists can examine exit and
entry wounds in deaths pertaining to the use of firearms or other projectiles. A forensic pathologist can,
therefore draw crucial inferences on whether the death is natural, criminal or accidental.

IMPRESSION AND PATTERN EVIDENCE:

                                Impression evidence is the evidence created when two objects come in the contact
with enough force to create an "impression". This could involve a two - dimensional impression such as
a fingerprint or three-dimensional one such as the marks on a bullet. Pattern evidence analysis involves
identification and analysis of additional information within an impression. Impression and pattern
evidence when used in conjunction can help establish vital links between a suspect/tool to a crime
scene. 

TRACE EVIDENCE:

                         Evidence such as fibers, soil, hair, gunshot, residue, wood, and pollen are some of the
many examples of trace evidence. It derives its name from its tendency to be easily transferrable
between objects, people or the environment during a crime. Trace evidence often plays a pivotal role in
establishing a prime link between a suspect and the victim. For instance, a soil sample obtained from
the shoes of a victim can give critical clues on the location of the crime and thus help in tracing the
perpetrator.
CYBER FORENSICS:

                       Cyber forensics involves the analysis of evidence found in computers and digital storage
media like pen drives, hard disks etc. Its major objective is identifying, preserving, recovering, analyzing,
and presenting facts and opinions about the digital information. Although it is mostly used for the
investigation of cyber crimes, it also widely used in civil proceedings.

BALLISTICS:

                      Ballistics is a specialized Forensic Science that deals with the motion, behavior, dynamics,
angular movement and effects of projectiles, such as bullets, rockets, missiles, bombs etc. The use of
ballistics in forensic is mainly in criminal investigations. For instance, the examination of the bullet found
at the crime scene can reveal what type of gun was used to fire it and whether it is associated with any
other crime in the past. In fact, ballistic details are documented in a large database that is accessible by
law enforcement agencies.