Forensic Science Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Forensic Science - Essay Example Experiments are then performed to measure the accuracy of these hypotheses and they are repeated several times in order to determine whether or not the phenomena behaves according to the predictions laid out by the hypotheses i.e. whether the tests are predictable (Wudka 1998). Some domains of inquiry tend to come under certain theories which permit the structuring of specific hypotheses. Almost all fields of inquiry share the common ideal that the manner of gathering data and acquiring new knowledge must be unbiased and objective. This leads to accurate observation, data gathering and interpretation of results. Scientific method also requires that the data is documented, shared and accessed in order for other researchers and scientists to conduct their own experiments independently and reproduce the results. This enables the statistical measurement of data and verify their reliability. Forensic science is a scientific method of collecting and scrutinizing evidence. It is a science that is applied to legal issues. It involves the testing of different parameters and associated references to the background information about the subject in question in order to arrive at a conclusion (Ellen 2005 p.3). Forensic scientists are specialized professionals who involve themselves in accident or crime scene investigation. They use their skills by observing, recognizing, identifying and individualizing the physical evidence available at the scene, then go about attempting to reconstruct the sequence of events that took place so that the police, lawyers and the courts can fully unravel in detail the crime or accident. Observation and Description in Forensics As in other fields of scientific study, forensic scientists rely greatly on scientific method. The initial first step is the observation and collection of information and data most of which is physical. Forensic scientists generally search for data at the scene or in the laboratory. This data includes physical evidence that is to be recognized as being crucial to the investigation, protected from the elements to avoid contamination and collected. Crimes are solved using pathological examinations of crime scene data such as fingerprints, footprints, palm prints, blood stains, soil, bodily fluids, plant and animal matter and hair samples. Apart from this handwriting and typed samples, including ink and paper are also studied as are impressions and questionable documents. Insects present at the scene, maybe collected and in a lab examined by a forensic entomologist. Where weapons are involved, bullet remnants, direction and range of the shot and other ballistics are studied to determine the origins of the shooting. In addition, voice identification techniques are also used to ascertain the criminal's identity. Impression evidence is also vital and can come in two-dimensional or three-dimensional forms such as shoeprints (Genge 2002 p.58). All evidence is carefully cordoned off from possible contamination, collected and placed in plastic bags or boxes, labeled with time, date and location and signed by the crime scene personnel. These and other items of physical evidence are investigated to determine that a crime has occurred and also to ascertain the criminal's Modus Operandi and establish a connection between the suspect and the victim. The other goal is to place the persons, both