Importance Of Forensic Chemistry

Have you ever wondered how investigators figure out who the criminal is in the investigations? Is it luck or is it science? Forensic Science is the use of scientific principals to analyze information connected to a crime and who committed it. One type of forensics is autopsies. In the Rage and Bone Shop by Robert Cormier, investigators did some analysis of the crime scene, but should have used other forms of forensic science to solve the crime. The use of forensics in the novel hindered the investigation.

When people usually hear the word forensics they usually automatically visualize crime scenes filled with things that can vary from blood, bullets, fingerprints ect. Unfortunately, it is not as cut and dry as you think, you're only seeing a small piece of the picture. The subject of forensics itself is very broad and actually involves a variety of different sciences all mixed together including, biology, chemistry, genetics, toxicology, phonetics, medicine, engineering, anthropology and many more. It is one of the fields of law enforcement, were technology and crime-solving all come together as one. Gathering the information needed to figure out what happened and the methods used to connect pieces of evidence to the crime scene were also not

The evidence does not lie, a crime scene investigator and a forensic scientist uses solid physical evidence to process a crime scene to help detectives apprehend the assailant, these two fields of study work together to process a crime scene to gather all evidence that may help an detective to solve the case.

Many different drugs such as street drugs are mixed with a lot of simple household items, such as sugar, starch or quinine. The forensic scientist must be able to tell the difference between the substances. Many court cases that involve drugs rely exclusively on the forensic scientists findings. They must be able to prove that the substance found was actually a drug and not say a package of sugar or another legal

Forensic chemist goes out to the crime scene to collect the evidence for later

They study DNA to find the name or relatives of a victim or suspect of a crime. They do many different types of work in the laboratory, these two are just some of the main things that they perform in the labs. They must discuss their findings with a large variety of different specialists to determine what could have killed a victim. “All

When aspiring scientists decide to go into the field of forensic science, many prerequisites are needed. In high school and even in the first years of college, certain courses should be taken. English, Chemistry, Physics, and Biology are the most important but it can also be of assistance to take classes such as Genetics, Statistics, Crime Scene Investigation, and Forensic DNA Analysis. In forensic science, various chemistry degrees are mandated. Popular choices include Analytical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Drug Chemistry, and Biophysical Chemistry. Knowledge and proper education are looked-for when applying for a job but employers desire scientists with several social skills as well. Forensic scientists need to be quick-thinking, proficient speakers on top of knowing how to explain complex enigmas. Within the career, a considerable amount of machinery is used so therefore proper training is usually given. Due to the several components involved in the field of forensic science, only a handful of dedicated

Forensic science technicians are vital on a crime scene because the collect and analyze physical evidence. Evidence is one of the most important factor of a crime scene because this puts in investigator a step ahead in finding the suspect of a crime. Crime scene specialists help to collect and preserve evidence in a crime scene. There are rules concerning the collection of data in order to preserve its natural state. For example, “all non-movable items, such as fingerprints, at a crime scene should be processed at the scene using gray powder, black powder, or black magnetic powder. Polaroid 665 black and white film loaded in a Polaroid CU-5 camera with detachable flash should be used to make one-to-one photographs of prints which do not readily lift.” (Schiro, n.d.) Also in the case where there is a computer involved, if it is turned on, it must not be turned off until all the information is properly collected and stored on a file for later use. DNA examiners usually search for anything that could possibly contain DNA. These include fingerprints, hair, blood, semen, bite marks, and dead skin found under fingernails. Tests can be done to determine whether the DNA is the victim’s own or the possible suspect. The coroner’s role is to certify the death of an individual and if unknown, to gain the identity of the victim. These agencies

A forensic practitioner can never be biased in an investigation and to ensure ethical behavior some departments have implemented a code of ethics. Although there is a lot of room for error, no forensic investigator wants to live with the possibility that an innocent person is punished or a guilty person escaped prosecution. For all the negative cases on the news there will be a plethora of cases that did not have any problems. Any time a crime scene investigator enters a crime scene, there is a possibility of contamination. A forensic specialist must present an unbiased testimony that is a clear and accurate representation of a crime scene. The room for error in forensic science is rather spacious, however there inaccuracies in any field of science. These errors along with false portrayal of forensic science in the media and strenuous work hours make the job of a forensic scientist excruciatingly

Forensic science is defined as the practice of utilizing scientific methodologies to clarify judicial inquiries. The field of forensic science contains a broad range of disciplines and has become a vital aspect of criminal investigations. Some forensic disciplines are laboratory-based; while others are based on an analyst’s interpretation of observable patterns (Kourtsounis, 2009). According to the Innocence project’s website; in greater than fifty percent of wrongful convictions, the use of invalidated or improper forensic techniques played a role in cases; which were later

In the TV shows that popularized forensic science – so much so that it has become one of the most sought after majors by undergraduate college students – the fictionalized lab technicians are well trained and engage in exciting work helping to solve crimes. In real life, however, the technicians are not always well trained, they may frequently be overworked, they are usually underpaid, and they constantly battle an overload of evidence that needs to be analyzed. Furthermore, the scientific techniques they use may not be science at all.

After doing their job in he crime scene, the evidence they took will be taken to the forensic scientist. Crime scene investigators will look at the photographs and connect their theories based on the crime that occurred. The forensic scientists will also examine the victim’s clothes, while the medical examiner will analyze the victim’s body for more clues and evidence that they may find and they will all be doing this in the crime lab. The things they may find could be hair, fiber, semen, blood, another person’s DNA, bruises and many more. After the forensic scientists

Ultimately, ensuring their credibility in the eyes of the court, they must be prepared to discuss their qualifications (Dale and Becker 167). It is necessary for the forensic scientist to present the information in a way that both the judge and the people of the courtroom will understand in order for the verdict of the presented information can be used to convict or release the accused suspect. It is evident in the science community that an increasing number of labs follow the process of validation in order to meet quality standards on an informal, national, and international level. In fact, standardized validation of evidence minimizes re-invention of methods in laboratories across the world. Methods that have been validated are more readily accepted and can be compared internationally between different laboratories (Hlinka, Muharam and Lentile 152). **When more evidence is discovered and used in cases. By minimizing new methods and

Forensic science borrows from a number of sciences which include: physics, Biology and chemistry. It therefore involves examination of a wide spectrum as compared to any other method of investigation. Due to the wide spectrum of investigation and evidence analysis the method offers; it ensures that the results are accurate and can be used in the court of law to make a decision. The method establishes the existence of a crime, the connection between the crimes and the

Forensics is the use of scientific tests conducted on evidence that is used to aid a criminal investigation. Forensics is so important because without it either the wrong person could go to prison or the police could not arrest anyone, leaving the criminal to remain at large. Forensics allows insight into multiple factors that help catch the criminal behind the crime. Factors like DNA and fingerprinting are the very first piece of evidence to be looked at in an investigation to catch the killer. If the forensic scientists mix something up or misses what they are trained to look for, then they can do a lot of harm to a case. Forensics provides that very important physical evidence that will help the police catch the killer and bring that needed closer for the loved ones of the victim.