About the Medical Examiner's Office

Forensics

Forensic: fo·ren·sic (pronunciation: f&-'ren(t)-sik, -'ren-zik), adjective, entymology: Latin forensis public, forensic, from forum forum, 1) belonging to, used in, or suitable to courts of judicature or to public discussion and debate 2) argumentative, rhetorical 3) relating to or dealing with the application of scientific knowledge to legal problems <forensic medicine> <forensic science> <forensic pathologist> <forensic experts> - fo·ren·si·cal·ly /-si-k(&-)lE, -zi-/ adverb

Forensic science is any science used for the purposes of the law, and therefore provides impartial scientific evidence for use in the courts of law, in criminal investigations and in criminal trials. Forensic science is a multidisciplinary subject, drawing principally from chemistry and biology, but also from physics, geology, psychology, social science, and more.

In a typical criminal investigation crime scene investigators will gather material evidence from the crime scene, victim and/or suspect. Forensic scientists will examine these materials to provide scientific evidence to assist in the investigation and court proceedings and work closely with the police. Senior forensic scientists, who usually specialize in one or more of the key forensic disciplines, may be required to attend crime scenes or give evidence in court as impartial expert witnesses.

Examples of forensic science include the use of gas chromatography to identify seized drugs, DNA profiling to help identify a murder suspect from a bloodstain found at the crime scene, and laser Raman spectroscopy to identify microscopic paint fragments. From examining hair follicles in a lab to scouring a crime scene looking for left behind clues, forensics is a big part of the crime world. It happens every day. It can be a little complicated but great minds have found true suspects. It revolves around evidence.