The Role of Forensic Science in Criminal Investigation

Abstract

Forensic science is a crucial element of the criminal justice system. Forensic scientists examine and analyse evidence from crime scenes and elsewhere to develop objective findings that can assist in the investigation and prosecution of perpetrators of crime or absolve an innocent person from suspicion. This study comprises a crime scene investigation, which is a scene where the case investigator and crime scene personnel work together to define and secure areas that may contain evidence; examine and document the scene; collect physical evidence; preserve, pack, and submit the evidence to the laboratory for analysis. Further, this study discusses forensic psychology and crime investigation, which elucidates the use of clinical specialties to walk through criminal acts and behaviours by applying psychological research, data, and theory to differentiate between the suspects and the main culprits. Additionally, the investigative techniques in forensic science have been thoroughly lined up, such as DNA analysis, finger printing, voice recognition, handwriting analysis, ballistics, autopsy, etc. Furthermore, the role of DNA profiling technology is conceptualised as a procedure that can be used to identify individuals on the basis of their unique genetic makeup. Moreover, the role of forensics in the identification of the accused and victim is mentioned in this study. The identification of the victim is executed by examining the teeth, mouth, or body alignment. To obtain an identification of the suspect, police use several modes like visual, audio, scientific, and test identification parades. Next, the role of toxicology, serology, and narcotics analysis in investigation is related to this study. These three deal with the study of chemistry, biology, and psychotherapy for the individual. This study makes use of brain mapping, polygraph, and narcotics analysis, the tests that are useful to know the concealed information that is related to crime. Eventually, the forensic evidence and the opinion of the experts are the last steps to assist the criminal investigation and to subjectively correlate all the aspects of the forensic methodology and crime scene.