Forensic Science in the 21st Essay

Therefore, the ability to determine facts in a case from very small particles of matter has proven to be of invaluable assistance in criminal investigation and procedure; for example, forensic analysis has been used successfully in many paternity cases.

3. Myths and realities

There many misconceptions surrounding forensic science and especially CSI or Crime Scene Investigation. This is mainly due to the way that CSI has been portrayed in film and media. As has been suggested above, forensic science and CSI is much more complex than is generally known.

CSI procedures are based on the fact that "….An extremely diverse array of materials may be located or associated with a crime scene. Each may have some potential for providing reliable forensic evidence" (Horswell and Fowler, 2004, p. 45). Therefore, in reality the forensic scientist usually specializes only in one area, which means that it usually takes a team of specialists to determine the facts of a case. CSI investigations are therefore much more complex and time-consuming than is portrayed in the popular media.

4. Conclusion

The field of forensic is extensive and wide-ranging and draws on the findings from many disciplines.The fact that forensic science can make use of knowledge and insight from fields as diverse as physics, chemistry and even archaeology makes it an invaluable tool in the fight against crime, as well as in investigation and analysis that can better facilitate the legal process. Modern forensics use of technologies such as DNA analysis have not only been able to solve many crimes that would have been impossible to close only a few years ago, but newer technologies are also being added to the range of forensic tool in the assistance of the laws.

References

A Career In Forensic Science: What is Forensic Science? Retrieved November 6,

2009,from http://www.forensic-science-society.org.uk/information/careers.html

Handbook of Forensic Services. Retrieved November 6,, 2009, from http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/handbook/intro.htm

Horswell, J., & Fowler, C. (2004). Associative Evidence - the Locard Exchange Principle. In The Practice of Crime Scene Investigation (pp. 45-55). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.

What is Forensics? Retrieved Feb 1, 2008 from http://www.uclan.ac.uk/facs/science/forensic/whatis/

Zonderman, J. (1999). Beyond the Crime Lab: The New Science of Investigation

(Revised ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons......