| Forensics is a field of science dedicated to the | | | | memories, or even pass away, forensics "tells the |
| methodical gathering and analysis of evidence to | | | | same story" no matter how many times it is |
| establish facts that can be presented in a legal | | | | tested, or how many years have passed. |
| proceeding. Though crime scenes and laboratories | | | | The field of forensics is so vast that it requires |
| are perhaps, most often associated with | | | | specialists or criminalists at every point of |
| forensics, there is also computer or network | | | | investigation, from tire track analysis, to |
| forensics, forensic accounting, forensic engineering | | | | odontology, to the lands and grooves that make |
| and forensic psychiatry, among other specialized | | | | every gun barrel unique. From microscopic |
| fields that are today an integral part of forensics. | | | | evidence and transfer evidence such as fibers and |
| In the United States of America, forensics was a | | | | hair, to blood splatter and forensic entomology, |
| fairly obscure topic for the general public until the | | | | there are many fields of specialization within |
| double-murder trial of Orenthal James Simpson in | | | | forensic science. |
| 1995. In the historic case that gripped the entire | | | | Though forensics deals with circumstantial |
| nation, weeks of testimony were heard on DNA | | | | evidence, it is often widely considered as the best |
| blood evidence, shoeprint evidence, fiber evidence | | | | and the most compelling evidence that any |
| and other forensics. Since then, a bevy of | | | | prosecution or defense lawyer can have in his or |
| forensics-based television shows have regularly | | | | her arsenal. Some people suggest that the public's |
| topped the ratings, making it a household word. | | | | awareness of forensic science might be potentially |
| Those who collect forensic evidence must follow | | | | compromising to law enforcement, producing |
| strict procedures to protect the evidence from | | | | educated criminals who might be more apt to try |
| getting contaminated or destroyed, and must | | | | and effect a clean crime scene. Experts generally |
| preserve the chain of custody. Since science is | | | | tend to believe that it is nearly impossible to avoid |
| unbiased and sound, forensics is considered a | | | | leaving behind trace evidence at a crime scene, |
| very critical part of any investigation. While | | | | even when extraordinary efforts are made to |
| witnesses may often be mistaken, have credibility | | | | the contrary. |
| issues, hold a stake in the outcome, have fading | | | | |