* Introduction:

Forensic
science
Mark Gil Q. Virtudes, DMD
College of Dentistry
Manila Central University

* At the end of the discussion, the students

will be able to:

* Define forensic science

* Discuss the philosophy of forensic science
* Discuss the importance of forensic science
in justice system

*Intended

outcomes
learning

* The science that is applied to the law and

criminal proceedings. It applies the

knowledge and technology of science for
the definition and enforcement of criminal
and civil law
* is the application of science to those
criminal and civil laws that are enforced
by police agencies in a criminal justice
system.

*What is forensic

science?

The study and application of science to

matters of law
* Examines the associations between people,
places, things and events involved in crimes
* Also know as criminalistics

*What is forensic

science?

* The focus of Forensic Science is the Crime Lab

using the principles and techniques of Biology,

Chemistry, Physics, Geology, Anthropology
and other sciences in order to place physical
evidence into a professional discipline.

* The examination of physical evidence

* Evidence: anything that tends to establish OR

disprove a fact

*
*
*
*

Includes:
Testimony
Objects
documents

*What is forensic

science?

* Origin of the Word

* Forensics derived from the Latin word forensis,

meaning forum, a public place used in Roman

times by senators to debate and hold judicial
proceedings
* During the time of the Romans, a criminal charge
meant presenting the case before the public.
Both the person accused of the crime & the
accuser would give speeches based on their side
of the story.
The individual with the best argumentation would
determine the outcome of the case.

*What is forensic

science?

* The key to criminalistics is the ability to

think clearly when faced with the daunting

confusion of the average crime scene.
* One must rely on experience, intuition,
and abductive reasoning (testing a likely
scenario against the facts).

*Philosophy of

forensic science

*Identification of Criminals or Victims

*Solving Mysteries
* Past crimes (unsolved or wrongfully convicted)
* Cause, Location, Time of Death
* Paternity cases

*Cyber crimes
*Corporate Crimes (Enron)
*Voice Analysis

*Applications of Forensic
Science

*Application of DNA as evidence

*Prevention vs. Reaction
*Catastrophes & Wars

*ID remains of victims (either civilian or

soldiers)
*ex. Holocaust or Katrina

*Military & International Forensics

* Terrorism
* The search for WMDs
* Stockpiled or stored weapons from past wars

*Applications of Forensic
Science

*Forensic science =
legal matters and
legal questions

*Significant elements

in resolving civil and

criminal matters

*Link or exonerate
suspects

*Forensic Science
in the Legal
System

Job description

* Study evidence found at the crime

* ID object, its origin, and how it got to the crime

scene

* Expert witness

* At trial, present data, weighs evidence, gives

impartial opinion in court

* Researcher

* Performs scientific research and trains other

scientists

*Forensic Scientist

* Analysis of Physical Evidence:The

forensic scientist must be skilled in applying

the principles and techniques of the physical
and natural sciences in order to identify the
many types of evidence that may be
recovered during crime investigations.
* Expert witness: An expert witness
possesses a particular skill or has knowledge
in a trade or profession that will aid the court
in determining the truth.

*Function of

Forensic Scientist

* Specially trained evidence collection

technicians: Training in Proper

Recognition, Collection, and Preservation
of Evidence is required so that the forensic
pathologist, as the medical examiner or
coroner, can determine the cause of death
via an autopsy.

*Function of

Forensic Scientist

*Thank you for

listening. God
bless you.
Quiz next
meeting!