UNIT 1

DEFINITION OF FORENSIC SCIENCE

• The term 'forensic' actually comes from the Latin word
'forensis,' which means 'forum' and refers to a public, open
court. In other words, forensic science means science that is
intended to be used in court.

• Forensic science can be defined as the application of scientific methods

to criminal cases. In particular, forensic science deals with the analysis
of evidence in criminal cases.
HISTORY OF FORENSIC SCIENCE
• The first-ever autopsy may have been Antistius observing the body of
a slain politician named Julius Caesar. By 1773, chemist Carl Wilhelm
Scheele developed a chemical test to detect arsenic (evidence of
poisoning) in corpses.

• The first Central Forensic Science Laboratory was established at

Calcutta during 1957. To begin with, this laboratory was organized
into four basic disciplines viz. Forensic Physics, Forensic Chemistry,
Forensic Biology and Forensic Ballistics.
IMPORTANCE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE IN
MEDICAL SCIENCE
• Forensics plays a crucial role in medical science by applying scientific
principles and techniques to investigate and analyze various aspects of
legal and criminal cases involving medical and biological evidence. The
intersection of forensics and medical science is known as forensic
medicine or forensic pathology. Here are some key ways in which
forensics is important in the field of medical science:

1.Determini ng Cause of Death: Forensic pathologists examine deceased

individuals to determine the cause and manner of death. This
information is essential for legal purposes, such as in criminal
investigations or insurance claims. Identifying the cause of death
accurately can also provide insights into public health trends and
potential outbreaks.
IMPORTANCE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE IN
MEDICAL SCIENCE CONT.

2. Criminal Investigations: Forensic analysis of biological evidence, such as

DNA, blood, hair, and tissue samples, can link suspects to crime scenes and
victims. This helps law enforcement agencies identify perpetrators, solve
crimes, and ensure that justice is served.
3. Child Abuse and Neglect: Forensic experts can assess injuries in cases of
suspected child abuse or neglect. Their findings are crucial for determining
whether abuse has occurred and providing evidence for legal proceedings.
4. Sexual Assault Cases: Forensic examinations of victims of sexual assault
can provide critical evidence for identifying perpetrators and securing
convictions. DNA analysis is particularly important in these cases.
IMPORTANCE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE IN
MEDICAL SCIENCE CONT.

5. Accident Investigations: Forensic experts analyze the evidence from

accidents, such as traffic accidents or industrial incidents, to determine
factors that contributed to the event. This information can help prevent
similar accidents in the future and establish liability for legal purposes.
6. Disaster Victim Identification: In cases of mass disasters or
catastrophes, such as plane crashes or natural disasters, forensic experts
use dental records, DNA analysis, and other techniques to identify victims
and assist families in the process of closure.
7. Toxicology and Poisoning: Forensic toxicologists analyze bodily fluids
and tissues to detect the presence of drugs, alcohol, or other toxic
substances. This information is valuable for determining whether
poisoning played a role in deaths or accidents.
IMPORTANCE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE IN
MEDICAL SCIENCE CONT.

8. Public Health and Epidemiology: Forensic analysis of biological samples can

contribute to the understandin~ of disease outbreaks and the identification of
potential vectors or sources of infections. This information aids in public health
responses and preventive measures.
9. Expert Testimony: Forensic experts provide expert testimony in court to
explain complex scientific findings to judges and Juries. Their expertise ensures
that scientific evidence is accurately interpreted and presented in legal
proceedings.
10. Exonerating the Innocent: Forensic evidence can also help exonerate
individuals who have been wrongly convicted. DNA analysis, in particular, has
led to the overturning of numerous wrongful convictions.
** Overall, the role of forensics in medical science is to provide objective and
scientific analysis of evidence related to legal cases involving medical and
biological factors. It helps ensure justice, protect public hearth, and advance our
understanding of various medical and legal issues.
 FORENSIC SCIENCE LABORATORY
• Forensic science includes those aspects of science which are helpful and useful
for the purpose of law deals with the application of medical knowledge
towards administration of justice.
• A forensic science laboratory undertakes the examination of physical evidence
sent by Medical Officer or the scene of crime, so as to link a suspect to victim,
to scene or to crime.
• Forensic scientists collect, preserve, and analyze the evidence such as knives,
blood stain, firearm, tyre mark, suicidal note etc. during the course of an
investigation. While some forensic scientists go to the scene of the crime to
collect the evidence themselves, others occupy a laboratory role, performing
analysis on objects brought to by other individuals. FSL has many divisions
which play important role in any investigation such as toxicology, lie detection,
fingerprinting etc. are very helpful to decide any case for justice.
 AIMS & OBJECTIVES
• To study about Forensic science laboratory, their functions, structure,
principles and techniques.

FUNCTIONS OF FSL
1. To examine evidence material.
2. To help the investigating officer for scientific guidance in crime detection.
3. To help the investigation officer to collect evidences by visiting scene of
crime.
4. To train the investigating officer for use of modern and sophisticated
techniques in crime detection.
STRUCTURE OF FSL
1. Toxicology section- it undertakes chemical analysis of viscera and body fluids or
suspicious articles. Forensic toxicology deals with medical and legal aspects of the harmful
effects of the chemicals on the human body.

2. Serology- undertakes blood groups estimation.

3. Biological- undertakes identification of body fluids, hair and plant material.

4. Molecular biology- DNA finger printing section.

5. Physical division-examination of physical evidence investigation.

6. Ballistic and explosive division - examination of firearms and explosive materials.

7. Finger printing division

8. Polygraphy division - lie detection

 STRUCTURE OF FSL cont ..
9. Narcoanalysis division - drugs and cocaine

10. Brain fingerprinting

11. Prohibition(Alcohol/narcotics analysis) division
12. Trace evidence division
13. Cyber forensics
14. Documents analysis division -Analysis of hand writing, type writing, forged
documents and currencies.
15.Photography Section
16. Forensic acoustic speaker Identification- consists of both aural and spectrograph ic
analysis of voice.
PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
• It is useful as it helps to decide whether a crime is committed
or to decide who has committed the crime.
• The evidences which are usually handled by the FSL such as
weapons, firearms, bullets, blunt things, blood, seminal stain,
saliva, hair, finger prints, clothes, foot print, documents etc.
which are very helpful to decide the crime.
EXAMPLES OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCES
1. In case of poisoning/ food poisoning
- Chemical analysis of viscera/ body fluids- to know nature of poison.
- Chemical analysis of food/ utensils/clothes etc.
above are corroborative evidence.
2. In assault & murder
- Examination of weapon/ object to detect crime
- Blood grouping from blood stains on victim hair in victim's hand, saliva
on cigarette butts-identity of assailant
- Clothes examination- identification
EXAMPLES OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCES
cont ...
3. In burn deaths
- Examination of clothes/ skin- for smell of kerosene or petrol
- Examination of metallic objects, teeth & bones-for identification of
charred body

4. In firearm injuries
- Examination of missile - to know the nature and type of firearm
- Examination of marking on missile - to know which gun was used in
firing

5. In hanging/ strangulation - Matching of ligature

EXAMPLES OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCES
cont ...
6. In drowning - Detection of diatoms in body tissues and water.

7. In sexual offences
- Examination of vaginal fluid, blood/ seminal stains- whether crime
committed.
- Examination of hair, epithelium, blood grouping- identity of accused
- Examination of clothes & site of offence

8. In Vehicular Accidents
- Blood grouping - for identification
- Tyre marks- to know the vehicle.
- Grease, mud, blood, tissues, glass pieces, hair paint etc. on vehicle-which
vehicle involved in accident.
- Examination of clothes- site, identity of accused.
EXAMPLES OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCES
cont ...
9. Identification
- It is possible from finger prints, foot prints, hair, blood semen, clothes,
bones, teeth and tissues.
10. Disputed paternity/identity
- Cases settled by examination of blood group sand DNA finger printing
11. Burglary
- Examination of paint, algae, vegetable matter glass fragments on his
tools, clothes or body
12. Forgery
- Examination of documents, paper ink, pencil and type writer
- Erasures/ alterations/ obliterations- under UV Rays Identification of
handwriting
ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES
1. Chromatography
• It is an important technique to separation, identification and purification
of a mixture.
• It is based on two different media stationary phase and mobile phase.
The speed at which each substance is carried along by the mobile phase
depends upon its solubility and its affinity for the sorbent.
• It is very helpful to detect poisons and chemicals.
• Thin layer chromatography Paper chromatography is used for the
separation of protein and in studies about protein synthesis.
• Gas chromatography is used for alcohol, ester, lipid and amino groups.
ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES cont ..
2. Electrophoresis
• It is a technique using separate mixture of ionic solutes by differences in
their rate of migration in an applied electric field.
• The electrically charged protein components move on the phase plate and
at the end, the plate is treated with coloring agent causes appearances of
visible characteristic bands specific for a particular protein.

3. Spectroscopy-
• There are a lot of spectroscopy methods which is based on various effects
of interactions between radiation and matter, among which vibrational
spectroscopy deserves special attention, these methods are widely used
forgathering structural information on biological systems investigations
such as this helps identification of the various forms of hemoglobin.
ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES cont ..
4. Spectrophotometry
• Colorimeter, U.V. and I.R spectrophotometry, mass spectrometry,
emission spectrophotometry, atomic absorption spectrophotometry these
are the various quantitative and qualitative analytical spectrophometer.

5. Neutron activation analysis

• It is an isotope specific analytical techniques for the qualitative and
quantitative measurement of chemical elements.
• In nuclear reactor, the trace element is irradiated with neutrons which
causes radioactive decay and in this process gamma rays are liberated,
which are measured and counted and itis adopted for measuring trace
metals in biological samples.
ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES cont ..
6. Microscope
• Comparison microscope, dark-field microscope, fluorescence microscope,
polarizing microscope, scanning electron microscope, X-ray microscope are to
magnify small objects that cannot be seen by the naked eye.
6. Lie Detection
a. Polygraph -
• It is based on principle that if a person is telling lie, and if there is fear that the lie will be
detected he emotional fear results in stimulation of sympathetic nervous system that
causes physiological changes and some of these changes can be recorded.
• Polygraphy process uses and record following parameters
• 1. Blood pressure
• 2.Pulse
• 3. Heart rate
• 4.Respiration
• 5. Sweating
• 6. Psychogalvanic reflex.

• Such phenomenon reflects emotional reactions which are use in detecting deception. It is
popularly known as lie detector. The tracing made is called as Polygram.
ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES cont ..
6. Lie Detection
b. Narcoanalysis
• Narcoanalysis is a procedure of investigation of mental content of a person done
after application of a light general anesthetic drugs.
• This investigative technique is based on the principle that at a point very close to
unconsciousness, the subject would be mentally incapable of resistance to
questioning, and incapable of inventing falsehood that he has used to conceal his
guilt. It involves administration of light anesthetic agents or drugs intravenously
• ► Drugs commonly used are
• 1. Thiopentone sodium (Sodium pentothal)
• 2. Scopolamine hydrobromide
• 3. Sodium secnol
• 4. Benzodiazepines
• Adverse effects of Thiopentone sodium include laryngospasm; shivering and
delirium may occur during recovery
• It can precipitate acute intermittent porphyria in susceptible individuals.
ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES cont ..
6. Lie Detection
c. Brain Mapping
• Brain fingerprinting determines if specific information is present in the brain of
criminal regarding the criminal act.
• It is like seeking fingerprints at the crime scene and thus the name brain
fingerprinting.
• Brain fingerprinting is an investigative technique to measure recognition of familiar
stimuli by measuring electrical brain wave response to words, phrases or pictures
that are presented on a computer screen.
• Brain fingerprinting technology is based on the principle that there are brain wave
responses.
• Brain fingerprinting measures brain waves functioning to detect awareness of
crime-relevant information in order to distinguish between guilt and innocent
suspects.
Tha nkyo u