Forensic Science Was Not Invented by Scientists

Students pursuing a forensic science degree may find it interesting to note that forensic science started in the police department and not in the science laboratories. However, it is in science laboratories that new methods of testing are developed. New methods in the area of fingerprint and fluid analysis are continuously being developed. Current progress in the field of DNA analysis has set a new scientific standard for accuracy.

Students of a forensic science need to be flexible, both artists and scientists, free thinkers and yet develop the technical know-how of mathematicians. Although this is a technical field, all facts must be taken into consideration and the accuracy of the tools used be consistent and precise. Skills that are developed in a forensic science degree include autopsy techniques, toxicology, chemical analysis, forensic anthropology, blood spatter analysis, DNA testing footprint or fingerprint analysis, foot-printing and modern computer or clay facial reconstruction.

Included in the study of forensic science is the study of Chromatography which  is a process of identifying and dividing complex mixtures in order for these future examiners of body fluids to correctly identify substances. Their results are life-changing and ought to be made with the highest standards of accuracy all of the time.

For instance, the first convicted criminal by DNA analysis in the United States was a rapist named Tommie Lee Andrews. However, the argument of what makes a satisfactory DNA match among forensic scientists at the time went on even during the process of his conviction. This indicated that the process involved in DNA identification was far from perfect. In the younger days of forensic science, improvement in the processes involved needed to be attained.

What resulted from this uncertainty was a developed DNA process that is so accurate and currently, so widely accepted and measurable. However, no matter how many breakthroughs are achieved in this particular area, it is important for students to note that less than ten percent of United States crime cases require DNA testing.

One such case was that of twenty-three year old Steven Barnes, convicted of raping a sixteen-year old. He was certain his name would be cleared by investigators due to his innocence and the fact that he had no prior criminal record twenty years ago. However, the forensic science department concluded that the two hairs found in his pickup truck was exactly like the victim's hair under the microscope. This resulted in a sentencing of twenty-five years in prison. It was only last year that he was cleared by new breakthroughs of  DNA analysis and released.

Forensic science degree techniques, tools and processes are becoming more and more improved with the discovery of rapidly advancing techniques. For instance an expert who recognizes patterns named Sargur Srihari is currently developing new software which quantifies not the fingerprint matches but the certainty of how accurately the fingerprint matched. Furthermore, a development of a database of miniscule microscopic tool-marks are assigned statistical significance to in order to identify any type of tool used by modern thieves.