WHAT IS FORENSIC SCIENCE? Forensic Science is the application of science to law. Forensic Science uses sophisticated technology to uncover scientific evidence in a variety of fields.
WHAT IS A MEDICAL EXAMINER? A medical examiner is a physician specializing in forensic pathology, the study of structural and functional changes in the body as a result of injury. Training and qualifications include a medical degree and a residency in a medical examiner's office.
WHAT IS A FORENSIC SCIENTIST? A forensic scientist works in a laboratory and specializes in a specific area and helps the medical examiner determine manner of death. Some of the specialty areas of forensic science are pathology (the examination of body tissues and fluids), toxicology (the study of poisons, including drugs), odontology (the study of teeth), and ballistics (the study of firearms and bullets).
WHAT IS A FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGIST? The forensic anthropologist is trained to determine the sex, height, weight, and ethnic group of a deceased person from an incomplete body.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BASIC SERVICES A FULL SERVICE CRIME LABORATORY PROVIDES?
- PHYSICAL SCIENCE UNIT. This unit is staffed with criminalists who have the expertise to utilize chemical tests and modern instrumentation for the examination of items such as drugs, glass, paint, explosives, and soil.
- BIOLOGY UNIT. This unit is staffed with biologists and serologists whose job is the identification and typing of bloodstains and other body fluids.
- FIREARMS UNIT. This unit examines firearms, discharged bullets, shotgun shells, and any other type of ammunition.
- DOCUMENT EXAMINATION UNIT. Handwriting and typewriting on questioned documents are examined, along with the analysis of paper and ink.
- PHOTOGRAPHY UNIT. This unit is responsible for examining and recording physical evidence through infrared, ultraviolet, and X-ray photography.