Introduction
The criminal justice system relies heavily on crime laboratories represented by forensic science. It is an important scientific field that cooperates with crime detectives, police, and crime scene investigators. Aside from examining various items found on the crime scenes or at a suspect’s disposal, forensic science also commences laboratory and workshop tests in order to legitimize certain statements in the court. For example, whether a pistol’s gunshot can reach certain distances or if a car is capable of breaking certain materials when encountered at high speeds. Consequently, such a profession embodies different spheres of knowledge and needs to be analyzed to have a clear view of what it represents.
Main body
Forensic scientists study and analyze evidence from crime scenes and other locations to produce objective results that can aid in the investigation and prosecution of criminals or exonerate an innocent person. Forensic molecular biology servers DNA-related issues, forensic chemistry, trace evidence examination – all of these directions are coherent when investigating small objects and testing different theories of criminalists (Bell, 2019). Examples of such objects would be glass and paints, hairs and polymers, soils, latent fingerprint examination, firearms, and tool marks examination (Bell, 2019). Moreover, handwriting analysis, fire and explosives examinations, forensic toxicology, and digital evidence are all common forensic science laboratory disciplines regarding different liquids and chemical materials (Bell, 2019). Forensic pathology, forensic nursing, forensic psychiatry, forensic entomology, and forensic engineering are some of the forensic fields practiced outside of forensic laboratories usually involve interrogations, though they are still considered part of the laboratory’s workflow (Bell, 2019). Medical examiners and coroners’ offices, institutions, and private clinics are familiar places to find practitioners of these professions. Consequently, different directions of forensic science require collective efforts of scientists from a wide specter of academic disciplines.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the presented analysis shows that crime laboratories involve various activities which analyze crime scenes, objects, and people from different points of view. Whether it is a chemical inspection or a testing ground for a weapon – the aim is to test claims and theories of both the suspects and the police. Thus, it is the leading institution that helps the justice system evolve as far as scientific methods and technologies become more efficient.
Reference
Bell, S. (2019). Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques, Fifth Edition (5th ed.). CRC Press.