The document discusses various fields of forensic science that can assist forensic scientists in criminal investigations and court cases. It describes forensic pathology, toxicology, psychology, anthropology, archeology, entomology, odontology, serology, microanalysis and how each area can provide valuable evidence about the victim, cause of death, timeline of events, or help identify suspects. It emphasizes that forensic scientists rely on expertise from these different areas to strengthen criminal cases and make convictions.

1. Tiffany Bailey
Maxwell
Brit Lit
2 November 2011
Forensic Science
Forensic science is the use of science in public, in a court, or in the justice system
(McDowell). The job of the forensic scientist is to take physical evidence from a crime, and use
it to support or disprove a fact in court. It is becoming harder and harder for forensic scientists
to come up with evidence that would be valid in court to prosecute someone of a crime. The
court system has made it extremely difficult to convict criminals without DNA evidence to link
them to that particular crime. In certain cases, forensic scientists not only rely on themselves,
but also on other experts to identify bodies, find out how long the body has been there, and tell
the story of the crime.
In cases where the cause of death is violent, unusual, or untimely, a forensic scientist
will use the help of an expert in forensic pathology. During an autopsy, the medical history of
the individual may also be reviewed to help determine if the death was natural, accidental or
criminal (Forensic Pathology). At the time of the autopsy a forensic pathologist can find
evidence such as a bullet to determine that the death was due to a crime. A forensic pathologist
may be appointed as a Medical Examiner by a legal jurisdiction such as a city, county or state
(ADEA). For example, a female was found dead in her house with the back door wide open. The
pathologist reviewed the container where her biopsies were kept and noticed a reddish color to
her tissue. The scientist constructed a carbon monoxide test and the results showed deadly

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levels of carbon monoxide in her body. The home inspection report revealed that her vented
gas heater was not applied at the proper height therefore causing a breeze blowing in a down
draft was the cause of death (the effective truth). Over all, forensic pathologist plays a very
important role in aiding the forensic scientist by giving them an idea of the cause of death.
Forensic toxicology is the study of toxins found in the blood that can harm or kill
someone. Poison can enter the body through ingestion, injection or absorbed through the skin.
The level of toxicity depends on four factors: age, weight, amount found in the body, and the
condition of health of the person who was toxicated (Forensic Toxicology). Toxicology is useful
in cases where the victim was intoxicated with something harmful to their body. It can also tell
a scientist whether the victim was doing drugs or was intoxicated with alcohol at their time of
death. Forensic toxicology can help the forensic scientist in cases that involve drugs, alcohol, or
any other toxin.
Forensic psychology is the use of the study of psychology in the justice system, such as
making the critical decision whether the defendant is sane or insane. The forensic psychologist
is responsible for treating the mentally ill, negotiating with prosecutors, and investigating a
criminal’s mind and intent (Forensic Psychology). This study is more useful in court where a
suspect sanity is questioned. The forensic psychologist is called upon to make that decision in
court based on their level of expertise. Most cases where sanity is questioned the court will
bring in more than one forensic psychologist expert and compare the conclusions and base the

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verdict on the forensic psychologists’ testimony. The forensic psychologist can provide a vital
piece of evidence in the prosecution of criminals in cases where sanity is questioned.
Forensic anthropology is the use anthropology to identify the body or body parts and to
support the details of the crime. They mostly focus on the skeleton of the human body. They
also can find out the age, sex, ancestry, stature, and unique features of a decedent from the
skeleton (ABFA). Forensic anthropology is useful in cases where the body is found already
decayed. By looking at the hips and structure of the bones you can conclude whether the body
is male or female. In cases where the human remains are unidentified, severely decomposed,
or are skeletal remains, the forensic anthropologist is an asset in determining the details of the
crime.
Forensic archeologist study the environment of the crime after the body has began to
decompose into the soil. In a wet climate, the flesh is removed from the bone within eighteen
days. In a hot and dry climate, the flesh can remain on the bone for up to one year (Forensic
Archeologist). Forensic archeology can help give you the details of a crime and also set up your
crime scene. This can give the forensic scientist an idea of how the body has been deceased
and lying in that environment.
Forensic entomology is the study of larva and insects that are found in, on, or around
the body which is beneficial for knowing about how long the body has been there and how long
the body has been dead.(Forensics Entomology). It can also be used to preserve substances in
the victim’s digestive tract which can tell the scientist the time frame of the death and what

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exactly was found in their digestive tract that is not meant for human consumption. Forensic
entomology can be used in a case where a decomposing body is found and the forensic scientist
has to use this study to tell how long the body has been there and how long it has been dead.
Entomology is very helpful in giving the forensic scientist a timeline of the death.
Forensic odontology is the study of teeth and bite marks. Forensic odonology can be a
very important part of a case where the victim had been severely burned and the only ways to
identify the body is by taking a sample of the teeth and compare them to dental records. The
second way odontology can be used is by examining a bite mark on either the suspect or victim
and linking them together. Forensic odontology can be useful in a crime where the victim is
severely burned and you need to identify the body. It can also help link someone to a case if
there are bite marks found on either the victim or the suspect. Odontology can be important in
both identifying the body and convicting a suspect.
Forensic serology can be used to determine types and characteristics of blood, blood
testing, bloodstain examination. Forensic serologist not only studies blood, but they analyze
saliva and other bodily fluids essential for DNA typing. Forensic serology can tell the story of the
cause of death, where the suspect was standing, whether the suspect was right or left handed,
and what kind of weapon was involved. Forensic serology would be used in a case where blood
is used to recreate the crime. The blood found at a crime scene can give you a suspect or can
help identify your victim, depending on whose blood was found. Using the study of blood you
can tell whether the suspect you are looking for was right handed or left handed depending on

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the entry of the wound. You can also tell where and how close the suspect was standing by
disruptions in the blood pattern. You can also tell if the weapon was a gun or knife by the entry
wound as well. Blood is the most common, well known and perhaps the most important piece
of evidence in the world of criminal justice (Forensic Serology).
Forensic microanalysis is just the study of trace evidence, which is any small piece of
evidence that can be used to link a suspect to a crime: hair, skin, blood and fingerprints.
Microanalysis is sufficient to proving all suspects who were present at the time and place of the
crime (Forensic Microanalysis). Fingerprints can give you a possible suspect and can link
someone to the crime scene. Skin under the victim’s nails can show signs of struggle and can
match up to the skin of the suspect. This is very important to the forensic scientist, because it
gives them a list of possible suspects and witnesses.
Each field of forensic expertise can be effective in recreating the crime and convicting
criminals for their crime. By working together it strengthens their case and allows them to be
successful in the justice system. It is very important that the forensic scientist has these other
experts to go to so that a conviction can be made as soon as possible and they have as much
evidence as they can possibly get to make a case against the suspect. It difficult cases where
extra knowledge is needed forensic scientist look for these people to help them with evidence
that is not familiar to them. Having these different varieties of science is really beneficial to law
enforcement, even though it may not seem like you will have to use these different expertise in
a crime. You never know what kind of case you will be dealing with so it is great to have these

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different experts to turn to in situations where you have no knowledge in that particular study.
Being a forensic scientist can be a tough career, but with the help of other experts it can make
their job easier and more effective.

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