What is Forensics?

Forensics is the study of connecting evidence from a crime scene to the committer of the crime. Scientists also use forensics to detect the time of the crime, where it was committed, and much more. Forensics has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember: I have watched every Criminal Mind, NCIS, and Forensic Files episode available. Today I’m here to share information on this passion of mine because forensics is not only a very interesting field, but it is something that everyone should know more about. Forensics can help solve the vast majority of crimes, from a run off the road to rape and even murder. Without forensics, it would be nearly impossible to catch criminals, and the world would be a real-life Purge.

Criminals may commit crimes like a run-off the road due to being bored or wanting to hurt something they are not fond of. Whatever their motive, forensics analysts can use the evidence to find the criminal, such as paint DNA left on the victim’s car to put a BOLO out for a certain make, model, and color car. This can be very helpful when it comes to finding the individual responsible. In cases of rape, the forensic analyst can use a rape kit that takes DNA off the victim’s body in order to try and match it to the guilty person. This can bring closure to families and can help allow the victim to better sleep at night knowing who committed the crime. In crimes such as murder, the analysis can use blood splatter, DNA, and even bugs to help determine the time and committer of the crime. Blood splatter can be used to see if the object used to commit the crime was sharp or blunt and even the gender of the committer: the further the blood splatters the stronger the perpetrator, which could help identify their gender. DNA can be used to help look at if the person has committed a crime before, because their DNA will be in CODIS, a DNA database, and they can connect this to that person. Bugs are super important too: they can determine the time of death by the amount of decay they have caused and they can also determine where the crime was committed because certain bugs are native to certain areas. You can get involved with forensics through working with the police station, being a forensic technician, or being a part of the FBI.

I know this information was brief, but I just wanted to share a small portion of my huge passion for forensic science that I have had for as long as I can remember. The topics I covered are sensitive, but they are real issues that you should be aware of. If you have any questions or are interested in doing so, I would be happy to talk more about forensics with you. Help share the understanding of the importance of forensic science and get involved today!

Sources:

• https://www.packetlabs.net/digital-forensics-myths/