The forensic professionals' working in a crime lab, or crime laboratory have a very important responsibility: interpreting physical evidence correctly can make the difference between bringing a criminal to justice and that criminal going free. The opposite is also true, correctly interpreting evidence can help prevent an innocent person from being wrongly convicted. The specialists use an ever widening variety of science everyday including: biology, chemistry, physics and computer science might all be used to analyse just one piece of evidence.
forensic science steps FOR YOUR INFORMATION
OBSERVATION
Carefully examine the evidence at the crime scene and make a crime scene report. Identify and document all evidence.
PREDICTIONS
Based on the information and evidence observation, make a prediction/hypothesis on what the evidence is and what it might represent.
EXPERIMENTATION
Perform tests needed to prove prediction.
DATA COLLECTION
Record everything that happens during the entire investigation and complete the required feedback blocks seen at the bottom of some pages.
DRAWING CONCLUSIONS
Examine and discuss the test results to see if your prediction was correct.
Carefully examine the evidence at the crime scene and make a crime scene report. Identify and document all evidence.
PREDICTIONS
Based on the information and evidence observation, make a prediction/hypothesis on what the evidence is and what it might represent.
EXPERIMENTATION
Perform tests needed to prove prediction.
DATA COLLECTION
Record everything that happens during the entire investigation and complete the required feedback blocks seen at the bottom of some pages.
DRAWING CONCLUSIONS
Examine and discuss the test results to see if your prediction was correct.
forensic science officers piece together crimes
MEET THE TEAM
Forensic scientists examine evidence found at the scene of a crime such as soil, finger prints, fibers, liquids, stray hair, speck of blood, DNA, broken items, bullet shells, plants, foot prints, documents, paint samples, accelerants, weapons, foot prints and anything else they think may be significant.
A forensic scientist is not as multi skilled as TV shows lead us to believe - they cannot and do not examine all forms of evidence themselves. They specialise in one particular area, or discipline, and there are even sub-specialties within each of these areas. Forensic scientists are so specialised they most often work as part of a team. Cases are usually prosecuted using several different types of evidence.
The collection and examination of evidence is vital to the successful prosecution of a case, and having people who are experts in their field is crucial.
Forensic scientists examine evidence found at the scene of a crime such as soil, finger prints, fibers, liquids, stray hair, speck of blood, DNA, broken items, bullet shells, plants, foot prints, documents, paint samples, accelerants, weapons, foot prints and anything else they think may be significant.
A forensic scientist is not as multi skilled as TV shows lead us to believe - they cannot and do not examine all forms of evidence themselves. They specialise in one particular area, or discipline, and there are even sub-specialties within each of these areas. Forensic scientists are so specialised they most often work as part of a team. Cases are usually prosecuted using several different types of evidence.
The collection and examination of evidence is vital to the successful prosecution of a case, and having people who are experts in their field is crucial.
CSI : Crime scene investigation for students
Find out more about Forensic Investigation and the Specialists who help solve crimes. Look through the labs. Find out the names of the equipment used.
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Ballistic Expert
Meteorologist |
Toxicologist
Serologist |
Odontologist
Musicologist |
Entomologist
Psychiatrist |
Pathologist
Palynologist |
who does what?
- Use your research skills to find out what forensic experts specialise in! Begin by reading the titles above and making assumption on what you think they might do, based on the name, or a part of the name that you recognise.
- Write down your predictions on each specialty and submit it using the form at the bottom of this page.
- Once you have submitted your predictions, use the internet to see how accurate you were.
- Submit each of your own definitions of the forensic specialists and a job description separately using the Prediction Form below.
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3. Now that you have submitted your predictions, use the internet to see how accurate you were.
4. Next submit each of your own definitions of each Forensic Specialist including a job description using the Form at the bottom of the page.
You may want to write down your research on paper before submitting your answers.
4. Next submit each of your own definitions of each Forensic Specialist including a job description using the Form at the bottom of the page.
You may want to write down your research on paper before submitting your answers.