SCIENTIFIC FORENSICS AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH

It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly, one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. -- Sherlock Holmes Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “A Scandal in Bohemia”, 1891 Forensic science prevents the enemies of progress and human rights who seek to exploit the openness and opportunities of globalization for their unethical progress. It bells the cats at the gateway for justice delivery with scathing attacks on criminality by scientific experimentation so that criminals and perpetrators cannot escape liability on blatant excuse. With the advancement of science and technology the criminals have adopted new methods and techniques for committing offences, but science has also helped the investigating agencies in their efforts to nab the criminals or real culprits. The ways of interrogation of criminals by using third degree methods are now giving way to new scientific methods of investigation. Forensic evidence plays a prominent role in meeting the ends of justice. Aptly remarked “Culibet in sua arte perito est Crdendum” . The study of forensic science requires the knowledge of few scientific terms which are requisite to understand the very concept of the study and special field of research. In this chapter author present some concrete illustrations and definitions that introduce the main questions and the basic concepts that are involved in analyzing evidence. The purpose of presenting them at this stage is partly to stimulate interest and puzzlement and partly to encourage reader to start to think actively about some basic issues. It would not be the out of context here if the important scientific and general terms, concepts and connotations necessary to understand the concept of research are discussed at the very outset.