Forensic science- deals with the application of scientific facts to legal problems and the judicial process,

likewise means the analysis of information suitable for use in a court of law.

Comes from Latin word “forensic” means forum.

Aspect of forensic science involves;

1. The careful and proper collection, documentation and evaluation of evidence;

2. The chain of custody or the written documentation of all the stages of transfer of evidence from
the crime scene to the laboratory and the court;
3. The admissibility of test, evidence and testimony, based on legal standards; and
4. The opinion of an expert witness regarding issues that relate to specific forensic science fields
such as forensic ballistics, questioned documents, fingerprint examination, polygraphy and legal
medicine.

3 types of forensic science

1. Field (collecting the evidence)

2. Laboratory and
3. Medical (analyzing the evidence)

Why is forensic science plays a role in criminal and civil law?

Forensic science plays a role in criminal and civil law. Forensic scientist help determine cause of death,
identify perpetrators of crimes, identify body remains, track the electronic transfer of money,
investigate internet fraud and identify theft, and reconstruct vehicular accidents.

2 times of Forensic evidence

1. Testimonial- statement or spoken word from the victim or witness; and

2. Physical- also referred to as real evidence, consists of tangible articles such as hair, fibers, latent
prints and biological material.

The field of legal medicine is typically associated with the death and autopsies, but it also applies in the
ther legal processes, such as determining whether a violent crime is a homicide, suicide or accident.
Practitioners are sometimes referred to as forensic pathologist or forensic physicians.

Forensic medicine- is a branch of medicine that coverts both the fields of forensic pathology and clinical
forensic medicine.

Forensic pathology- involves in investigation of unnatural unexpected, or violent death

Clinical forensic medicine- involves an interaction between the living person, medicine and legal
processes.

FORENSIC PATHOLOGY- The word pathology literally means “the study of disease.” Pathologist is a
physicians who determines a patient diagnosis from an examination of tissue sample or cells under the
microscope.
Role of Forensic Pathologist;

1. Autopsy Examination; Forensic pathologist perform autopsies to examine the body externally
and internally to determine the cause, manner and mechanism of death. This involves detailed
examination of organs, tissues and fluids.
2. Evidence Collection; They collect evidence from the body such as trace evidence, injuries and
biological samples, to aid the investigation and legal proceedings.
3. Documentation; Forensic pathologist meticulously document their findings including
photographs diagram, and written reports which serve as crucial evidence in legal proceedings.

Key Concepts in Forensic Pathology

1. Cause of death; refers to the injury or disease that directly leads to death.
2. Manner of death; This categorizes the circumstances surrounding how the cause of death
occurred. (homicide, suicide, accidental, natural)
3. Mechanism of death; describes the physiological derangement that result in death, such as
hemorrhage, asphyxia, or organ failure.
4. Post- mortem Changes; must understand how the body decomposes and undergoes changes
after death, including rigor mortis (stiffening of the muscle after death (2-6 hours after death) ),
livor mortis (purple or reddish discoloration of the skin occurs first few hours after death) and
algor mortis (postmortem cooling of the body after death)

Clinical Forensic Medicine; is a specialized branch of medicine that focuses on the intersection of
medicine and law, particularly in the context of providing medical expertise and evidence in legal and
judicial proceedings.

Wide range of activities such as:

1. Clinical Examination; Clinical forensic physicians conduct examination of indiviuals who have
been involved in a criminal activities, or who sustained injuries related to legal matters. These
examination may involve assessing injuries, collecting medical evidence and documentation
findings.
2. Sexual assault Forensic Examination; Clinical FP play a crucial role in the examination and
documentation of individuals who have been sexually assaulted. They provide medical care,
collect forensic evidence, and document injuries in a sensitive and thorough manner to support
legal proceedings.

Additional role of a forensic Physician

1. Provide expert opinion in court and tribunals

2. Certify death in custody of investigation
3. Serve as part of pressure group and independent investigators in ethical and moral issues.
4. Administer medicine to refugees (medicine and forensic issue)

Forensic Toxicology; is a forensic science discipline that deals with the identification and quantification
drugs, poisons and other toxic substances in the body tissues and fluids. (by blood, urine, spinal fluids,
gastric contents, bile and tissues)
The work of a forensic toxicology primarily focuses on the following three concerns;

1. Whether a substance could cause death or harm the body

2. Whether a substance could alter behavior or impair judgment; and
3. Whether a substance could have a legitimate reason for being present in human body.

Mathieu Joseph Bonaventure Orfila- (1787-1853) the father of forensic toxicology. (made studies of
asphyxiation, decomposition of bodies and exhumation.

Forensic anthropology is a field of study that applies principles of physical of physical anthropology and
human skeletal biology to assist in the identification of human remains, particularly in legal context such
as criminal investigations or mass disaster.

they analyzed skeletal To determine the age, sex, ancestry, stature and any signs of trauma or disease
present.

Thomas Dwigth (father of forensic anthropology)-

Frances Glessner Lee (mother of forensic anthropology)

Age Estimation: Bone development and fusion patterns can help estimate an
individual's age. For example, the fusion of growth plates (epiphyses) in long
bones can indicate the completion of skeletal growth.
Dental development and eruption patterns can provide additional age
indicators, especially in younger individuals.
Sex Determination: Differences in the size, shape, and robustness of certain
skeletal elements can help determine sex. Pelvic bones, such as the pelvis and
sacrum, are often the most sexually dimorphic skeletal elements, with features
that reflect differences in childbirth. The skull also exhibits sexually dimorphic
characteristics, such as the size and shape of the brow ridges, mastoid
processes, and chin.
Ancestry Estimation: Ancestry can be inferred from skeletal features that are
characteristic of specific populations or geographic regions. Cranial morphology,
including skull shape, nasal aperture size and shape, and dental characteristics,
can provide clues to ancestry. Postcranial skeletal elements, such as long bone
proportions and pelvic morphology, may also exhibit ancestry-related traits.
Stature Estimation: Stature estimation involves predicting an individual's height
based on skeletal measurements. Various bones, such as long bones (femur,
tibia, humerus), vertebrae, and the skull, can be used to estimate stature.
Statistical regression equations are often used to correlate skeletal
measurements with height, taking into account factors like sex and ancestry.
Trauma and Pathology Analysis: Skeletal trauma analysis involves identifying
injuries, fractures, or signs of healing on bones, which can provide information
about the cause and timing of trauma. Pathological