History of Forensic Science

Definition of Forensic Science . 1)Application of natural sciences to the matters of law. In practice forensic science draws upon Physics ,Chemistry ,Biology &other scientific principles &methods . It is concerned with recognition ,identification ,individualization and evaluation of physical evidence &forensic scientist present their findings as expert witness in the court of law. 2)Forensic means pertaining to law ,forensic science resolves legal issues by applying scientific principles to them.

Is application of the methods & techniques of basic sciences to legal issues. Forensic scientist /criminalist work with physical evidence collected at the scene of crime. It is scientific analysis & documentation of evidence suitable for legal proceeding , forensic scientist determine scientific facts from evidence they evaluate &may testify as expert witness in civil or criminal court or other legal proceeding's. Forensic science is the application of scientific knowledge & techniques to criminal investigation in order to obtain the evidence needed to solve crime .The evidence collected can then be used in court proceeding to help prove a suspect either guilty or innocent The forensic scientist who collect & analyze evidence may also serve as an witness during court proceedings.

The use of science in solving crimes was first popularized by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle whose fictional hero Sherlock Holmes used science ,keen observation & superb logic in conducting his investigation. 44 B.C-JuliUs Ceaser murder case the physician treating him found that out of 23 wounds in his body only one was fatal. 5th century-Germanic &Slavic society were first to put down in statute that medical expert should be employed to determine cause of death. Year 250 –In Greece Erasistrous found that pulse rate increase forensics when a person lies the present day lie Detection. 1247-First text book on forensic medicine published in China which among other things documents the procedure to be followed when the death is suspicious.

1813 –Mathieu Joseph published treatise on poison &general toxicology. 1820 –Czech physiologist Johann Purkinge studied unique nature of fingerprints but did not use them to solve crime. 1830 –James Marsh developed test that allowed chemist to identify Arsenic poison. 1840 –In France Mathieu Orfila father of toxicology applied Marsh test to determine arsenic poison in case of poisoning by Marie Lafarge to her husband Charles Lafarge.

1848 –Police in Birmingham ,England began using newly developed technique of Photography to keep records of criminals. 1850 -William Herschel working in India applied inked imprints of the fingers of illiterate natives to legal documents in order to prevent frauds. 1865 –Abraham Lincoln established U.S secret service in order to combat the growth of counterfeiting & Alfred Taylor published principle & practice of medical jurisprudence first comprehensive document in Forensic medicine in English language. 1883 –In France Alphonse Bertillon started Anthropometry as a result Police employed measurement of parts of human body to identify suspect &photography. 1889- Alexandre Lacassagne identified a corpse using bones &dental comparison ,he was first to recognize that grooves can be used to identify the guns that fired it. Calvin Goddard a U.S army colonel developed ballistics techniques to identify Firearm.

1892 –In England Sir Francis Galton classified fingerprints eight categories Arch ,Loop , Worlwhich is still used today .Edward R .Henary of Argentina in 1896 become first nation to adopt fingerprint identification. 1901 –Karl Landsteiner discovered that humans have two kinds of blood antigens. 1910 –Edmond Locard of France founder of principle of exchange that every contact leaves a trace ,established first Forensic Laboratory in Lyon ,France. 1920 –In U.S.A comparison Microscope invented to compare cartridges cases & bullets .Luke May of USA was first to study tool marks.

1925 –Sir Sydeny Smith published text book on Forensic Medicine. 1931 –Franz Holzer of Austria discovered ABO blood types. 1938 –New York medical examiner Thomas Gonzalis established first Serological laboratory under Alexander Ween to study blood & blood stains. 1950 –Max Sulzer used tape to lift trace elements. 1974 –USA scientist examined Gun shot residues using scanning electron microscope 1984 –Sir Alec John Jeffrey of England invented DNA finger printing.

History Of forensic Science In India In India scientific institutions aiding crime detection came close on the wheels of it in western countries . Chemical examiner laboratories set up by British in Madras ,Calcutta ,Bombay &Agra in the second half of 19th century . These chemical laboratories took general chemical examination & toxicological work. The first Fingerprint Bureau of the world was established in 1897 in Calcutta in 1897. In consequent to Police commission report in1902 recommending CID units in state . By 1910 most of the states established Finger print Bureaus.

The government of India established Government examiner of questioned documents at Shimla in 1906. Serologist and Chemical examiner to government of India at Calcutta in 1910.’ Scientific sections were created under the state CID to carry out the limited &rudimentary scientific examination of firearms , footprints, Photography etc. these created very less impact on criminal justice system. First state forensic Science laboratory at Calcutta in 1952 by merging it with already existing chemical laboratories.

Central Fingerprint Bureau in1955 &Central Forensic Science laboratory in 1957 ,both in Calcutta, These functioned under Central forensic Institutes set up by Intelligence Bureau ,Since 1974 administrative control has been transferred to Bureau of police research and development. This lead to establishment of laboratories in the state capitals.