An overview of forensic science

In the last 20 years, we have seen an explosion in the interest in forensic science. Simply put, forensics is the application of science to legal matters. The actual practice of forensics is to take physical and digital evidence through a process of analysis and present scientific findings in a court of law. Despite its depiction within popular media, forensic science is a detailed and exacting process, which requires well-thought-out processes and procedures, technology, and experience.

Forensic science has become integral to a wide range of disciplines, even outside the purview of criminal justice. Air crash investigators use forensic techniques to investigate aircraft failures, for example. Accounts use very similar principles and techniques when conducting investigations into suspected fraud and money laundering schemes. Even the art world, known for historic fakes, employs forensic techniques to verify the authenticity of works of art.

The...