Criminalistics, Forensics, And Law: Uniting Science And Justice

Ojaswi Vindhyachalam, Faculty of Law, Banaras Hindu University

Introduction

The Emergence and Need of Criminalistics

Over the past few decades, the amalgamation of technology into criminal investigations has marked a significant advancement in the field of criminal justice. Law enforcement agencies now rely on scientific methods and tools to uncover and analyse evidence related to crimes, reconstruction of crime scenes, identification of potential suspects, and to establish crucial connections. The legal system places great importance on this physical evidence, which is often considered highly reliable, to accurately determine a defendant's innocence or guilt. In many ways, the efficiency and effectiveness of the criminal justice system becomes closely linked to the degree to which technological tools are employed in the process of crime investigation.

Criminalistics is a field primarily associated with forensic science, so it is defined and understood in a similar way by scientists and lawyers from both scientific and legal viewpoints. Criminalistics, from a scientific perspective, is the application of various scientific principles and techniques to investigate, analyze, and interpret physical evidence related to criminal cases. It involves the systematic collection, preservation, and examination of evidence found at crime scenes or in connection with any such activities. The goal of criminalistics is to provide objective, accurate, and reliable scientific evidence that can be used in criminal investigations and legal proceedings to establish facts and identify perpetrators. Whereas in the legal context, criminalistics refers to the use of scientific methods and expertise to present evidence in a court of law. It encompasses the collection, analysis, and presentation of physical evidence that is admissible in court to establish facts relevant to a criminal case. Lawyers often rely on the work of criminalists to help build their cases or defend their clients. This includes the testimony of expert witnesses who are trained in criminalistics and can explain the significance of the evidence to judges and juries. While the scientific and legal perspectives on criminalistics may differ in their emphasis and objectives, they both acknowledge the crucial role of forensic science in investigating and prosecuting criminal cases.