Sindh Univ. Res. Jour. (Sci. Ser.) Vol.

44 (2) 251-254 (2012)

SINDH UNIVERSITY RESEARCH JOURNAL (SCIENCE SERIES)

Examining the Role of Forensic Science for the Investigative –Solution of Crimes

N.B. NAREJO, M.A. AVAIS*

Department of Criminology University of Sindh, Hyderabad
Corresponding author: N.B. NAREJO Email: Email: [email protected] Cell: No, 0305-3523543.
Received 11th July 2012and Revised 19th December 2012

Abstract: This study was conducted to examine the value of forensic science in criminal investigation. Forensic
science is a dynamic field of knowledge and skills which can be highly helpful and useful for criminal investigation.
Forensic science applies technical skills to detect, identify and prosecute offenders. The application and awareness of
forensic science is growing in Law Enforcement Agencies in Pakistan. The Police in Sindh province is a mix of the
human resource having different levels of education and exposure to training besides variant thinking patterns and
perceptions. The force with better education and training feel that forensic science is inevitable for successful criminal
investigation. The traditional thinking police is totally unaware about role of new technology in helping investigators.
The 81% of respondents were satisfied from police knowledge of forensic techniques. The 19% opined police has
poor forensic knowledge and skills. The future of forensic science in Sindh depends on overcoming the constraints
and strengthening the developmental factors. The constraints are orthodox attitudes, lack of implementation, lack of
funds, lack of training staff, equipment and laboratories. Forensic science-investigation is possible if police adopts
new professional culture, ethics of professionalism, scientific methods & tools, merit-based recruitment and
promotion, discoraging political interference, enhancing training inputs and establishing the forensic laboratories.
Keywords: Forensic science, Investigation, Sindh Police, Hyderabad

1. INTRODUCTION science can effectively help found missing persons,

The adjective forensic is derived from Latin establishing their true identities, relate and prosecute
word forum The early Romans used forum for variety through testimony who victimized whom through
of purposes like market, public discussion, business production of scientific evidence.
and commercial transactions. These forums played The hair and fibers found at the crime scene
their role of criticism, scrutiny and shaped civil law also provide meaningful leads in investigation. The
(Conner, 2007) It broadly includes the evidence
suspect’s identity, victim’s circumstances (like rape)
brought in the court of law to prosecute a suspect of
could be related by carefully examining the data. The
crime. Forensic science helps in solving crime by
fingerprints, footwear impressions and tool marks
involving witnesses, victims and the experts in the
could be collected technically. The casting kit and
court of law. Forensic science, 189 years old, helps to other related forensic science tools are used
integrate criminal investigators and scientists to (MacDonnell, 1983).The trace evidence may also
objectively analyze the evidence found on the crime
provide clues to further lead towards the suspect and
scene (Wright and Miller, 2005).
victim identification. There are biological fluids
(body fluids) which include blood, semen, urine,
Forensic science is very vast field in its vaginal secretions, saliva, feces and vomit (Lyman,
scope and application. It is known by several 2002).They provide the DNA. They are collected in
identities like Forensics, Forensic/medical
sterile container for laboratory analysis through a
jurisprudence, besides its other disciplinary inter-
scalpel (Redsicker, 1991).
linkages like Forensic Anthropology, Forensic
Archeology, Forensic Psychology, Criminalistics and The trace evidence consists of small
Forensic Hypnosis. The forensic science engages particles of matter and tiny fibers left at the crime
pathologists, biologists, physicists, chemists and scene. It must be recognized, documented, packaged
medical officers to solve queries of crime. Forensic and preserved. Human hair is usually the trace

*Secretary, Pakistan Society of Victimology and Justice Email: [email protected] Cell: 0300-6600723.
N.B. NAREJO, M.A. AVAIS 252

evidence encountered by forensic investigators. Its before the court (Redsicker, 1991). The Physical
examination and comparison serves many evidence confirms the commission of the crime,
investigative purposes. The blood splatter patterns are connecting the crime to the suspect and proving who
highly valuable evidence in violent crimes. They was victimized (Swanson, et al., 1998). The forensic
need to be adequately collected, preserved and science techniques help minimize the suspect number.
interpreted by forensic investigators. (Kubic and The matching of the information clues found on the
Petraco, 2005). crime scene and witness and victim interviews
narrows down criminal suspects and effectively
Forensic Odontology is sub-branch of
assists detecting the crime. The techniques like
forensic science dealing with dentistry and dentition.
psychological profiling, polygraph testing and hand-
This method and approach is used extracting human
writing expertise further assist investigators for
remains and examining the teeth. The bite marks left
identifying true suspects in crime. This ensures
on the victim body are matched with the suspect’s
predominance of justice over injustice as the victim is
teeth record. Forensic Archeology is the field dealing
quickly provided justice and no one is unduly/wrongly
with buried human and animal remains and artifacts.
punished for the crime he/she has not committed.
Anthropology is the study of humans and their
cultures. Forensic anthropology is the medicolegal Scope of the Study
study of human remains, especially human osteology The forensic science explains the identity
(Kubic and Petraco, 2005). (who) of the suspect who committed the crime. The
evidence clearly indicates the type (what) of the
The DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) has a
crime committed. The circumstances speak out about
shape of long spiral ladder. The DNA contains four
the time (when) of the incident. The forensic
nucleotides which are:
evidence proves the location of the offence
1. Thymine(T) (where/crime scene).The forensic investigation finds
2. Adenine (A) out the modus operandi (how) of the offender. Lastly,
3. Cytosine (C) it establishes the motive behind the crime. The
4. Guanine (G) forensic investigators reconstruct identity of the
offender and the victim. There can be primary,
The all human beings have unique DNA
secondary and tertiary crime scenes depending on the
which provides a unique pattern helpful to relate to
incident.
exact identity of the person (Adams, Julian 1990).
The technological advances, the forensic
The DNA matching proves someone’s
techniques and forensic laboratories are very
innocence or guilt. The DNA evidence is highly
significant factors/actors in solving crimes. The
useful in rape incidents, fire-related accidents/
applied role of areas of Natural and Physical sciences
disasters, paternity identity cases, and establishing is defined as forensic science. The forensic science
identities of missing persons or unidentified dead depicts a clear picture of the type of the crime,
bodies. This could be very helpful in criminal
motive underlying it and the person responsible for it.
investigation process if the data base are developed
The Forensic Science includes within its scope the
and properly utilized. The forensic experts inspect
disciplines like Criminology, Criminal Justice,
type of firearms used, their casings and bullets
Psychology, Chemistry, Anthropology, Biology,
connecting them to crime scene and suspect and Entomology, Engineering, Medicine (Pathology and
victim of the crime. The documents, signatures, Odontology), Physics and Geology as crime-solving
letters, diaries and books are examined by forensic
sciences.
team for handwriting matches to suspect and victim
(MacDonnell, 1983). The Y-Chromosome is typically Criminal Investigation is defined as
used in exploring the true contribution of biological “a lawful search for people and things useful
evidence. The controversy on father, and involvement in reconstructing an illegal act or omission and the
in rape could be successfully solved in this way. The mental state accompanying it. It is a probing from the
DNA matching focuses on base pair repletion known to the unknown, backward in time” (Weston
patterns. (Berghaus, 1991). and Lushbaugh, 2003).
The crime scene contains the proof who has The Criminalistics is the meeting point
committed the crime. The procedures are being between criminal investigation and forensic science.
followed by the criminal investigator like The criminalists engage scientific methods to
reconstruction of the crime scene, identity of the develop, examine, record and interpret the physical
suspect and valuable evidence which is presented evidence found on the location of crime. The types of
Examining the Role of Forensic Science… 253

evidence include physical evidence, biological of the subjects having varying nature of exposure
evidence, trace evidence, impression evidence, towards forensic science. There are police officers
documents, arson& explosive evidence, and drug and with normal education, with moderate education and
toxicological evidence (Wright and Miller, 2005). others with better opportunities and training
The investigator primarily determines exposures. The 40% respondents believed in positive
whether or not crime has been committed. The crime linkage and the determinism of criminal investigation
scene and evidence are protected. Besides, to locate and applied role of forensic science. This majority’s
victim and apprehend the offender are also important views in this way prove the growing realization of
tasks. The information is sought using it for testifying importance of the forensic science among Sindh
in court. Thus the suspect is prosecuted in court of Police. The 50% respondents opined that there is no
law (Osterburg and Ward, 2000).The initial success- related dependence of criminal investigation
investigation can categorize crime committed as on forensics. These were views of the traditional
organized and disorganized. The organized crime is police mindset that are poorly trained with low
well-planned that leaves little or no evidence. The educational backgrounds. The remaining 10 %
disorganized crime is ill-panned (Lyman, 2002). subjects also weakly supported that forensics may
The crime scenedocumented, using video, photography, help the investigators.
recording and sketching techniques by investigators.
Police Knowledge of Forensic science
Crime scene search patterns help in collection of The police investigators in Sindh are constrained
evidence on the crime scene. The ever-widening in terms of lack of forensic knowledge, expertise,
techniques start searching from center towards funds and national database. The role of forensic
outside the circle. The ever-narrowing style starts education and training is critically important for
from the outside and reaches the focal point (Weston police investigators and successful investigation
and Lushbaugh, 2003) (Riaz, 2008).
2. MATERIAL AND METHODS
This study is one of its first methodical efforts
to link significant role of Forensic science in
investigating crimes. The study was conducted on the
sample of one hundred (100) police officers in
Hyderabad. The respondents were from the level of
Constable up to Inspector. The subjects were selected
using random sampling technique. The study includes
primary and secondary data. The secondary data on
the topic was utilized which was conducted in
Karachi by Riaz, 2008, on Sindh Police.
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Forensic science and Investigation: The above figure
(a) provides the results of the questions asked from Fig. b. Source: Interviews of District Police Hyderabad (2009)
the subjects. The success of criminal investigation The 81% of the interviewees were satisfied
was linked to application of the forensic science. The with capability (knowledge and skills) of the police.
results are reflective of thinking This further reaffirms the positive belief in forensic
science –related investigation. The 19% of
Does Successful criminal investigation respondents were of the opinion that police are
depend on application of forensic poorly capable of the science. This relates to negative
science? experiences and past understanding of the subjects
To some regarding the police performance in the typical
Extent investigation cases.
10% Yes
40% Factors responsible for Inadequate Knowledge of the
No police
50% The education, training, funds and
establishment of forensic laboratories of could
enhance police investigators’ capabilities in solving
many simple and complex crimes (Riaz, 2008).
Fig. a. Source: District Police Hyderabad
 N.B. NAREJO, M.A. AVAIS 254

vital linkages providing pointers towards suspects

What are the reasons if you believe police is and victims of the crimes. The search patterns help in
not adequately developed in forensic
Lack of collecting the physical and other evidences. The DNA
science?
Forensic
Lack of
experts recover fingerprints through use of technical
Laboratories tools and kits. The shoeprints and tyre tracks provide
Lack of Police
9%
Trainers Interest
The police
hints towards criminal identity, type of vehicle,
9% 5% height and gait of the criminal. Forensic science helps
Lack ofculture
All of the Enforcement 9% investigators in investigating homicide ,rapes and
Above Lack 9%
of the accident-related incidents. Besides, unidentified
54% knowledge
5%
bodies, missing persons and fraud and forgery cases
are also solved (Platt, 2003)
Fig. c. Source: Interviews of District Police Hyderabad (2009) 5. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are highly indebted to Mr Zahid Riaz for
The 9% subjects point towards constraints
utilizing his research for our insights and guidance.
like lack of forensic laboratories in Sindh province,
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Fig. d. Source: Interviews of District Police Hyderabad (2009)
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