1. Define and discuss in your own understanding the ff. in not less than 200 words each.

a) FORENSIC SCIENCE - Forensic science it is refers to the application of different sciencs to

system of law or administration of justice. It is the application of science to answer questions

of interest to a legal system. It is also the use of scientific procedure or expertise to look into

crimes or examine evidence that might be presented in a court of justice. Forensic science is

the scientific analysis and documentation of evidence acceptable for legal proceedings. In

practice, forensic science draws upon physics, chemistry, biology, and other scientific rules

and procedures. Forensic science is concerned with the acknowledgement, identification,

individualization, and evaluation of physical evidence. Forensic scientists present their

findings as expert witnesses in the court of law. As you can visualize Forensic Science is a

very broad field of study. Crime Laboratory Scientists, sometimes called Forensic Scientists

or, more properly, Criminalists, work with physical evidence collected at scenes of crimes.

Forensic science it is also refers to the study and application of science to the matters of law.

It is the use of science to criminal and civil laws, during criminal observation, as governed

by the legal standards of admissible evidence and criminal procedure. Study of evidence find

at a crime scene and used in a legal proceeding. The results of forensic science can be crucial

in helping to find or locate a perpetrator and to solve a case against innocent person.

b) CRIMINALISTICS - Criminalistics is a field of forensic investigation that focuses on

individualization and pattern matching. It involves the application of various scientific

methods and techniques to solve crimes and provide evidence in legal proceedings.

Criminalistics also typically includes physical evidence that is not directly studied by another

field of forensic sciences. The main objective of criminalistics is to apply the principles of

sciences to the examination of evidence in order to help the justice system determine that a

crime has been committed, to identify its victims and perpetrators. Criminalistics uses other
1|Page
 scientific disciplines to examine physical evidence. Among these are chemistry, biology,

physics, and mathematics. People performing criminalistics are referred to as criminalists.

The field is diverse, encompassing several specialized areas, each with its own techniques

and methods. The information that criminalistics provides is crucial in solving crimes and

achieving justice, making it a critical part of our criminal justice. The works of criminalists is

for conducting crime investigations and studying crime scenes. Nowadays criminalistics is

very useful field of forensic investigation specially when it comes to crime incidents. In

conclusion criminalistics helping law enforcement agencies and the justice system

understand and interpret the evidence that is essential for solving a crimes and determining

guilt or innocence of a person's.

c) IMPORTANCE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE IN CRIMINAL AND CIVIL CASES - The

importance of forensic science in criminal and civil cases the way of identifying the facts

surrounding a case by providing reliable evidence. This can include analyzing, fingerprints,

ballistics, toxicology, and other forms of physical evidence to determine what happened and

who was involved. In criminal cases, forensic science can help absolve wrongly accused

individuals by providing evidence that supports their innocence. forensic evidence can link

individuals to a crime scene, weapon, or victim, helping to identify perpetrators and bring

them to justice. This evidence can be critical in securing convictions and ensuring that the

guilty are held accountable for their actions. In civil cases, such as those involving personal

injury, medical malpractice, or property disputes, forensic science can provide objective

evidence to help resolve dispute. Forensic scientists often serve as expert witnesses in court.

Their testimony can help clarify a problem and assist in making informed decisions about a

criminal cases. By providing an objective, scientific basis for legal decisions, forensic

2|Page
science helps enhance public trust in the justice system. When people see that evidence is

being analyzed using a factual method, they are more likely to have confidence in the

outcomes of criminal and civil cases. In conclusion forensic science is important in both in

criminal and civil cases because it provides an empirical basis for understanding what

occurred, identifying responsible parties, and ensuring that justice is served.

2. Give branches of criminalistics and provide it's definitions.

1. Personal Identification

Referred to as Dactyloscopy, is the process of comparing questioned and known friction skin

ridge impressions from fingers, palms, and toes to determine if the impressions are from the

dame finger.

2. Police Photography

A technique of producing permanent images on sensitized surfaces by means of the

photochemical action of light or other forms of radiant energy, photography plays important

roles as an information medium, as a tool in science and technology, and as an art form, and

it is also popular hobby.

3. Forensic Ballistics

3|Page
The science of firearms identification by means of the ammunition fired through them. The

study of the motion or movement of the projectile or bullet passing through the barrel of the

firearm.

4. Questioned Documents

Refer to any document which is under scrutiny or to which an issue has been raised.

Documents denote any material that contains marks, signs or symbols, whether visible,

partially visible or invisible that may convey a meaning or message to someone.

5. Polygraphy

Refers to the scientific method of detecting deception accomplished with the help if an

instrument capable of recording simultaneously changes in pulse rate, blood pressure,

respiration and skin resistance which indicates disturbances usually emotional of a lying

subject when being questioned.

6. Forensic Medicine

Branch of medicine which deals and applies the medical science to legal cases. It is then a

science which concerns the court.

7. Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology

4|Page
Defines as the branch of chemistry which deals with the application of chemical principles in

the solution of problems which arise in connection with the administration of justice.

3. Give at least 50 branches/subdivisions of forensic science and provide it's definitions.

1. Computational Forensics

Computer forensics is concerned with the development of various branches of forensics and

solving their problems using computational methods.

2. Criminalistics

Study of physical evidence to extract information using scientific means and link them to a

crime scene.

3. Digital Forensics

The application of the techniques of computer science and digital technology or any

electronic forms of evidence that may be used in the civil and criminal court of law.

4. Environmental Forensics

Study of environmental data and information using scientific measures involved in civil and

criminal proceedings.

5|Page
5. Food Forensics

Food forensics is a specialized field to determine and inspect the food safety and quality

issues that are commenced by food authorities.

6. Forensic Accounting

Forensic Accounting is defined as the use of accounting or business skills to evaluate

questioned financial and accounting activities involved in civil and criminal proceedings.

7. Forensic Anthropology

Forensic anthropology is defined as the identification and examination of human skeletal

remains.

8. Forensic Archaeology

Forensic archaeology is defined as searching and recovering archeological evidence (buried

long ago) for the means of solving criminal and civil cases.

9. Forensic Art

6|Page
Forensic art employs scientific techniques for the application of drawing, sculpture, and

other visual tools to forensic casework.

10. Forensic Astronomy

Forensic Astronomy employs astronomy techniques to determine or discover historical

celestial constellations or art to solve the problem of law.

11. Forensic Ballistics

Forensic Ballistics deals with the study and analysis of firearms and ammunition as physical

evidence involved in criminal or civil cases.

12. Forensic Biology

Forensic Biology concerns the analysis of biological evidence using biological and

biochemical techniques to assist criminal investigators in linking suspects or victims to crime

scenes.

13. Forensic Biomechanics

Forensic biomechanics is the science of mechanical principles applied to biological tissues

involving mainly muscles to investigate the manner of injuries and accidents.

7|Page
14. Forensic Botany

Forensic botany deals with the study and analysis of plants or plant-based evidence in legal

matters.

15. Forensic Chemistry

Forensic Chemistry is the study and analysis of techniques to identify chemical components

and their concentration in a given forensic evidence.

16. Forensic Dactyloscopy/Dermatoglyphics

Forensic Fingerprints or Dactyloscopy is the analysis and classification of fingerprint

patterns to evaluate the ridge characteristics to aid in civil and criminal investigations.

17. Forensic Diatomology

Forensic diatomology is the study of diatoms (single-celled algae) in linking the victim to a

specific water body (or location) to aid a forensic investigation.

18. Forensic DNA Analysis

Forensic DNA analysis concerns the DNA aspects of biological samples for criminal

investigation or other legal matters. It is a subdivision and is mostly considered a part of

Forensic biology.

8|Page
19. Forensic Document Examination

Forensic Document Examination of Questioned Document is associated with the evaluation

of documents that could be used as evidence in court or aid criminal investigation.

20. Forensic Ecology

Forensic ecology concerns the analysis of ecological evidence such as plants, animals, and

other natural materials to solve the investigation question in civil and criminal cases.

21. Forensic Engineering

Forensic engineering offers evaluation and opinions on engineering issues related to criminal

negligence/behavior, or civil liability claims.

22. Forensic Entomology

Forensic Entomology is the study of insects (mainly arthropods) in relation to criminal and

civil proceedings.

23. Forensic Entomotoxicology

9|Page
Forensic entomotoxicology concerns the analysis of insects in context with toxicology, to

determine what substance they ingested while feeding on the deceased body.

24. Forensic Geology (Geo Forensics)

Forensic Geology is the study of rocks, minerals, soils, petroleum products, and landforms as

evidence in civil or criminal cases. It is also called Geoforensics. A more often forensic

branch specifically for soil analysis is known as soil forensics or forensic pedology.

25. Forensic Limnology

Forensic Limnology is the study of freshwater ecosystems for linking a crime to specific

aquatic ecosystems and helping in criminal investigation. It includes the study of freshwater

ecosystems such as lakes, streams, marshes, and ponds.

26. Forensic Linguistics

Forensic linguistics involves phonetics and acoustics evidence to analyze and assist criminal

or civil cases.

27. Forensic Phonetics

A sub-branch of forensic linguistics, which deals with identification using voice.

10 | P a g e
28. Forensic Mathematics and Statistics

The use of mathematical principles such as trigonometry, statistics, probability, graphical

representation, etc. for the interpretation of results from a survey or forensic analysis is

called forensic mathematics.

29. Forensic Medicine

Forensic medicine (also called forensic pathology) deals with the examination of a dead

body to determine the cause and manner of death in criminal cases or unexpected death.

30. Forensic Meteorology

Forensic meteorology uses weather and weather events to evaluate the condition in a

particular time and location that is linked to a civil or criminal investigation.

31. Forensic Neuropsychology

Forensic Neuropsychology focuses on behavior as indicators of the brain and nervous system

function, and their uses as evidence in civil and criminal cases.

32. Forensic Nursing

The application of nursing skills without (or at minimum) damaging the integrity of forensic

evidence.

11 | P a g e
33. Forensic Odontology (Forensic Dentistry)

Study of teeth, alignment, and overall structure to identify a specific person that is

questioned by legal proceedings.

34. Forensic Odontostomatology

It specifically concerns the study of teeth, jaws, and oral structures for identification.

35. Forensic Optometry

Forensic Optometry concerns the analysis of vision-related evidence to assist criminal

investigators or any other legal proceedings.

36. Forensic Ornithology

Scientific study of birds, including various species’ feathers, beaks, wings, or other parts to

answer criminal and civil investigation questions.

37. Forensic Palynology

Forensic Palynology refers to the scientific study of pollen and spores evidence used to assist

the investigation by a court of law.

12 | P a g e
38. Forensic Photography

Forensic Photography applies to the technical skills and knowledge of anatomy and case

requirements to take a photograph that conveys the correct representation and is used as

evidence in investigation and court of law.

39. Forensic Physics

Forensic Physics deals with the use of scientific knowledge of physics in the investigation

and adjudication of criminal and civil laws.

40. Forensic Podiatry

Forensic Podiatry involves the analysis of footprints and shoe prints to link a criminal or

victim to a crime scene and solve other legal matters.

41. Forensic Psychology

Forensic Psychology applies to the scientific knowledge of studying the human mind and

behavior to the legal issues pertinent to civil and criminal cases.

42. Forensic Psychophysiology

13 | P a g e
Forensic Psychophysiology is the study of relationships among emotional, or mental

phenomena and physiological responses (heart rate, blood pressure, skin conductance, etc) to

answer questions related to legal investigation.

43. Forensic Deception Analysis

Which involves detecting deception by statements given by suspects or witnesses without

polygraphs.

44. Forensic Radiology

Forensic Radiology is defined as the application of medical and dental radiology (mainly X-

rays and CT scans) to forensic works. It is also called forensic radiography and when in

contrast to a dead body it is called a virtual autopsy.

45. Forensic Sculpture

The application of computerized tools or artistic skills to develop a 3d facial reconstruction

of a person from a skull or old 2d drawing to aid in the identification of skeletal remains or

suspects in a criminal investigation.

46. Forensic Seismology

14 | P a g e
Forensic Seismology involves the impact of seismic waves mainly generated by human

activities as evidence in the investigation of criminal cases.

47. Forensic Serology

Forensic Serology is a subdivision of biology that specially focuses on blood and body fluids

as the biological evidence and their antigen-antibodies reaction.

48. Forensic Toxicology

Forensic toxicology concerns the biological samples especially from autopsy to determine

the presence of toxins and abusive substances as evidence in workplace drug testing, civil,

and criminal cases.

49. Trace Evidence Analysis

Forensic study of minute physical evidence at a crime scene is called trace evidence. Some

examples of trace evidence are hair, glass, fiber, pieces of paper, impression, powder residue,

soil, minerals, plastic bags, etc.

50. Wildlife Forensics

Wildlife Forensics assists law enforcement agencies with all aspects of evidence in

association with endangered animals, plants, and fishes.

15 | P a g e
References:

Forensic science, (NIST), Gaithersburg, MD 20899 301-975-2000 Created September 20,

2021, Updated October 1, 2021

Criminalistics, ScienceDirect, Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V., its licensors, and

contributors.

Office of legal policy, Updated December 11, 2023

Criminalistics, Atty. Lagas, J et al, 2009

47 Branches of Forensic Science: Disciplines and Division With Evidence and Case Types,

By FR Author Group, copyright © 2024 Forensic reader.

SUBMITTED BY: EVANGELISTA, EVALYN G. BS CRIM 4C

16 | P a g e