The popularity of television
shows about solving crimes has put forensic science very much in the public's
eye. According to a report by CBS News, this may be affecting how real-life
crimes are tried in America's courts. (2) As juries become more educated
about the science of forensics (educated by watching TV), they expect lawyers
to provide them with evidence that is not always reasonable to obtain (figure
1).
It is difficult to say exactly when forensic
science began to exist. People have always been curious, so it is
likely that the beginnings of what is now known as forensic science may
have been around before formal historical recordings were made. The
following sites offer interesting timelines of important discoveries and
inventions that had an impact on the field of forensic studies:
CBSNews.com
The Forensic
Scientist
ForensicDNA.com
Crimezzz.net
When most people think about forensic science,
spectroscopy is probably not the first thing to come to their minds. It
is more likely that they think of fingerprinting or DNA analysis. Just
like these more familiar techniques, however, spectroscopy can match the
unique aspects of trace evidence at a crime scene to known substances, thereby
providing clues to the crime. If a given substance is detected at
a crime scene, and later found on a suspect or his/her property, then a
connection may be established to help detectives build a case against the
suspect.
There are two forms of spectroscopy that complement each other well. Infrared
Spectroscopy was first applied to forensic science around 1950 but the advent
of the Fourier Transform calculation method in 1966 made it a much quicker
process to use. (3) In the 1990s the FTIR became even more popular
in forensic analysis due to lower costs and easier sample preparation. (4)
Raman Spectroscopy had a much more recent entry into the field of forensic
science. Forensic scientists have discovered that Raman analysis can
fill in some of the blanks left by FTIR analysis. (5) Further advances
like coupling the spectrometers with a microscope and creating portable field
units have made this pair an important piece of the forensic lab puzzle.
Advances in the technology of FTIR and Raman spectroscopy can help to give
juries just what they want...more evidence. If a lawyer can present
multiple sets of proof of the identification of certain substances, it can
help juries believe in the evidence.
