ROLE OF FORENSIC SPECIALIST IN THE

SOLUTION OF CRIME
DR. LUISITO VIBAR
Jeirome P. Domingo

• A forensic specialist’s job duties depend on his area of expertise. some specialist spend
their entire day in a lab, while others spend their days visiting crimes scenes in search
of evidence. most specialize in a single area of forensic investigation, such as analyzing
fingerprints or photographing crimes scenes.
• Some forensic specialists, called crime scene investigators or crimes scene technicians.
focus solely on collecting evidence at crimes scenes. they sometimes take direction
from detectives at the scene, but officers also rely on their judgement and expertise.
crime scene investigators have extensive training in what makes a piece of evidence
relevant, and how they can remove it from the scene without damaging it or hindering
the detective’s investigation.
• Identifying and gathering evidence

• Documenting Evidence
• Preserving Evidence
• Testing Evidence
• Report Findings

Some forensic specialists focus solely on analyzing evidence, and may never visit a crime
scene. Instead, they work in crime labs where they compare fingerprints, test samples for bodily
fluids such as blood, and examine weapon and bullets. They nearly always focus on a single
aspect of forensic investigation. A ballistics expert for example, examines bullets fragments to
determine what kind of gun fired them, and compares bullets used in a crime to those fired by
suspect’s gun. He would not, however, compare DNA samples or fingerprints. A forensic
biologist might test blood or urine samples for drugs or toxins. But would not compare
fingerprints or examine weapon.

After a forensic specialist completes his analysis of a sample, he must summarize his
findings and conclusions in a written report, which are another specialist reviews and either

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verifies or disputes. Detectives use these reports to aid in their investigations, and prosecutors
frequently present them as evidence in court. Because of this, and because investigators may
be unable to re-test samples later, the analyst's report must provide a thorough description of
the sample, the tests conducted on it and how the evidence relates to the crime. In addition,
prosecutors sometimes ask forensic analysts to testify in court and explain their findings to the
jury.

Some forensic professionals work primarily in the field, collecting and preserving evidence
for analysis. Crime scene investigators begin by walking through the scene of a crime or
accident to determine what evidence to collect and how to remove it without disturbing it or
the scene. They ensure that evidence does not become contaminated and document everything
they collect, including details such as the item's condition and where at the scene they found it.
Their job exposes them to potentially hazardous materials, such as chemicals and bodily fluids,
and they frequently work outside in extreme heat or cold, or in dirty or dangerous
environments. They may have a degree in forensic science, or may start out as police officers
before specializing in crime scene investigation.
Police and prosecutors depend on crime scene photographs to help them investigate an incident
days or even months after the fact. Forensic photographers specialize in documenting a scene
through photography, allowing police to recreate the crime and giving jurors a visual
representation of the evidence presented to them in court by prosecutors.

They photograph every aspect of a crime scene, including the body in the case of a
murder; the point of entry in the case of a burglary; and other evidence, such as bullets or bullet
holes, broken windows or blood spatter. They need formal photography training, either at the
university level or on the job. Several colleges and universities offer forensic photography
degree programs, and some law enforcement agencies train current officers or investigators in
crime scene photography.

After evidence is collected, it's taken back to the lab, where forensic analysts -- also
called forensic technicians -- perform scientific tests on it. For example, they often test bodily
fluids found at the scene of a crime to determine whether they match those of a suspect. They
also test fluids for the presence of drugs, alcohol or toxins that could have contributed to a
person's death. They need either a degree in forensic investigation or in a scientific discipline.
A technician who specializes in blood or DNA would need a biology degree, for example,

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while someone specializing in non-biological specimens might have a degree in chemistry.
Like crime scene investigators, forensic analysts frequently come in contact with potentially
dangerous substances and must wear protective clothing and follow strict safety protocols.

Like forensic technicians, ballistics experts work primarily in the lab. They specialize
in firearms analysis, and may run tests on bullets or bullet fragments to determine the type of
gun used in a crime. They also run tests to determine whether a suspect's gun matches the
weapon used in a crime, or to identify the angle from which someone was shot. They often do
this by test-firing a gun in a secure area, and must wear protective clothing and follow safety
protocols to protect themselves and others in the lab. They need a degree in criminology,
criminal justice or forensic investigation, along with knowledge of math and physics to help
them determine factors such as bullet trajectory.

FORENSIC CAREER

• Forensic investigation requires teamwork from a diverse group of professionals with

highly specialized skills and duties. while some spend much of their time at the scene
of a crime, others rarely leave the lab. together, their work paints a comprehensive
picture of what occurred so the police can identify potential motives and suspects.

• Crime Scene Investigator

• Forensic Photographer
• Forensic Analyst
• Ballistic Expert

Forensic Expert vs. Crime Scene Investigator

• Forensic investigators fall under two main categories:

1. Forensic expert and crime scene investigators
Forensic expert usually have an academic science background, while crime scene
investigators often start their careers in some branch of law enforcement.
EDUCATION

• Forensic scientists need at least an undergraduate degree in science, with most

majoring in biology, chemistry or forensic science. some also hold certification or

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 have master’s degrees or doctorates, especially if they hold supervisory positions or
frequently testify as expert witnesses in criminal proceedings. crime scene
investigators, on the other hand, are far less likely to have formal academic
credentials. some have associate degrees in criminal justice, while others start out as
uniformed police officers and receive their training at the police academy

DUTIES

• Crime scene investigators primarily collect evidence, spending much of their time
visiting and analyzing crime scenes. they tour the entire scene, searching for potential
clues and then collecting and documenting all evidence. they also take direction from
detectives on the scene regarding what evidence to gather. forensic scientists work
with evidence after it’s been collected. for example, they might test a piece of a
suspect’s clothing in search of traces of the victim’s blood, or they might analyze a
dna sample from a crime scene to determine if it matches a suspect.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Crime scene investigators never know what kind of environment they’ll be working
in. they may spend one day outdoors in extreme heat, and the next day processing a
scene at a public place such as a convenience store. though they’re based at a police
department or crime lab, they spend much of their workday at crime scenes. forensic
scientists work almost exclusively in the laboratory. both typically work a 40-hour
week, though some crime scene investigators work late-night or early morning shifts.
csi forensic scientists must also sometimes be “on call” to respond to a scene, and
may have to work overtime to ensure all evidence is collected.

CHALLENGES

• Both forensic scientists and crime scene investigators face multiple occupational
hazards. crime scene investigators often encounter hazardous items such as knives and
guns, blood and bodily fluids, broken glass, or toxins such as meth. the materials may

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 not be easily visible, so investigators must always wear protective clothing to reduce
the risk of injury and contamination. forensic scientists also handle potentially
dangerous evidence, but they usually know what kind of material they’re dealing with
and what precautions to take. some of the chemicals they use for testing evidence are
potentially dangerous, so they must also wear protective clothing.

RULES OF ADMISSIBILITY

Sec. 49. Opinion of expert witness. - The opinion of a witness on a matter requiring special
knowledge, skill, experience or training which he is shown to possess, may be received in
evidence. (43a)

EXPERT WITNESS

• An expert witness is a witness who has made the subject upon which he gives his
opinion a matter of particular study, practice, or observation, and he must have
particular and special knowledge on the subject. There is, however, no exact standard
by which to determine the degree of skill or knowledge which a witness must possess
in order that he may testify as an expert.

• It is sufficient that the following factors be present: (1) training and education; (2)
particular, first-hand familiarity with the facts of the case; and (3) presentation of the
authorities or standards upon which his opinion is based.

• An expert witness, after he has been duly qualified, may testify on matters which are
scientific, technical or other specialized knowledge as will assist the trial court to
understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue.

• The problem of the credibility of the expert witness and the evaluation of his
testimony is left to the discretion of the trial court whose ruling thereon is not
reviewable in the absence of abuse of discretion.

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