PAPER 1 – INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC SCIENCE, LAW, CRIMINOLOGY,
PYSCHOLOGY AND STATISTICS
Unit 1: Forensic Science
1. What is forensic science?
Derived from the Latin word ‘forensis’ – belonging to courts of justice / public discussion
and debate.
Thus forensic science is the science which is used in the court of justice.
Forensic Science can be more broadly defined as that scientific discipline which is
directed to the recognition, identification, individualization, and evaluation of physical
evidence by the application of the principles and methods of natural sciences for the
purpose of administration of criminal justice.
2. Scope and Need of Forensic Science:
There is an urgent need for the application of forensic science in the criminal
justice delivery system.
There are a large number of trials, criminal proceedings in heinous (serious)
crimes, which end in acquittals. There are a large number of cases still pending in
various courts in India for disposal. There is a necessity of evidences to prove
somebody guilty or exoneration of the innocents. The main reason for such
acquittals is the lack of proper evidences.
In some cases the witnesses turn hostile due to varied reasons. The eye
witnesses may not be reliable sometimes because of the credibility. They may
turn hostile (retract their statement or deny the previous statements). This may
lead to the complication of the delivery of the justice.
So, a witness may be wrong and unreliable but scientific evidence will not be
going wrong. It means that the presence of physical evidence at crime scene will
speak truth and fact.
In the number of cases criminals go set free, in many cases, there is a chance of
innocence being falsely implicated (convict) in some cases.
The principle of criminal justice system is to protect the innocence from wrong
convictions while making sure the culprits are punished for the crime they have
committed. So, there is a necessity of expert evidences for the accomplishment
of proper delivery of justice.
This will be achieved through expert of forensic science.
Existence of crime was established from the time of Adam, so to say crime
started with mankind, unlike in the past the criminals in contemporary society or
world used a highly technical methods to execute crime. So, to detect such
criminals it is necessary to have more intellectuals, who have expertise in science
and technology.
Such skill full and protection knowledge in forensic science is imparted through
education, training and experience. This will result in emergence of more qualify
Mohamed Eeman
, and highly technical expert of forensic science. They are more need to tackle the
problem of pending cases by the way of speedy delivery of justice.
In other words, the forensic experts helped in solving the problem of civil and
criminal cases which are pending for delivery of justice.
3. Various principles involved in forensic science based on which Investigation
are carried out?
1. Principle of Individuality: This law states that every object either natural or
manmade has an individuality which is not duplicated in any other object. That
means every object is unique and individualistic. Even the God’s creation such as
seeds, fruits, plants are also unique.
EX: The man-made currency notes (excluding the no.), coins, typewritings etc. are
certainly unique, though they have look same or alike.
2. Principle of Exchange: “Whenever any two objects come into contact with each
other, there is always an exchange of minute particles or trace evidences in between
them.”
According to this principle whenever a criminal or his weapon used for the
commission of crime comes into contact with the victim or his surroundings/ objects,
trace evidence are left at that site. In the same way the criminal or his weapons
picked up trace from the same contact.
EX: In a hit and run case of road traffic accident there is a presence of blood stains
in the vehicle that has hit and run away. In the same way the tire marks, footwear
marks, paints of vehicles will be present in the victim’s surroundings. Another
classical example is the blood/seminal stain present in the victim of rape, whereas
presence of hair seen in the body of the accused.
3. Law of Progressive Change: According to this law, “Everything changes with the
passage of time. In other words, there is nothing permanent and invariable.”
Example: The criminals undergo progressive change as time passes on. If the
criminal is not apprehended in time, he becomes unrecognizable except for the
finger prints, blood groups from stains and DNA profiling. There is also a rapid
change occurring at the crime scene. After sometime the crime scene becomes
totally unrecognizable and also there is a chance of physical evidence being lost or
tampered or destroyed.
4. Principle of Comparison: According to this principle, it is stated that, “only the likes
can be compared.” Or “There is a possibility of comparison only when there are
things which are similar.”
Example: (1) A bullet from the crime scene can be compared with the firing weapon
(rifle) but not with the shot gun, (2) When writing on the wall is to be examined, it
has to be compared with the similar writing on a wall not on paper. There may be
Mohamed Eeman
, differences for any individual to write on the paper and board with the variations in
size and alignment.
5. Principle of Analysis: This principle states that “The analysis can be no better than
the sample analysis.” Or “The analysis should be done with the proper sampling
(correct sampling and correct packing) is necessary for the right analysis by the
experts.”
Example: in the case of seminal stain analysis, the investigation officer collecting the
blood stained clothes will not be of any use. When the explosive material has to be
tested then it should be residual materials collected from the scene of occurrence of
the explosion which has the materialistic substance of the explosion (there would be
no use of testing the soil alone for the establishing the identity of the explosive.)
6. Principle of Probability: This principle is based on the fact that all identification
whether definite or indefinite, are made consciously or unconsciously, on the basis of
probability. A probability is a mathematical concept. It determines the chances of
occurrence of a particular event in a particular way out of a number of ways in which
the event can take place.
Example: In case of identifying the dead body of a spectacled woman with nose
piercing and with the tattoo mark in the right arm.
7. Law of Circumstantial Facts: “Facts do not lie, men can and do”.
Example: Eye witness in a particular crime may turn hostile but physical evidences
will not change. Oral testimony of a witness is modified by external influences
(threats, emotional blackmail, influence of money power, muscle power) but the
material evidence will be unchanged. The presence of a seminal stain over the
garments of the victim of the sexual assault may reveal the episode of what would
have happened. The presence of the poisonous substances in the biological tissues
establishes the administration of the same.
4. Forensic Science Laboratories and Institutions in India:
In India there were only the finger print bureau under the state Criminal Investigation
Department [C.I.D] which provide the examination of finger prints, foot prints and
document analysis. Chemical test / evidence also done with blood, viscera. Due to slow
process and lack of systematic development, Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) were
set up by various state governments.
First such laboratory was set up in 1952 at Calcutta. Central Forensic Science Lab and
central finger print bureau were established in Calcutta in 1955 and 1957.
Later with recommendation of central advisory committee other Forensic Laboratories
were establish in Bombay, Madras, Bihar, Punjab, Rajasthan and M.P.
At present Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) acts as nodal agency for
the central government.
In states like Andhrapradesh, Gujarat, Maharastra, Tamilnadu, and U.P regional FSL
were set up. Other institutions like department of explosives, Indian security press were
also set up later.
Mohamed Eeman
, Modern biological techniques were made available in the center for DNA finger printing
and diagnostics situation in Hyderabad. It carries out DNA profiling, diagnostics, gene
analysis and bioinformatics. This center had data base for all case work. This is the
primary center for DNA testing.
Anthropometry Bureau: This was established in Calcutta in 1892. This has adopted
Bertillon’s method of personal identification. This center has got records of criminals
such as photographs and other detail description of appearance.
Finger Print Bureau: William Herschel the collector of Hugli in West Bengal found that
marking on the fingertips of an individual has never change during the life time. He
applied his knowledge and skill in devising system of registration of finger and thumb
impression of all the estate employer. Edward Henry followed this principle of recording
finger prints of criminals and there by a finger print bureau was established in 1897 at
Calcutta.
Department of Explosives: This was established to know causes of explosions and to
detect the international usage of explosives. Such a center was established at Nagpur,
Calcutta, Bombay, Madras, Agra, Gwalior and sub division such as Shivakashi.
Government Examiner of Question Document (G.E.Q.D): During the struggle
independence, the government of west Bengal created this post (to identify the
handwritings of secret documents, example-little of freedom fighters). It was letter
shifted to Shimla under the control of criminal investigation department.
Serologist to Government of India: When the science of examining human blood in
India, it become possible to examine seminal stain also in criminal investigation.
Serology department was 1st established in Calcutta letter on it known as chemical
examination of India.
Foot Print Section of C.I.D: It was established in Calcutta in 1915. The main duty is to
collect, preserve and analyze as the foot print for identification.
Note Forgery Section of C.I.D: In 1917 this section was set up under C.I.D by
government of West Bengal. They detect the cases of currency /coins and forgery
notes/ documents. Later on government made a security printing press established in
Nashik.
Ballistic Division: In 1930, it was established in Calcutta, later on all the other
laboratories started establishing.
In addition to all this there are other institution that provide scientific assistance for
investigation those are finger print bureau government examiner of document, mobile
forensic laboratories, scientific C.I.D section and computer division.
Finger Prints Bureau: All state has got this facility in addition to this national crime
records bureau under control of central government in Delhi. The finger print record or
data base at a national level has been digitized and computerized. Any police force can
utilize this service.
The main functions are to collect, store the record, to eliminate the record of that
individuals, to search and locate finger prints records of a given person, to compare the
finger prints found at crime scene, to give the evidences in the court of law.
Government Examiner of Questioned Documents (G.E.Q.D.): Though established first in
Shimla, another zonal institution in Calcutta was established. They examine the
Mohamed Eeman
PYSCHOLOGY AND STATISTICS
Unit 1: Forensic Science
1. What is forensic science?
Derived from the Latin word ‘forensis’ – belonging to courts of justice / public discussion
and debate.
Thus forensic science is the science which is used in the court of justice.
Forensic Science can be more broadly defined as that scientific discipline which is
directed to the recognition, identification, individualization, and evaluation of physical
evidence by the application of the principles and methods of natural sciences for the
purpose of administration of criminal justice.
2. Scope and Need of Forensic Science:
There is an urgent need for the application of forensic science in the criminal
justice delivery system.
There are a large number of trials, criminal proceedings in heinous (serious)
crimes, which end in acquittals. There are a large number of cases still pending in
various courts in India for disposal. There is a necessity of evidences to prove
somebody guilty or exoneration of the innocents. The main reason for such
acquittals is the lack of proper evidences.
In some cases the witnesses turn hostile due to varied reasons. The eye
witnesses may not be reliable sometimes because of the credibility. They may
turn hostile (retract their statement or deny the previous statements). This may
lead to the complication of the delivery of the justice.
So, a witness may be wrong and unreliable but scientific evidence will not be
going wrong. It means that the presence of physical evidence at crime scene will
speak truth and fact.
In the number of cases criminals go set free, in many cases, there is a chance of
innocence being falsely implicated (convict) in some cases.
The principle of criminal justice system is to protect the innocence from wrong
convictions while making sure the culprits are punished for the crime they have
committed. So, there is a necessity of expert evidences for the accomplishment
of proper delivery of justice.
This will be achieved through expert of forensic science.
Existence of crime was established from the time of Adam, so to say crime
started with mankind, unlike in the past the criminals in contemporary society or
world used a highly technical methods to execute crime. So, to detect such
criminals it is necessary to have more intellectuals, who have expertise in science
and technology.
Such skill full and protection knowledge in forensic science is imparted through
education, training and experience. This will result in emergence of more qualify
Mohamed Eeman
, and highly technical expert of forensic science. They are more need to tackle the
problem of pending cases by the way of speedy delivery of justice.
In other words, the forensic experts helped in solving the problem of civil and
criminal cases which are pending for delivery of justice.
3. Various principles involved in forensic science based on which Investigation
are carried out?
1. Principle of Individuality: This law states that every object either natural or
manmade has an individuality which is not duplicated in any other object. That
means every object is unique and individualistic. Even the God’s creation such as
seeds, fruits, plants are also unique.
EX: The man-made currency notes (excluding the no.), coins, typewritings etc. are
certainly unique, though they have look same or alike.
2. Principle of Exchange: “Whenever any two objects come into contact with each
other, there is always an exchange of minute particles or trace evidences in between
them.”
According to this principle whenever a criminal or his weapon used for the
commission of crime comes into contact with the victim or his surroundings/ objects,
trace evidence are left at that site. In the same way the criminal or his weapons
picked up trace from the same contact.
EX: In a hit and run case of road traffic accident there is a presence of blood stains
in the vehicle that has hit and run away. In the same way the tire marks, footwear
marks, paints of vehicles will be present in the victim’s surroundings. Another
classical example is the blood/seminal stain present in the victim of rape, whereas
presence of hair seen in the body of the accused.
3. Law of Progressive Change: According to this law, “Everything changes with the
passage of time. In other words, there is nothing permanent and invariable.”
Example: The criminals undergo progressive change as time passes on. If the
criminal is not apprehended in time, he becomes unrecognizable except for the
finger prints, blood groups from stains and DNA profiling. There is also a rapid
change occurring at the crime scene. After sometime the crime scene becomes
totally unrecognizable and also there is a chance of physical evidence being lost or
tampered or destroyed.
4. Principle of Comparison: According to this principle, it is stated that, “only the likes
can be compared.” Or “There is a possibility of comparison only when there are
things which are similar.”
Example: (1) A bullet from the crime scene can be compared with the firing weapon
(rifle) but not with the shot gun, (2) When writing on the wall is to be examined, it
has to be compared with the similar writing on a wall not on paper. There may be
Mohamed Eeman
, differences for any individual to write on the paper and board with the variations in
size and alignment.
5. Principle of Analysis: This principle states that “The analysis can be no better than
the sample analysis.” Or “The analysis should be done with the proper sampling
(correct sampling and correct packing) is necessary for the right analysis by the
experts.”
Example: in the case of seminal stain analysis, the investigation officer collecting the
blood stained clothes will not be of any use. When the explosive material has to be
tested then it should be residual materials collected from the scene of occurrence of
the explosion which has the materialistic substance of the explosion (there would be
no use of testing the soil alone for the establishing the identity of the explosive.)
6. Principle of Probability: This principle is based on the fact that all identification
whether definite or indefinite, are made consciously or unconsciously, on the basis of
probability. A probability is a mathematical concept. It determines the chances of
occurrence of a particular event in a particular way out of a number of ways in which
the event can take place.
Example: In case of identifying the dead body of a spectacled woman with nose
piercing and with the tattoo mark in the right arm.
7. Law of Circumstantial Facts: “Facts do not lie, men can and do”.
Example: Eye witness in a particular crime may turn hostile but physical evidences
will not change. Oral testimony of a witness is modified by external influences
(threats, emotional blackmail, influence of money power, muscle power) but the
material evidence will be unchanged. The presence of a seminal stain over the
garments of the victim of the sexual assault may reveal the episode of what would
have happened. The presence of the poisonous substances in the biological tissues
establishes the administration of the same.
4. Forensic Science Laboratories and Institutions in India:
In India there were only the finger print bureau under the state Criminal Investigation
Department [C.I.D] which provide the examination of finger prints, foot prints and
document analysis. Chemical test / evidence also done with blood, viscera. Due to slow
process and lack of systematic development, Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) were
set up by various state governments.
First such laboratory was set up in 1952 at Calcutta. Central Forensic Science Lab and
central finger print bureau were established in Calcutta in 1955 and 1957.
Later with recommendation of central advisory committee other Forensic Laboratories
were establish in Bombay, Madras, Bihar, Punjab, Rajasthan and M.P.
At present Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) acts as nodal agency for
the central government.
In states like Andhrapradesh, Gujarat, Maharastra, Tamilnadu, and U.P regional FSL
were set up. Other institutions like department of explosives, Indian security press were
also set up later.
Mohamed Eeman
, Modern biological techniques were made available in the center for DNA finger printing
and diagnostics situation in Hyderabad. It carries out DNA profiling, diagnostics, gene
analysis and bioinformatics. This center had data base for all case work. This is the
primary center for DNA testing.
Anthropometry Bureau: This was established in Calcutta in 1892. This has adopted
Bertillon’s method of personal identification. This center has got records of criminals
such as photographs and other detail description of appearance.
Finger Print Bureau: William Herschel the collector of Hugli in West Bengal found that
marking on the fingertips of an individual has never change during the life time. He
applied his knowledge and skill in devising system of registration of finger and thumb
impression of all the estate employer. Edward Henry followed this principle of recording
finger prints of criminals and there by a finger print bureau was established in 1897 at
Calcutta.
Department of Explosives: This was established to know causes of explosions and to
detect the international usage of explosives. Such a center was established at Nagpur,
Calcutta, Bombay, Madras, Agra, Gwalior and sub division such as Shivakashi.
Government Examiner of Question Document (G.E.Q.D): During the struggle
independence, the government of west Bengal created this post (to identify the
handwritings of secret documents, example-little of freedom fighters). It was letter
shifted to Shimla under the control of criminal investigation department.
Serologist to Government of India: When the science of examining human blood in
India, it become possible to examine seminal stain also in criminal investigation.
Serology department was 1st established in Calcutta letter on it known as chemical
examination of India.
Foot Print Section of C.I.D: It was established in Calcutta in 1915. The main duty is to
collect, preserve and analyze as the foot print for identification.
Note Forgery Section of C.I.D: In 1917 this section was set up under C.I.D by
government of West Bengal. They detect the cases of currency /coins and forgery
notes/ documents. Later on government made a security printing press established in
Nashik.
Ballistic Division: In 1930, it was established in Calcutta, later on all the other
laboratories started establishing.
In addition to all this there are other institution that provide scientific assistance for
investigation those are finger print bureau government examiner of document, mobile
forensic laboratories, scientific C.I.D section and computer division.
Finger Prints Bureau: All state has got this facility in addition to this national crime
records bureau under control of central government in Delhi. The finger print record or
data base at a national level has been digitized and computerized. Any police force can
utilize this service.
The main functions are to collect, store the record, to eliminate the record of that
individuals, to search and locate finger prints records of a given person, to compare the
finger prints found at crime scene, to give the evidences in the court of law.
Government Examiner of Questioned Documents (G.E.Q.D.): Though established first in
Shimla, another zonal institution in Calcutta was established. They examine the
Mohamed Eeman
