Forensik

Forensik, or forensic science, is the application of scientific methods to questions of law. It involves the collection, preservation, analysis, and interpretation of physical and digital evidence to support criminal investigations, civil proceedings, and administrative matters.

The field encompasses numerous disciplines, including forensic pathology (medical examiner work), forensic anthropology, toxicology, serology and DNA analysis, trace evidence analysis (fibers, hair, glass, soil), fingerprint analysis, firearm and toolmark examination, handwriting and document examination, and digital forensics, which covers data recovery, malware analysis, and digital evidence authentication.

Typical workflow: a scene is secured; evidence is documented and collected with a chain of custody; samples are transported to a laboratory for analysis; scientists formulate hypotheses, perform tests, compare findings with reference data, and report results; conclusions may be presented in court through expert testimony.

Applications: establishing identity, time of death estimates, reconstruction of events, linking suspects to crimes, proving or refuting alibis, civil disputes, product safety investigations.

Quality and ethics: forensic work relies on rigorous standards, accreditation of laboratories, method validation, quality assurance, peer review, and transparency; limitations and uncertainties should be clearly communicated; ethical considerations include handling of sensitive data and potential biases.

Education and professional landscape: practitioners typically hold degrees in forensic science, biology, chemistry, or related fields, with additional specialized training and certifications; collaborations with law enforcement, legal professionals, and judiciary are common worldwide.