Forensikk

Forensikk, or forensic science, applies scientific methods to questions arising in law, criminal investigations, or civil proceedings. Its aim is to identify, preserve, analyze and interpret physical and digital evidence to determine whether a crime occurred, how it was committed, and who was involved. Forensikk draws on biology, chemistry, physics, computer science and medicine, and operates in laboratories and at crime scenes.

Activities include evidence collection and preservation, documentation and chain of custody, laboratory analysis with validated methods, interpretation of findings, and presentation in written reports and court testimony. Standards stress accuracy, repeatability and transparency; many jurisdictions require quality management and accreditation (for example ISO 17025).

Subfields include forensic biology (DNA analysis, serology), forensic chemistry, toxicology, digital forensics (data recovery, metadata), forensic pathology, anthropology, fingerprint analysis, handwriting and document examination, ballistics and tool-mark analysis, as well as pattern evidence such as tire tracks.

Ethical and legal considerations include chain of custody, admissibility, and avoiding bias. Forensikk results are usually presented as expert testimony, with stated limitations, and the field evolves with new techniques and standards to support fair judicial outcomes.