forensi

Forensi, commonly referred to as forensic science, is the application of scientific methods to questions of law. It encompasses the collection, preservation, analysis, and interpretation of physical and digital evidence to establish facts in criminal and civil cases. The field draws on disciplines such as biology, chemistry, toxicology, pathology, anthropology, odontology, ballistics, and increasingly digital forensics.

Evidence handling emphasizes maintaining the integrity of samples and documents a strict chain of custody. Analyses are conducted in laboratories or on-site crime scene units, with results reported in written findings and often presented as expert testimony in court. The admissibility of forensic findings depends on validated methods, proper protocol, and clear communication of uncertainty and error rates, varying by jurisdiction.

Historically, modern forensi developed from fingerprinting and forensic pathology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, guided by principles such as Edmond Locard's exchange principle—the idea that objects or people entering a crime scene leave traces and take traces away. Today, the field includes DNA analysis, toxicology, trace evidence, forensic anthropology, forensic pathology, and digital forensics—an area focused on electronic evidence from computers, smartphones, and networks.

Professionals in forensi work in public laboratories, medical examiner offices, or private entities, collaborating with law enforcement and providing testimony. Ongoing developments in technology and methodology, as well as ethical and legal considerations, shape the practice and its reliability.