English Forensic Law

Fingerprinting is just one part of English forensic law.

English forensic law has been ground-breaking for both science and criminology. Most people know a few terms of forensics, but what exactly is it and how does it affect things in the courtroom today? How can you get into forensics? Here is an overview of English forensic law.

History

English forensic law goes back to a case in 1784, with a conviction for John Toms in Lancaster, England. He was tied to a crime by a torn edge of newspaper. Nearlyl 100 years later, according to the History of Forensic DNA Analysis, one of the most significant advancements was made in 1985, with the publication of DNA 'fingerprinting.' Dr. Alec Jeffreys, an English geneticist, created the foundation for the modern-day DNA testing used now in court cases world-wide.

Types

The broad term "forensics" includes 11 different specialties under UK law. Pathology, dentistry, entomology (the study of insects), computers and even accounting, which is used to trace monetary trails to crimes. The most common type used in English forensic law is forensic science. Forensic science evaluates crime-scene evidence and the scientists may also testify as expert witnesses in a trial.

Benefits

Clearly the largest benefits are getting the right criminal for the right crime. English forensic law has also been key in freeing innocent people from prison or jail by using DNA testing. The long-term effect is that it makes the investigations shorter and costs less.

Misconceptions

Forensics aren't infallible, and mistakes can still be made. The BBC reported that human error or cross-contamination of evidence can throw cases out of court. There's also the factor of not having large enough samples to use for convictions in English forensic law. Some types of forensics, such as forensic psychology or linguistic forensics, aren't taken as seriously as the proven sciences.

Requirements

In the UK, for an Assistant Forensic Science degree you need at least a first degree. The post-graduate diplomas in Forensic Science take three to four years to earn, depending on which forensics you study. You have to work in a lab before going out in the field, and it's recommended to become part of the FSS (Forensic Science Society) to keep up on any new developments in English forensic law.

References

• DNA Initiative: History of Forensic DNA Analysis
• BBC News: Focus on Forensics
• Metropolitan Police: History of the Metropolitan Police

Resources

• Jobs4u: Forensic Scientist Job Description
• The Forensic Science Society