Jurisprudence

Forensic is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as "belonging to courts of justice." Forensic science is the application of science to assist courts in resolving questions of fact in criminal and civil trials. At the dawn of the new millennium, however, the jurisprudence of forensics applies a definition more broad than that of "forensic science."

Definitions of "science" are themselves under scrutiny by attorneys in courts of justice, and many areas of forensic science — defined by the law of evidence as "technical or other specialized knowledge" — are being evaluated by the courts under different standards of reliability. In this historical context, "forensic science" may generally be defined as the application of "scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge" to assist courts in resolving questions of fact in civil and criminal trials.

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This Section

What is Forensic Science?

What Do Forensic Scientists Do? 
  - Work
  - Ethics
  - Testimony

What's a Forensic Scientist? 
 - How Do I Become One? 
 - How Much Money Will I Make? 
 - Where Will I Work?

Kinds of Forensic Science:
   Discipline Sections Within
   the American Academy
   of Forensic Sciences (AAFS)

  - Criminalistics 
  - Digital & Multimedia Sciences
  - Engineering Sciences 
  - General 
  - Jurisprudence 
         > Scope of Work
         > Education & Training
         > Career Opportunities
  - Odontology 
  - Pathology/Biology
  - Physical Anthropology
  - Psychiatry & Behavioral Science
  - Questioned Documents
  - Toxicology

Resource List

Credits