Forensic experts assist the courts and the justice system by writing reports or testifying in person. The goal of a forensic expert's testimony is to provide the court with objective evidence to help determine what happened. The jury, who are the fact-finders, decides if the information is clear and solid and how much weight it should have.
Forensic science, which mostly involves examining physical data, "is the use of science to aid the judicial process." It encompasses medicine, toxicology, pathology, biology, chemistry, physics, and other fields. Applying these disciplines to forensic research is a highly specialised field that requires extensive training.
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What Is Forensic Evidence?
The Executive Director oversees the Victoria Police Forensic Services Department (VPFSD), which has more than 500 employees. This is a mix of sworn police officers and forensic officers, who are mostly scientists. Public service staff assist with business, logistics, and maintenance and are also part of the department.
How Long Forensic Evidence Take To Process?
Every year, the VPFSD conducts more than 100,000 examinations. These findings include more than 2,300 DNA matches and 10,000 fingerprint matches.
The National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) has accredited the VPFSD, which supports the criminal justice system and primarily examines crime scenes and artefacts.
How Reliable Is Forensic Evidence In Criminal Cases?
The forensic staff attends and examines numerous major crime scenes, such as:
- Homicides
- Suspicious fires and explosions
- Clandestine drug laboratories
- Cannabis crops
- Major car accidents
- Natural disasters or events with mass casualties
If a bench warrant is issued as a result of findings from forensic investigations, it is important to know how to handle it promptly to avoid further legal complications.
Examinations of Exhibits
Items recovered from crime scenes are called exhibits. They can also be collected from suspects, complainants, deceased persons, and convicts. The forensic proof is very solid and includes a lot of different types of knowledge.
Crime Scene Investigation Areas
Audio and Video
This section covers extracting, recovering, fixing, enhancing, and analysing audio and video records, including CCTV footage. The evidence gathered from these sources can influence a defendant’s decision to plead guilty or not guilty, as it may strongly support the prosecution’s case.
Firearms
Examination of crime scenes involving firearms is part of ballistics science. This includes:
- Study and comparison of firearms, bullets, and their components
- Striated toolmark comparison to identify a firearm, ensure its safety, and understand its operation
Biological Science
Some examples of biological examinations are:
- Bloodstain pattern analysis at crime scenes and on exhibits
- Identification of biological material like blood, semen, and hair
- DNA analysis of samples
- Matching profiles of crime scenes, suspects, convicted criminals, and victims to the National Criminal Investigation DNA Database (NCIDD)
Botany
The scientific study of identifying plants includes:
- Identifying cannabis and opium poppies at crime scenes
- Estimating cannabis crops for useful materials
- Studying botanical material from crimes
- Identifying poisonous or psychoactive plants
Identification of Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Accident Victims
This includes:
- Processing crime scenes involving chemical, biological, or radiological events
- Finding, photographing, recording, and collecting human remains at scenes where the identities of some deceased persons are unknown
Chemical Trace Analysis
This involves:
- Identifying and comparing materials like glass, paint, plastics, fibres, and chemical irritants (such as pepper spray)
- Sampling individuals, locations, and objects for gunshot residues and subsequent analysis
Clandestine Laboratories and Factories
This includes:
- Visiting suspected drug labs
- Examining suspicious powders and hazardous chemicals
- Interpreting the significance of chemicals and equipment found on site
Accident reconstruction and mechanical analysis
This may involve providing police investigators with specialised assistance when accidents result in fatalities or serious injuries, usually in cases of severe offences such as impaired driving.
Criminal identification
Some examples of criminal identification are:
- Creating composite faces based on witness descriptions
- Cranio-facial reconstructions
- Assisting with the preparation of interactive graphic presentations of data
DNA management
DNA management can include:
- Organising the collection of DNA samples from relatives of long-term missing persons
- Sharing DNA information across Victoria and globally
- Informing police about DNA links to unsolved crimes
- Managing the collection of DNA samples from individuals across Victoria
Document examination
Examples of document examinations are:
- Comparing handwriting and signatures
- Examining machine-produced documents
- Reviewing documents for alterations, deletions, and creases
Drug analysis
Drug analysis can include:
- Identification and testing of drug quality for intelligence and legal purposes
- Reporting on drug trends and information
Fingerprint analysis
Fingerprint analysis may involve:
- Developing latent fingerprints
- Comparing them with fingerprints of persons of interest in the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) database
Fire and explosion investigation
This includes:
- Investigating fires and explosions
- Conducting scene examinations and laboratory testing of evidence to determine the cause
Major crime scene investigation
At major crime scenes, forensic science can include:
- Scene search: collecting evidence, photographing and video recording the scene, and enhancing and comparing images of footwear, tyre tracks, and toolmarks
Photographic processing
Victoria Police create photographic copies for use in court as part of the photographic processing.
Vehicle examination
This includes examining suspect vehicles and other relevant items to identify the true perpetrator.
Office of the Chief Forensic Scientist
This includes overseeing:
- Research, development, and innovation plans
- Education and training programs
Conclusion
Through thorough forensic investigations and expert evidence, the Victoria Police Forensic Services Department (VPFSD) is an important part of the criminal justice system. The VPFSD looks into crime scenes, biological materials, chemical traces, and more, and has more than 500 specialised staff who work on more than 100,000 cases a year. They make sure that justice is based on rigorous scientific research. According to the National Association of Testing Authorities, the department's multidisciplinary approach uses advanced methods and thorough investigations. This shows how important forensic science is for solving crimes and providing judges with objective evidence.
