History of Forensic Science

Question 1

How culprits were decided in the ancient world?

Answer 1

Culprit & punishment decided by king to show power

Question 2

Effect of knowledge to kings & punishments

Answer 2

knowledge replaced king; punishments were given with respect w/ the intensity of the crime committed

Question 3

who decides culprit now

Answer 3

the court of law

Question 4

how are punishments given

Answer 4

based on evidence and statements produced by authorized officials in front of court

Question 5

how punishment and culprit is decided in roman era

Answer 5

• narrated in front of the public
• culprit and victim deliver their side of the story to prove innocence and escape punishment and consequences of crime
• indiv with best argument of proving the crime, higher power/public determine outcome of the case

Question 6

According to Rawtani et al. (2019), what is the procedure followed by forensic investigators in investigation (6)

Answer 6

seizing crime scene, collection of evidences, forwarding to laboratories, questioning, & making reports of the statements given by witnesses, suspect, victim, and scientific officer, then produce report in court

Question 7

forensic science in indian investigation

Answer 7

Arthashastra 2300 years ago by Kautilya (or Chanakya), prime minister of the Great Mauryan Empire about the maintenance of law and order by the ruling government

Question 8

4 sources that shape the law in indian investigation

Answer 8

dharma (sacred law based on truth)
vyahara (evidence based on witnesses)
charita (history & custom based on tradition accepted by the people)
rajasasana (edicts of the king/created law)

Question 9

significance of signature/fingerprints in Indian history

Answer 9

Ancient Chinese records show inimitable/unique fingerprints (Tarija) used by ancient kingdom in south India

Question 10

what happened in 1849

Answer 10

first chem examination laboratory under Department of Health in Madras Presidency since many died due to consumption of poisonous substances in the nineteenth century

Question 11

goal of first chem examination lab

Answer 11

detect and analyze various poisonous substances & poisons; took over chemical and toxicological analysis

Question 12

what happened in 1897

Answer 12

first fingerprint bureau in calcutta

Question 13

how forensic science help

Answer 13

criminal profiling, identifying cause and manner of death, & prevention of criminal activity

Question 14

what is forensic science

Answer 14

application of scientific knowledge and methodology to criminal investigation and legal problems

Question 15

application of forensic science

Answer 15

in the procedure of criminal investigation to prove an crime and bring the accused in front court to punish accd to the type and manner of crime committed; linking of evidence and suspected people to prove a case

Question 16

origin of the concept of forensic science accd to Museum, 2018; Fleming, 2004; Chich-Ts’Si, 2018

Answer 16

16th century; book Ming Yuen Shih Lu (true record of clarification of wrongs) by Chich-Ts’Si=first written document about forensics

10th century; Ho Ning discussed concept of forensic science in his book Records of Doubtful Criminal Case

Question 17

origin of word forensic

Answer 17

Latin “forensis”=”of or before the forum”

Question 18

origin of word science

Answer 18

latin scire=to know

Question 19

history of term forensic

Answer 19

• Roman times
• 44 BCE; death of Julius Caesar by Brutus & Cassius and Roman senators
• Antistius attending physician; 23 stab wounds, 1 stab to breast caused death
• first record in history where pathologist gives opinion as expert
• first homicidal investigation
• delivered in open forum