Forensic Science in 21st Century Criminal Justice Paper Essay

Forensic Science in 21st Century Criminal Justice Paper - Essay Example ng proliferation and improvement of modern forensics, law enforcement has been given an exact science as a tool that can produce exact and positive results in the process of crime investigation. This paper will present a discussion of the importance of forensic science in the criminal justice system and how it plays a significant part in enforcing justice. The accuracy of the popular media representation of forensic science and its influence on the popular opinion on justice-related issues will also be tackled. In order to fully understand the importance of forensic science in the criminal justice system, it is best to first define what it is. Elizabeth Morgan (2007) defines forensics as â€Å"a field of science dedicated to the methodical gathering and analysis of evidence to establish facts that can be presented in a legal proceeding.† Since forensic science is a marriage between the scientific methods of data gathering and analysis and the legal system, there are numerous protocols that are involved, especially the chain of command of handling evidence, which makes sure that the evidence is not tampered with at any point in the process of the investigation (Morgan, 2007 and Wolfe, 2001). These protocols serve to safeguard the whole process at its various levels and to ensure that the evidence, as well as the testimony of the forensic scientist, will solidly hold against the accused during the trial due to its pristine and uncontaminated state (Wolfe, 2001). Where before, the poli ce and the prosecution rely on the statement of witnesses and the available evidence that can be seen only by the naked eye, today, forensic scientists are able to completely examine a crime scene with the use of advanced technology and their own expertise. Because forensics plays a crucial role in gathering evidence—in that the tools, equipment, and methods for analysis are based on an exact science that is ruled by strict protocols—and the evidence is key to the whole process of