History and Development of Forensic Science

1. History and Development of Forensic Science

2. 1814- Mathieu Orfila (1787-1853) • a Spanish-born physician • published the first scientific volume on the detection of poisons and their effects on animals. • His work established forensic science as a legitimate scientific area. • He is considered as the “Father of Forensic toxicology”.

3. 1879-Alphonse Bertillon (1853-1914) • developed the science of anthropometry, • a systematic procedure of taking and analyzing a series of body measurements as a means of distinguishing one individual from another • first scientific system of personal identification • it was considered to be the most accurate method of personal identification for nearly 20 years. • eventually replaced by fingerprinting • considered to be the “Father of Criminal Identification”

4. 1887- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle(1859-1930) • struggling medical doctor • published his first novel, A Study in Scarlet, in which he described the adventures of a fictional character (Sherlock Holmes) who used scientific crime-detection techniques such as serology (study of blood), fingerprinting, firearm identification, and document examination. • Doyle described these techniques in his novels long before the techniques were recognized and utilized by real-life law enforcement investigators.

5. 1892- Francis Galton (1822-1911) • completed the first definitive study of fingerprints and developed a methodology of classifying them • published the book, “Finger Prints” in which he included the first statistical proof supporting the uniqueness of individual fingerprints and described the basic principles that form the present system of identification by fingerprints

6. 1893-Hans Gross (1847-1915) • an Austrian public prosecutor and judge • wrote the book, Handbuch für Untersuchungsrichter (Handbook of Criminal Investigation), a treatise describing the application of various science disciplines to the field of criminal investigation. • he developed the forensic journal, Kriminologie, that is still published today.

7. 1901-Leone Lattes (1887-1954) • a professor at the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the University of Turin, Italy • discovered that human blood can be group into different categories (A, B, AB, O) according to specific proteins found of the surface of red blood cells. • In 1915 he developed a simple procedure for determining the blood type of dried blood. • This procedure is still in use today.

8. 1910-Edmond Locard (1877-1966) • a Frenchman who studied the works of Hans Gross and others • he founded the first forensic science laboratory in Lyons, England • His research eventually led him to start the Institute of Criminalistics at the University of Lyons, England • Locard’s Exchange Principle – every contact results in exchange

9. 1910-Albert S. Osborn (1858-1946) • authored the book, Questioned Documents, in which he described principles of document examination • was responsible for the acceptance of documents being accepted as scientific evidence by courts.