The Nature of Evidence

Anything can be submitted for scientific analysis in an investigation, becoming the samples that yield data for forensic scientists to interpret. As evidence, however, these samples and data follow different rules than in other scientific, non-forensic laboratories. The context of the evidence is central to how it is analyzed and interpreted in the reconstruction of the criminal events. The scientific method still applies, however, and forensic scientists still employ that approach as do other non-forensic scientists. These differences and similarities will follow forensic scientists into the courtroom and either support, if done well, or weaken, if done poorly, the fruits of their scientific labors.