forensic investigation
Evidence-based crime analysis
Forensic investigation is the systematic examination of evidence to establish facts for legal proceedings.
It encompasses crime scene analysis, laboratory testing, and expert interpretation across specialties—DNA, ballistics, toxicology, digital data.
The forensic investigation revealed the fire was arson.
The adjective forensic has broadened to describe any rigorous, evidence-based inquiry: a forensic investigation into the company's finances.
- expert testimonySpecialist's courtroom statement
- chain of custodyDocumented evidence handling sequence
- DNA evidenceBiological material proving identity
- crime sceneLocation of an offense
- evidence bagSealed pouch for forensic items
digital forensics · trace evidence · burden of proof · spectrometry · handwriting analysis · chromatography · ballistics · serology · criminal profiling · legal ethics · cyberforensics · fingerprinting · autopsy report · time of death · bloodstain · body identification · toxicology · soil analysis
- missing personsmissing person, disappearance, missing children, missing child, vanished
- Peacekeepingpeacekeepers, peacekeeping missions, blue helmets, UN peacekeeping, UN missions
- war crimescrimes against humanity, Nuremberg, war crimes tribunals, prisoner abuse, war criminals
forensic investigationguesswork
Conclusions drawn without proof
hunches · conjecture · intuition · gut feeling · jumping to conclusions
forensic investigationcrime prevention
Stopping offenses before occurrence
predictive policing · deterrence · threat assessment · risk assessment · prophylaxis
forensic investigationcover-up
Hiding wrongdoing from public
obstruction of justice · evidence tampering · concealment · whitewash · stonewalling