Are you fascinated by crime mysteries? Do crime scenes, blood spatters kindle your curiosity? If yes, this interest can be turned into a viable career option. The field of forensic sciences has an abundance of opportunities for those who are keenly interested in criminal investigation, science and legal matters.
In stark contrast to popular belief, this field is not new to India. It is true that India lags behind other developed countries in terms of technical advancements in this field. But we are catching up fast.
Application of science in detection and investigation of crime dates back as far as the late 1800s. According to senior historians, India’s first forensic lab was set up in Madras presidency in 1849 to investigate a series of deaths due to poisoning. Since then, India has seen a plethora of advancements. From the 1870 onwards, a fingerprint bureau, serology units (labs to examine blood and urine), an explosives department, units to identify and track footprints, a note forgery department, ballistics department among others were set up and developed since then.
The Indian government has been taking robust steps to promote forensic science to improve its applicability in modern day criminology. At the beginning of 2020, the government passed the National Forensic Sciences University bill. It believes that strengthening the study of forensic sciences and criminology play a crucial role in cracking criminal investigations and bringing down crime rates.
Also, universities across India have now started opening up more PG. Diploma and M.Sc. courses as the number of students who opt to specialize in forensic sciences study are steadily increasing. Currently there are 91 colleges in India that offer full-time and part-time courses in this field.
Forensic science in criminal investigations
The application of forensic sciences in different fields are being explored constantly. But the criminal justice system still remains to be one of its strongest attributes. Also, as crime has been around since the beginning of the human race, so has the methods used to pin the culprit. Before complex methods arose, the practice of storing fingerprints of the guilty was a common practice in India. From this, we have come a long way to analyze DNA and other polymeric strains.
Forensic science has remarkable contribution in supporting justice in crime investigations and other serious violations like rape, murder, homicide etc. The main goal of this field is to provide guidance to the police, judiciary and the public for a fair and unbiased prosecution. With the recent infusion of technology, police try to detect the crime, recreate the crime scene, identify and the alleged offender. The courts utilize this data to establish vital links and decide the innocence or guilt of the offender.
Forensic sciences in law and judiciary
Analysis of evidence makes use of concepts from various fields like physics, bio-technology, computer science, forensic chemistry and biology. It is the one subject that combines applications of science in answering questions that have legal significance. Some of the renowned techniques are analyses of fingerprint, DNA, ballistic, explosives blood culture and firearms. A forensic investigation helps in identifying who performed what type of crime where, when and how. With these data, it becomes possible to establish the reason behind the crime and also the relationship between the perpetrator and victim. As every crime scene is unique, it is imperative to preserve it with bare minimum adulteration. The emergence of DNA analysis has truly changed the scope of forensic investigation as it finds the guilty purely based on scientific evidence.
However, the courts have to heavily rely on non-scientific data due to the lack of proper technologies. The usage of forensic sciences to crack cases in our legal system is very sparse. According to a survey by the Supreme Court in 2011, only 47 cases were cracked using forensic data. Experts in the field point out this is mainly because of lack of awareness and unpreparedness of the law enforcement to collect forensic evidence from the crime scene. As forensic sciences deal with natural elements produced by the human body, delay in inspection leads to the substance itself changing. For example, blood or urine samples may show presence of alcohol even if the person was not inebriated due to putrefaction of the sample.
Also, there is a huge problem of maladministration when it comes to maintaining forensic labs. Most of them are under-staffed, do not have necessary equipment and lack funding as well. Lack of coordination between forensic scientists and the police force also greatly undermines the success of forensic criminal investigations. In the case of rape crimes, proper storage of DNA matter is crucial which is lacking in India.
Career paths in forensic sciences
An undergraduate degree in forensic sciences may be an unusual choice for a career, quite out of the norm when compared to medicine and engineering. But due to world-wide growth, the vast nature of the subject and advancements in this subject, there are more than a handful of options to pursue.
There are many openings in both the government and private sector. Also, there is always an option of studying more and pursuing a master’s degree in a specialized forensic sciences discipline. Here is a brief list of careers one can consider taking up in India and the agencies that hire forensic experts:
- Forensic Ballistics Expert
- Bloodstain Pattern Analyst
- Forensic DNA Analyst
- Forensic Toxicologist
- Digital Forensic Expert
- Forensic Legal Expert
- Crime scene Investigator
- Forensic engineer
- Forensics document examiner
- Forensic Psychologist/Anthropologist
Top recruiters
A forensic scientist has many options when it comes to employment. They may work as a freelancer or set up their own labs or can work as a permanent employee with government departments and private agencies. As forensic science has a deep connection with law, scientists can even work in legal departments and investigation departments of government establishments. Specializing further will also enable you to work in niche fields within the forensic science arena.
Here are some of the top places of work as a forensic scientist:
- Intelligence Bureau(IB)
- Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
- Central Govt. Forensic Sciences Labs
- Hospitals
- Private Detective Agencies
- Law Firms
- Police Department
- Quality Control Bureau
- Banks
- Universities
- Defence/Army
The field of forensic science in India has superior scope for development. It is one among the few careers which pays well even in a dull economy. Students with basic degrees in chemistry, biology or physics can opt for a master’s degree in this field. This an interesting and livable job option for doctors who wish to explore more in the field of science. Anyone with a background in science who is keenly interested in legal studies and criminal investigation can opt for a future in forensics.
Interested to know about forensic subjects in addition with the concepts of Chemistry and Genetics? Check out the courses offered by Garden City University This special curriculum is one of its kind, Graduates can opt for any of the 3 subjects which expands their scope. University also offers M.sc Forensic Science (Post-graduation) where students can study Forensic toxicology, Forensic odontology, Forensic anthropology, Criminology and much more in detail.