Forensics is simply the application of science and scientific techniques to individual cases, with the intention of providing prosecutors and other legal bodies with impartial evidence regarding individual cases. Several groups do forensic reporting, including biologists, chemists, and police officers who are trained in areas of fire arms, fingerprints and photography.

The forensic sciences have always attempted to remain extremely accurate, and in general have achieved this standing. Unfortunately there have been certain instances where results, though theoretically accurate, have been incorrectly – or insufficiently provided to authorities in trials. One such case involves Dr Alan Clift who in believing police officers where always right in their suspicions, provided scientific evidence which led to many convictions. Unfortunately he withheld vital evidence that could have proven the innocence of the accused.

Within Victoria, the attendance of forensic chemists and biologists at crime scenes is not common (with the exception of those that attend fire scenes with investigative purposes). The crime scenes are reviewed and investigated by specially trained police officers, who collect all the necessary information – including suspected attack direction information, foot prints, fingerprints, distances between objects involved in incidents, and photos for later referral. Each piece of evidence is meticulously labeled, then supplied for analysis to dedicated departments. It is the task of medical practitioners to examine human bodies.

Other tasks carried out by crime scene examiners includes comparison of shoe prints sizes and tire impressions, reconstruction of broken items like glass, and the restoration of erased identification numbers – including those found on motor vehicle engines.

Fingerprints are said to be one of the most important factors in criminal investigation because they are the only true means of identifying and distinguishing individuals involved in cases (though this is questionable in the light of recent scientific DNA developments). Fingerprints created through contact of human skin with objects are known as a ‘contact traces’. The use of fingerprint identification goes back to early days of Egypt, but the real credit for its development is given to Sir William Herschel (a civil servant within Africa) and the Scottish physician named Henry Faulds (a Japanese hospital worker). Both these men released their findings in 1877 and 1880 respectively, but their concepts were given little weight. It was only when the police inspector general – Edward Henry – developed a system of classification for prints that the English government took this system seriously, releasing it during 1901. Most countries, including Australia are, presently using the Henry system (since amended). This system was incorporated within Victoria during 1903.

Fingerprints are created by the impression of ‘friction ridge’ skin patterns (also named ‘papillary ridges’) that are found under each hand or foot. Each print has an exclusive owner, and there has never been 2 individuals recorded with the same print (This includes identical twins). The finger’s ridges never change, from birth until death – and no mater what happens, they will always reappear within a short period of time. If friction ridges get damaged, they will reappear again within a short period of time. The development of scares on friction ridges proves beneficial in identifying individuals.

Print identification works not by the patterns left behind, but instead the arches, loops, whorls, ridge endings, ‘lakes’, dots, bifurcation of ridges, short ridges and composites (among others) that are found within the patterns. Each of these characteristics are known as ‘points of identity’. If eight ridge characteristics are found to match, examiners are usually satisfied that the questioned fingerprint is the one on file. But, when presenting this information in court, experts will only do so if they are able to distinguish 12 unique points of identity – this is simply a protective measure ensuring that evidence is absolute. On the chance that more than one print is in question - for instances, prints from the index and forefingers – then the expert will be willing to stand up in court and give evidence with only 8 matching identity points on each print.

The term ‘latent fingerprints’ implies prints that are barely visible or difficult to distinguish because of smears, foreign objects (grease) or surfaces that do not allow prints to be clearly recorded. On smooth, non-porous surfaces (including metal, glass, and polished wood), a fine powder and dusting brush are used. On other objects (like paper and porous objects), it is possible to make prints visible by treating the objects with chemical treatments (like ninhydrin). For a household example, place an object with a fingerprint on it into an airtight container, and then add a small amount of ‘super glue’ (or any other glue with ‘second bonding’ abilities) near the print – about 2 to 3 cm. Within a minute, the fingerprint on the object will be clear to the human eye. This is because the chemicals within the glue have stuck to the latent print making it visible.

The task of fingerprinting within Australia remains the exclusive task of specially trained police officers, simply because it was developed long before any other forensic science. The special training is done through the Fingerprint Bureau (Russell street), and takes a 5 year period of intensive training. Upon completion, these officers must satisfy the independent examiners of the Australian Central Fingerprint Bureau before being able to stand up in court as print experts.

It should be noted that in court, a lack of fingerprint evidence tends to arouse the suspicion of many jurors, particularly if the defence council points the lack of their presence. Suspicion and doubt is sometimes enough to adversely effect the outcome of any case. The Evidence Act (1958 Victoria - Section 149A) should be reviewed in such instances.