ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the historical origins and advancements in forensic science. It provides a comprehensive discussion of the roles and duties of various forensic technicians and scientists as they pertain to criminal investigations and terrorist events. These television shows promote a cool, sleek vision of crime laboratories and crime scene investigators who within minutes of arrival on scene, find the single important piece of evidence that solves the crime. The overall goal of forensic science is to utilize physical evidence to provide a scientific link between a suspect, a victim, and a crime scene. The laboratory setting is where forensic scientists will examine the physical evidence. However, because scenes that are a result of terrorist actions are by nature very complex, the forensic technicians may not be able to immediately secure the scene and begin their work. Ultimately, the forensic scientists will be attempting to identify who and what caused the event based on the physical evidence recovered.
