Spectroscopy Announces Upcoming Content Series on Forensic Analysis

Spectroscopy magazine is committed to providing its audience with the latest breaking developments in the field of spectroscopy and how it is being used across many different applications and industries (1). It is with this in mind that Spectroscopy is happy to announce the upcoming launch of a one-day online event titled, “The Future of Forensic Analysis.”

Spectroscopy's upcoming “The Future of Forensic Analysis” content series will spotlight how spectroscopy is contributing to the advancement of forensic analysis, and how innovation in analytical science is improving law enforcement and investigative practices in the modern era.

Spectroscopy techniques like Raman, ultraviolet visible (UV-vis), and infrared, are the backbone of forensic analysis. These techniques help scientists test everything from fibers at crime scenes to analyzing paint at the site of a car accident. In “The Future of Forensic Analysis,” presented by Spectroscopy, we’ll dive deep into the latest trends and challenges in spectroscopic forensic analysis. This series will include a selection of bylined articles, Q&As, and interviews with experts in forensic analysis in spectroscopy.

What is Forensic Analysis?

Forensic analysis is the scientific examination, detection, and evaluation of evidence collected from suspected crime scenes to support the investigation and resolution of legal cases (2). This multidisciplinary field encompasses various techniques, including chemical analysis, DNA profiling, and digital forensics, to identify suspects, reconstruct the time and location of events, and verify or disprove alibis. Forensic analysis is vital to civilization because it upholds the principles of justice and the rule of law by providing objective, scientific evidence in legal proceedings (3). It helps ensure that perpetrators of crimes are accurately identified and held accountable, while also protecting the innocent from wrongful conviction. By enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the criminal justice system, forensic analysis contributes to public safety and trust in legal institutions, thereby maintaining social order and fostering a sense of security within communities.

Spectroscopy has been used in forensic analysis because of its ability to provide detailed information about the chemical composition of evidence in a non-destructive manner. By examining the interaction (reflection, transmission, fluorescence) between matter and electromagnetic radiation, spectroscopic techniques can identify and quantify various substances, which is crucial in solving crimes. One of the most common applications of spectroscopy in forensic analysis is using Raman spectroscopy and other non-destructive techniques to analyze trace evidence of gunshot residues, explosives, body fluids, and inks (3). Using non-destructive techniques is important because it helps the evidence remain intact for further examination, which is vital in forensic investigations (1).

Another significant application of spectroscopy in forensics is in the analysis of bodily fluids and drug identification. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (MS) are routinely used to detect and quantify drugs in biological samples, such as blood and urine (3). UV-based spectroscopic analysis allows investigators to see evidence that is invisible to the naked eye, including bloodstains (3).

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) also has emerged as a technique of choice in forensic analysis. SERS, along with surface-enhanced Raman difference spectroscopy (SERDS) and spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS), can help sensitively analyze trace amounts of drugs, which allows investigators to obtain more clarity on the evidence (4). In turn, this helps contribute to decreasing the amount of false prosecutions.

“The Future of Forensic Analysis” will spotlight how spectroscopy is contributing to the advancement of forensic analysis, and how innovation in analytical science is improving law enforcement and investigative practices in the modern era. We will look at the current and ongoing research being conducted in the field, focusing on the spectroscopic techniques that are propelling forensic analysis forward.

We are looking forward to sharing this content series with you later this year. More details about this online event will be coming soon, as all of us at Spectroscopy magazine work to put together this series for you.

References

(1) Spectroscopy, About Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/about-spectroscopy (accessed 2024-06-19).

(2) Shehova, A. What is Forensic Analysis and Why is it Important for the Security of Your Infrastructure. Virtual Metric. Available at: https://www.virtualmetric.com/blog/forensic-analysis-and-the-security-of-infrastructure (accessed 2024-06-19).

(3) Kaveti, B. What Spectroscopy Techniques are Most Useful in Forensics? Azo Optics. Available at: https://www.azooptics.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=2456 (accessed 2024-06-19).

(4) Mojica, E.-R.; Dai, Z. New Raman Spectroscopic Methods’ Application in Forensic Science. Talanta Open 2022, 6, 100124. DOI: 10.1016/j.talo.2022.100124