history OF forensic SCIENCE

    The history of Forensic Science dates back to BCE.  Evidence of fingerprints in early paintings and rock carvings of prehistoric humans.  It may not have been defined as Forensics as of yet however they did make many new developments over the years.  The first usage of Forensics in a court room is dated back to the year 1000 when a Quintilian, an attorney in the Roman courts, showed that bloody palm prints were meant to frame a blind man of his mothers murder.  Then in 1856, Sir William Herschel, a British officer working for the Indian Civil service began to use thumbprints on documents both as a substitute for written signatures for illiterates and to verify document signatures, followed by a Dutch scientist by the name of J.Izaak Van Deen developed a presumptive test for blood using guaiac, a West Indian shrub.  How we have progressed over the many years, 1999, The FBI upgraded its computerized fingerprint database and implemented the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFS), allowing paperless submission storage, and search capabilities directly to the national database maintained at the FBI.  To see a Full Timeline with over 100 distinct dates when there was small and large advancements made to get us were we are today.  Click Here 

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