Wabash Valley educators highlight evolving role of forensic science in modern criminal justice

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - As communities observe National Forensic Science Week, educators across the Wabash Valley are highlighting how forensic science continues to transform criminal investigations from local police departments to federal agencies.

Forensic science encompasses a wide spectrum of scientific disciplines applied directly to the legal system, providing critical tools for crime scene analysis.

“It’s applying science, all the different fields of science, to help with criminal investigations,” said Nicole Hagemeier-McVay, adjunct professor at Vincennes University. “They aid police departments, all the way from the local level all the way to the national federal level.”

While popular media often focuses on traditional physical evidence, instructors emphasize that the field spans far beyond ballistics and laboratory work.

“Oftentimes, the most common that people think of is looking at DNA, right, or maybe firearms analysis, blood spatter patterns,” Hagemeier-McVay said. “But there’s a lot more than just what you think of with that. It can be, if you’ve ever watched Criminal Minds, there’s the psychological side of it with the profiling. We even have stuff as far as forensic nursing.”

However, analyzing evidence is only half the equation. Legal and criminology educators stress that courtroom admissibility and adherence to legal protocol are essential to making forensic findings hold up before a jury.

“You might have very good evidence, physical evidence, and you do the analysis,” said Avdi Avdija, professor at Indiana State University. “But unless you present that in a legal manner, without violating legal rules, it will not be useful.”

Rapid advancements in technology are also reshaping the curriculum and career opportunities for future investigators, especially as digital crimes rise.

“Two decades ago, we didn’t have any problems with cyber crime,” Avdija said. “Now, we have cyber laws and cyber crime is very evident and real. Twenty years from now, we might have something else.”

As forensic tools continue to evolve, Wabash Valley universities are working to ensure the next generation of law enforcement and crime scene professionals are prepared for both the lab and the courtroom.