Forensic Toxicologist Research Paper

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Forensic Toxicology in the 21st Century Courtroom

Innovations in forensic technologies in recent years have introduced a wide array of powerful law enforcement tools that can be used to help identify criminal perpetrators and establish the credible evidence needed to convict them. As a result, today, forensic toxicologists play an increasingly vital role in the criminal justice system where the need for accurate and valid evidence is paramount. To determine the precise role and importance of the forensic toxicologist today, this paper provides a review of the relevant peer-reviewed and scholarly literature, followed by a summary of the research and significant findings concerning these issues in the conclusion.

Review and Discussion

By definition, forensic toxicology is focused on providing scientific evidence for the courts. For example, Anderson and Volker (2008) report that, "The term 'forensic' is effectively a synonym for 'legal' or 'related to courts' and in Latin means 'before the forum.' The term has practically become synonymous with the field of forensic science" (p. 4). In essence, forensic toxicology concerns the effects of drugs and poisons on the human body (Anderson & Volker, 2008). This point is also made by Buker (2012) who reports, "In cooperation with forensic pathologists, forensic toxicologists detect and estimate the amount of several known toxic substances (alcohol, drugs or other chemicals) in tissues and body fluids obtained during the autopsy from a dead body, or in the blood, urine, salvia or gastric material obtained from a living person" (p. 29). The lofty-sounding title "forensic toxicologist," of course, does not necessarily communicate this side of the profession.

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In this regard, Houck points out that, "Working with bodily fluids and tissue samples can be messy and smelly. The forensic toxicologist is also exposed to details about often heinous crimes, which can cause mental anguish" (2013, para. 1). Beyond the foregoing, other aspects of forensic toxicology are also hard work. For instance, Houck stresses that, "Most forensic toxicologists work in labs run by law enforcement agencies, medical examiners or private drug testing facilities. They often must sit or stand for long periods of time. The tests they perform require very fine motor skills and a dogged commitment to following rigorous scientific protocols" (2013, para. 2).

Although capabilities differ from laboratory to laboratory, the types of forensic toxicological examinations that are typically performed in modern facilities include postmortem toxicology, human performance testing, and poisoning inquiries (Montgomery,….....

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