noun
- the scientific study and application of physical evidence and forensic techniques to solve crimes
Usage: typically used in singular form; field-specific term in law enforcement and forensic science
Examples
- Criminalistics involves analyzing fingerprints, DNA, and other physical evidence found at crime scenes.
- The detective relied on criminalistics to match the suspect's DNA to evidence collected at the robbery.
- Modern criminalistics uses advanced technology to examine trace evidence like fibers and glass fragments.
- She earned her degree in criminalistics and now works for the state police laboratory.
- Criminalistics experts testified in court about the ballistic evidence linking the weapon to the crime.