Forensic science is an emerging interdisciplinary field that applies fundamental concepts, principles, and techniques from the humanities and social sciences, as well as the natural sciences, in the practice of justice. It involves the investigation, collection, formation/pattern analysis of evidence on site, the preservation, compilation, examination, identification and evaluation of evidence in lab, as well as the overall management of the incidental process. It is both interdisciplinary and comprehensive in nature.
Amidst the unprecedented global transformation of the present world, the integration of law and technology has reached a profound level, and forensic science is standing at a developmental crossroad. In order to adapt to the trend of deep integration and lead the way of the post-millennium judicial reform, we see the need for an interdisciplinary academic journal dedicated to the exploration of the frontier in the field of forensic science. This journal would provide a platform of academic exchanges for scholars and professionals undertaking the pioneering inquiry.
The journal’s editorial board is jointly chaired by Professor Yan Ping from Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, China and Professor Bruno Botta from the Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, two of the leading scholars in the field in their respective country.
The beginnings of forensic science can be traced back to ancient China, and it flourished in recent and modern Western countries, eventually evolved into a modernized comprehensive scientific body of knowledge as we see today, encompassing a system of fundamental theories and applied technologies. Both in China and the Western world, forensic science has been widely applied in courtrooms, both civil and criminal, supporting the pursuit of truth and justice. In essence, it is the practical application of various branches of natural sciences in addressing issues related to fact-finding in the process of criminal, civil, or administrative litigation. From a vertical perspective, forensic science is applicable at various stages of litigation, including the discovery, extraction, examination, identification of evidence, as well as its presentation in the courtroom. And horizontally, the disciplinary field of forensic science is open and encompasses all natural and social sciences related to the discovery of truth about the world, such as crime scene investigation, evidence standardization, forensic technology, forensic medicine, forensic accounting, forensic information technology, forensic engineering, and the list goes on.
On one hand, forensic science is the driving force behind a more effective and efficient justice system. The successful resolution of many notorious cases, such as the ‘Golden State Killer’ and the ‘Green River Killer’, can all be attributed to the development of forensic science, on the other hand, forensic science also plays a crucial role in the judicial system of ensuring the fairness and impartiality of the system.
In modern China, the development of forensic science embodies a ‘trial-centered’ judicial philosophy, where the scientific validation of evidence in court proceedings not only highlights the objectivity, relevance, fairness, and legality of the fact-finding process but also promotes the integration of the innovative technology and the rule of law. This will significantly enhance the quality of expert opinion, improve the credibility of evidence, in turn providing a sound technological foundation in support of modern litigation that has grown increasingly complicated and “technology-savvy”.
In this consideration, we deem the establishment of this international journal of ‘Perspectives in Legal and Forensic Sciences’ a truly beneficial endeavor for the interdisciplinary innovation and development in the related fields. In its own capacity, it can facilitate international collaboration among scholars, promotes theoretical systematization for the discipleship, and enhances the regulation and standardization of evidence procedure. It can also advance the international cross-recognition of forensic standards, and fundamentally promote the objectivity, fairness, relevance, and legality of the judicial system of evidence.
Acknowledgments
In the process of creating this journal, we received strong support and generous help from numerous experts in forensic science, law, and judicial practice both domestically and internationally. Among these special friends are Professor Xu Hanming, Professor Sofia Huang from Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Mr. Yue Qinfang from Hubei Tiantian Law Firm, and Professor Oliviero Diliberto from Sapienza University of Rome. Our endeavor would not have been possible without their contribution.
