法科学と科学捜査

抄録

The precise proof of a crime using objective evidence is becoming increasingly important as Japan's crime rate climbs. This need arises not only from the current high rate of anonymous crime, but also the introduction of a Saiban-in (citizen judge) system, and the increased silence of suspects following investigation visualization. Forensic science is an academic field that investigates legal (and illegal) matters using science, and subsequently applies research results to resolving real crime cases. Materials examined during forensic practice include both common specimens, such as fingerprints, footprints, blood stains, and hairs, and less common specimens, such as soils, plants, dust, and pollens. In the event of biological, chemical, or explosive terrorism, air and surface wipe specimens—possibly containing chemical warfare agents, microbes, and explosives—can become critical target materials. Alternatively, on discovering powders and/or liquids that are suspected to be illegal drugs, preliminary tests are performed at the crime scene itself. Subsequently, confirmatory examinations are performed at a forensic science laboratory. Current research efforts are underway to develop simpler and more reliable tools for on-site drug testing, and to develop analytical methods capable of differentiating regioisomers of drugs, performing drug metabolism studies as a way to identify drugs of abuse, and studying the organic synthesis of authentic standard compounds. In this review, we outline current state-of-the-art technologies in forensic chemistry.