The essence of forensics is to aid law enforcement agencies and the judiciary in bringing justice to victims and in delivering punishment the criminal deserves. It serves a deterrent purpose in preventing other like-minded individuals from committing crimes for fear of being caught, ensuring order in society. However, as science and technology advances, the sophistication of criminal cases increases in tandem. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, only 62.6% of homicides were "cleared"in the United States in 2004, leaving a substantial portion- in other words 6,035 of a total of 16,137 murder cases- unresolved (Department of Justice FBI, 2006). Furthermore, in the United States in 2010, 30,511 cases deemed to have little chance of a positive outcome were closed as part of a four-year savings plan by the police (Daily Mail Reporter, 2011).

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This clearly shows the magnitude of challenges faced by in the crime-fighting scene today. Therefore, it is imperative for forensics to adapt and evolve to keep up with the ever-changing criminal landscape, through adopting new innovative technology or more effective methods. This paper will hence explore the history and development of forensic sciences, the expansive variety of current forensic methodologies followed by a prediction for its future development.