Forensics
Resource Center
Plain-language guides to the forensic science behind the cases: DNA, autopsies, trace evidence, and the specialists who work them.
The Forensic Files Resource Center collects plain-language guides to the forensic science behind the cases, covering how evidence gets found, tested, and used to name a suspect. Each guide explains one part of the work, written for viewers, not for scientists.
Start with Forensics Explained for the big picture, keep the glossary handy when a term trips you up, or browse Techniques A to Z for a specific method. The cards below link to every guide in the center.
Guides
Forensics Explained
Plain-language explanations of the forensic methods used in the show.
Read the guide →Techniques A to Z
An index of forensic techniques, from ballistics to toxicology.
Read the guide →Glossary
Definitions of common forensic and legal terms heard across episodes.
Read the guide →Careers in Forensics
An overview of forensic science careers and the training they require.
Read the guide →The Forensic Team
The specialists who examine evidence and help reconstruct a crime.
Meet the team →Latest Breakthroughs
Notes on recent developments in forensic science and DNA analysis.
Read the guide →Forensic Links
Related sites, organizations and professional associations.
See the links →Safety Tips
Everyday personal safety advice inspired by the cases.
Read the tips →Common questions
What is the Forensic Files Resource Center?
It is a set of plain-language guides that explain the forensic science shown in the episodes, from DNA and autopsies to trace evidence and the specialist roles behind each case. The guides are written for viewers rather than for scientists.
Do I need a science background to read these guides?
No. Every guide is written in plain English and defines its terms as it goes. If a word is unfamiliar, the glossary explains common forensic terms in a sentence or two.
Where should I start?
Start with Forensics Explained for an overview of how a case moves from the crime scene to the courtroom. From there you can jump to a specific method in Techniques A to Z or look up a role in Forensic Team.
Are the guides tied to specific episodes?
The guides explain the science in general, and the episode pages show how that science played out in real cases. You can read a guide first or watch an episode and come back to look something up.