From Forensic Intelligence to Artificial Intelligence: A Review of Information Models in Forensic Science
Book Chapter
Furton, KG, Houck, MM, Iyengar, SS et al. (2026). From Forensic Intelligence to Artificial Intelligence: A Review of Information Models in Forensic Science
. Part F1934 3-31. 10.1007/978-3-031-98036-7_1
Furton, KG, Houck, MM, Iyengar, SS et al. (2026). From Forensic Intelligence to Artificial Intelligence: A Review of Information Models in Forensic Science
. Part F1934 3-31. 10.1007/978-3-031-98036-7_1
Forensic science has undergone a profound evolution from early foundations in Egypt, Greece, India, and China thousands of years ago to the rapid developments in the nineteenth century including manual identification systems, followed by the emergence of DNA and digital forensics in the twentieth century until the current integration of cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. This chapter explores that trajectory, beginning with Alphonse Bertillon’s anthropometric system as an early data-driven method of criminal identification and tracing the development through developments of the fingerprint databases (IAFIS), DNA profile databases (CODIS), and ballistics networks (NIBIN). Each step added to the systematization of forensic data, paving a pathway for current AI-driven forensic approaches. The emergence of AI and machine learning (ML) in the forensic domain is nascent, but it is becoming significantly relevant to criminal justice and evidence analysis. Alongside these applications, we discuss critical challenges and risks, such as biases in training data, the “black box” problem of explainability, and legal hurdles in meeting evidentiary standards. Policy and ethical considerations are addressed, noting recent government initiatives (such as the 2023 US Executive Order on trustworthy AI and NIST’s AI Risk Management Framework) that aim to guide the responsible development of AI in forensic science and related domains. By following the historical themes through to the contemporary innovations, and examining both the promise and perils of AI in forensic science, this chapter sets the stage for informed discussions on the future integration of AI into forensic science practice.
