The identified contemporary issue in modern police operations and policing is one of forensic investigation. Forensic investigation has emerged as a critical segment of the law enforcement system, while forensic scientists usually undertake their operations to allow the unearth details of issues related to criminal, civil, and regulatory concerns. The work they undertake usually revolves around scientific investigation. As such, they help the law enforcement officers while at the same time fostering judicial issues related to crime investigation and addressing legal matters (Siegel & Worrall, 2018) . Forensic scientists work together with evidence teams together with crime scene researchers and law enforcement members. Forensic investigators normally utilize their scientific principles knowledge and analytical approaches when undertaking physical assessments of evidence found on a crime scene. The nature of the work they undertake also comprises of comprehensive reports based on the findings they come across while they might also serve as expert witnesses in courts (Ellen, Day, & Davies, 2018) . Thus, the paper discusses forensic investigation as a contemporary issue in modern police operations and in policing.
Key Enforcement Agencies
Regarding the law enforcement agencies responsible for enforcing the law related to forensic investigation, they comprise of mostly forensic scientists. These are responsible for collecting, storing and analyzing DNA, fibers, and body fluids among other forms of physical evidence. These assist in criminal sentencing because the evidence they offer is accurate and reliable. These work together with the assistance of law enforcement officers and crime scene researchers to facilitate in acquisition of evidence (Morgan & Benson, 2018) .
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Forensic Investigation History
On history, the utilization of science in undertaking investigations pertaining to crime have been considered as having existed prior to the Roman Empire. However, the forensic investigation concept is around 100 years old. The court systems and low enforcement organizations have become increasingly reliant on scientific approaches in crime scene examinations during the past century (Fraser & Williams, 2013) . Up to around mid-19 th century, the utilization of science in undertaking investigations was subject to various discussions, although ideal deployment of scientific principles has not received widespread adoption. For a considerable part of history, various instances of diverse evidence pieces resulting to acquittals as well as convictions prevailed, while they might be attributed to what is presently referred to as forensics (Erickson, 2013) .
In the 1800s, nevertheless, the deployment of scientific approaches in criminal investigations realized widespread growth. Vegetable grains and clothing would be utilized in placing suspects in crime scenes. The discovery of the cameras contributed to the utilization of photography in preserving and documenting scenes associated with crime. Furthermore, the discovery of hydrogen peroxide facilitated in the foaming process because it would oxidize after contacting hemoglobin (Ellen, Day, & Davies, 2018) . As such, it portrayed its capacity in testing for the existence of blood. In the case of these advancements, they grew fast thereby making it possible to utilize science in the area of criminology (Morgan & Benson, 2018) . Diverse stories by detectives and mystery novels realized tremendous popularity in conventional culture, while vital characters, such as the iconic role that Sir Arthur Conan played in Sherlock Holmes (Fraser & Williams, 2013) .
Indeed, the diverse innovations played a tremendous role in leading forensic investigation to grow tremendously and emerge as a discipline. For the major advance realized in the area of forensic science, it can be attributed to Thomas Taylor, an American scientists, and two Englishmen including William Herschel and Henry Faulds. These individuals revealed that human fingerprints were unique and that it was possible to use them in identification of persons (Fraser & Williams, 2013) . Thus, it resulted to standardization as well as codification of acknowledged initiatives in the area of forensic investigation. DNA analysis emerged as an advancement realized in the 20 th century, while it mostly revolved around the 19 th century basis. It perfected the approaches utilized in evidence preservation and analysis. During the 1900s, however, the major discovery witnessed in crime scene exploration after fingerprinting emerged as a common practice was attributed to the discovery of DNA analysis together with identification (Erickson, 2013) . Presently, forensic investigation has been witnessing growth with the discovery of new technologies.
Major Change to Law Enforcement Operations
The major change realized in low enforcement operations related to forensic investigation is one of bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA). For instance, with the recent utilization of DNA in cases of criminal investigations, it has contributed to affirmative identification of an immense number of offenders in line with resulting to overturns of previous convictions while a large number of innocent people has been released. The advancements realized here has led crime scene investigators to venture into areas, such as BPA, which has emerged as a specialty in the field (Ellen, Day, & Davies, 2018) . It has facilitated in analyzing and comprehending scientific approaches better.
BPA refers to the study of sizes, shapes, location, and distribution of blood patterns to facilitate in determining the actual events that led them to emerge. For instance, in the event that an object, such as a hammer, strikes a liquid blood volume, such as in a victim, the droplets deviate from the source to the air, while they establish an impact pattern upon hitting a surface. As opposed to the case of the DNA analysis that offers information concerning blood’s donor, BPA can assist in offering information concerning the activities that took place at the scene (Morgan & Benson, 2018) . The investigators might also be able to identify where the blood originated from when the blood was shedding. With this kind of information, it might be possible to refute or substantiate claims, including self-defense, which plays a critical role in law courts to justice miscarriages (Ellen, Day, & Davies, 2018) . Thus, concerning the identified change, it was necessary in the area of forensic investigation. It has facilitated in understanding incidences leading to criminal activities more relevant while at the same time understanding crime patterns.
Change and Police Operations Improvement
For the change realized in forensic investigation with the emergence of bloodstain pattern analysis, it has played a critical role in terms of improving police operations. The investigators together with the police officers are capable of understanding the pattern of crime and determine how it occurred. As such, the law enforcement officers are capable of ascertaining the incidences leading to the crime in line with determining the real culprits. As such, it prevents innocent people from being persecuted for crimes they did not commit.
Training Requirements
To venture into serving as forensic investigators, individuals need to have a bachelor’s degree in natural science including biology, chemistry, physics, and molecular biology, or a degree in forensic science. For those seeking senior positions, they would need to possess master’s degree in areas, such as genetics, or molecular biology. For drug analysts, they would need a master’s degree in chemistry. Furthermore, the forensic investigators are offered extra on-the-job training to assist the individuals gain knowledge in a certain specialty (Erickson, 2013) . Regarding additional training, the individuals on the entry-level might be employed in coroner officers, police departments, academic institutions, forensic laboratories, or even government organizations. After they are hired, they would receive training on a certain specialty, such as trace evidence, DNA analysis, latent fingerprints, drug analysis, firearms, or toxicology. The time taken for training might take between six months and two years. In addition to receiving training in computer programs as well as laboratory equipment, the trainees would also require knowledge and skills in storing evidence, storing evidence, and offering testimony in courtrooms (Morgan & Benson, 2018) .
References
Ellen, D., Day, S., & Davies, C. (2018). Scientific examination of documents: Methods and techniques. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
Erickson, E. (2013). Criminalistics laboratory manual: The basics of forensic investigation. Abingdon: Routledge.
Fraser, J., & Williams, R. (2013). Handbook of forensic science. Abingdon: Routledge.
Morgan, R., & Benson, S. (2018). Australasian Forensic Science Summit 2016: Future technology and research towards 2030. Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 50 (3), 268-274.
Siegel, L. J., & Worrall, J. L. (2018). Essentials of criminal justice. Boston: Cengage Learning.
