The implications of science for crime solving have been tremendous. In just the last several decades the entire field of forensics has been transformed from a game of reasoning and speculation to a hard science based on scientific data, facts, and figures. In no field is this more apparent than in bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA), the scientific procedure forensic investigators use to reconstruct the scene of the crime based on the types and sizes of bloodstains present on the scene of the crime. The field has such allure that it has been reproduced in pop culture many times – from CSI to Dexter – but the reality of the work is even more fascinating than these shows would suggest. The interdisciplinary skill involves fields as diverse as trigonometry and arts and crafts. Especially interesting too is what goes on behind the scenes – investigators working with forensic nurses, side by side, to understand and help resolve the problems facing victims after a crime has taken place.
