Do you trust the science behind the verdict?
Do you trust the science used in police investigations?
This free course offers a deep dive into the modern justice system by following a fictional case from the initial crime scene to the final courtroom presentation.
You will explore the technical realities of how police and investigators collect and analyse DNA and mobile phone data, while gaining a critical understanding of how forensic science evidence is used, and sometimes questioned, in practice.
Beyond the lab, this course explores social justice and forensic reliability, focusing on the rights of victims and defendants and the specific ways marginalised community members experience the legal system. By following a fictional case through every stage of the investigation, you will learn to evaluate the integrity of forensic evidence and the role of the expert witness with a professional eye.
Enrol on this course to learn about the science of investigation and discover what really happens behind the yellow tape.
Course learning outcomes
After studying this course, you should be able to:
- describe what forensic science is and the different ways it helps investigations, from police at the crime scene to the courtroom
- describe some measures that forensic scientists take to ensure their work is reliable and trustworthy
- explain how different groups of people develop different levels of trust in forensic science
- discuss how trust influences public support for police investigations and in the courtroom.
First Published: 10/12/2025
Updated: 10/12/2025