Forensic Science

Welcome to Forensic Science
The official website created by Michael V. Martinez, a Forensic Scientist specializing in the analysis and legal interpretation of Trace Evidence.

In 2005, Mr. Martinez was honored as one of the top "20 Scientists Who Have Helped Shape Our World".

This prestigious aknowlodment was presented by The National Science Resources Center-NSRC (www.nsrconline.org), an organization formed by the Smithsonian Institution (www.si.edu) and the National Academies (www.nas.edu) in 1985.

Mr. Martinez provides forensic services in criminal investigation cases for over 132 law enforcement agencies throughout Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Arizona, Nevada, Montana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, New York, New Jersey, for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), the Royal Cayman Islands Police Force, and the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force. In addition, Mr. Martinez is a court accepted expert witness for many state and local municipalities in Texas, Nevada, Minnesota, Washington, Louisiana, New York, South Dakota, for the U.S. Federal Courts. and the United Kingdom/British West Indies of the Cayman Islands

Specific areas of expertise include microscopic characteristics and comparisons of natural fibers, synthetic fibers, human hair and animal hair identification, primer gunshot residue (P-GSR) analysis, gunshot residue- (GSR) distance determination and gunpowder identification, explosive residue identification, post-blast investigation and collection of evidence, physical match comparisons, forensic glass analysis and comparison, paint identification and composition, digital photography and general crime scene processing.

Mr. Martinez has also provided his experience in an advisory capacity to CNN Headline News the Nancy Grace show.

Within this website are educational resources of value to forensic scientists, the legal community, and individuals inquiring about Forensics. Information such as a basic evolutionary history of forensics in the United States, concepts of trace and transfer evidence and analysis, and an understanding of scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive x-ray analysis, and information pertaining to the International Association for Microanalysis (IAMA) are provided within. Forensic event listings and related Forensic Science links have also been meticulously chosen to provide the most informative events and links to the reader.

Information in this website is updated regularly to address additional topics of interest and new developments in the field of Forensic Science.