A person who studies crime scientifically, applies criminal science to investigations, or specializes in forensic analysis.
From criminal + -ist (suffix for 'one who practices'). Gained prominence in late 19th century with the rise of scientific criminology and forensic investigation methods.
The term became famous through pioneers like Alphonse Bertillon and Hans Gross, who invented fingerprinting and crime scene investigation—they transformed crime-solving from guesswork into actual science.
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