Transcript Careers in Forensic Science

What is Forensic Science?
 The study and application of science
to matters of law
 Also known as Criminalistics
 Forensic scientists use crime labs to
help them examine evidence. Most
labs include several departments.
How Do I Become a Forensic Scientist?
You will need:
- a bachelor's degree — get one in science; some forensic
sciences require advanced degrees; take chemistry, biology, math,
English composition
Characteristics of a Forensic Scientist:
- good speaking skills — take public speaking, join the drama
club, the debate team
- good note-taking skills — you can't subscribe to a service or
depend on Cliffs Notes in real life!
- the ability to write an understandable scientific reports
- intellectual curiosity and use of deductive reasoning
- personal integrity
Forensic Crime Labs
Federal and State Level
Federal Labs Include:
FBI –Federal Bureau of Investigation
DEA- Drug Enforcement Agency
USSS –U.S. Secret Service
ATF-Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
USPS-U. S. Postal Inspection Services
Specialized units
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Evidence Collection
Arson
Biosciences
Ballistics
Document examination
Photography
Toxicology and Drug Analysis
Fingerprints
Specialized Fields
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Anthropology
Psychiatry
Odontology
Engineering
Computer Technology
Pathology
Geology
Environmental Science
Entomology
Polygraphy
Voice Print Analysis
Forensic
Science
Fields
Forensic Pathologist/Medical Examiner
The roles and responsibilities of the forensic pathologist include:
•Determining cause of death
•Forensic examination of the body (external/internal/clothing)
•Identifying absense/presence of disease from tissue samples
•Examining post mortem wounds & Injuries
•Collaborative evidence collection e.g. blood, hair, semen samples
passed to criminalists, toxicologists etc for specialist analysis
•Collaborative investigation e.g. body identification work with forensic
odontologists (dentists) and physical anthropologists.
•Acting as an expert witness in civil/criminal proceedings
Forensic toxicology encompasses
the measurement of alcohol, drugs and other toxic
substances in biological specimens and interpretation of
such results in a medical legal context.
Forensic Entomology is
the science of using insect evidence to
uncover circumstances of interest to the law,
often related to a crime. As an example, they
point to time of death, which can be
established using insect evidence gathered
from and around a corpse.
Forensic
Odontology is
a branch of forensic
medicine and, in the
interests of justice, deals
with the proper
examination, handling and
presentation of dental
evidence in a court of law.
forensic
anthropology is the
application of the science of physical
anthropology to the legal process. The
identification of skeletal, badly
decomposed, or otherwise unidentified
human remains is important for both legal
and humanitarian reasons.
Forensic
Photography
Visual documentation of
death scenes, crime scenes,
accident scenes. Includes
macrophotography (of small
evidentiary materials such as
projectiles, blood spatter,
close-ups of evidence at
death scenes, the
decendent, etc.)
DNA Analysis/ Molecular Biology
Analysis of DNA for purposes of human identification
.Careers include laboratory positions or university
faculty/research positions. Requires the MS and PhD in
biology, with an emphasis on molecular biology . Focus is on
genetics
Law
Attorneys tie in with
forensic science since
they are concerned with
legal issues. Consider a
career in law tied to
either criminal law or
environmental law
Careers: many; private
practice, federal, state,
and local government
positions, university
faculty positions, etc.
Homicide Detective/
Crime Scene
Investigator
Investigation of death scenes
Collection of evidence associated
with death(s)
Processing of evidence
Administrative work associated
with investigating deaths
Careers include positions in police
departments, sheriff's offices, or
with mobile crime units, military,
federal agencies
Requires certification as police
officer or other certification (e.g.,
medico-legal death investigator
training, the BA in criminal justice)
Focus in on the death scene,
crime scene, and who or what was
responsible for death(s)
As a Ballistic
expert, you might fire
test shots from a weapon,
compare bullet fragments or
shell casings, present ballistic
evidence at a trial as an expert
witness, or use an etching
process to restore eradicated
serial numbers. You may even
determine the angle and
distance from which a shot
was fired based on ballistics
theory.
•Forensic Nursing
•Recognition of cases of abuse--child physical or sexual abuse, adult
domestic violence, and rape, typically in hospital emergency room
situations
•Careers include positions as a nurse in a hospital setting, for
physicians in private practice, rape crisis centers, etc.
•Requires the BS in nursing and additional forensic nursing training
•Focus is on living people
What field or area of Forensic
science interest you most?
Choose 3 areas of interest and be
prepared to research information
about one area. Investigate the
following information and be
prepared to answer questions
about your topic.
Requirements:
•Topic
•Job Description
•Education Required
•Salary
•Why did you choose this topic?
•Other interesting facts