Careers in Forensics
The National Institute of Justice recently (December, 2007) posted a great deal of information on forensics. For an overall view of the field, please take a look at Dr. Tom O'Connor's very informative site.
More and more students are asking about careers in forensics. I've posted some of the most commonly requested information on this page. If your question is not answered here, you may find answers on some of the Internet sites listed below. Click on one of the following to learn more:
Education
Knowledge
Experience
Professional
Contacts
Profiling
What Forensic Specialists Do
Related Internet Sites
You will need, at a minimum, a Bachelor of Science in a "hard science" field such as chemistry, biology, or biomedical sciences. According to Joanne M. Gordon (email), professor of biomedical sciences at Missouri State University:
Our Cell and Molecular Biology major would be an appropriate degree for individuals interested in forensics as a career. A number of our alumni have taken positions with state crime labs and have found the CMB major to be very valuable in their work. Several of our graduates have pursued PhDs in the area of forensics as well.
The CMB major focuses on cell and molecular aspects of human biology, and includes courses in human genetics, bio-molecular interactions, cell and molecular biology (with emphasis on cell and protein interactions), molecular biology (with emphasis on nucleic acid structure, function, regulation, DNA analysis, and genetic engineering) as well as other courses such as histology and pharmacology that would be valuable courses for someone interested in forensics as a career. Our major is heavy in laboratory experience, with each of the core courses having a strong laboratory component.
Various sources claim a degree in chemistry is most desirable for this line of work. Along with a science major, a minor in Crime and Society provides a good additional background for those desiring work in forensics.
Whether or not you pursue a graduate degree or an advanced degree specifically in forensic science should be based on your personal situation and preferences. As of now there is no general industry standard. If you are interested in a specific lab or law enforcement agency, call the director to ask what they looking for in employees.
For more specific information, we recommend the following article containing information about educational requirements for jobs in forensic science:
Visit this site for information on the new Forensic Identification major at West Virginia University. You can also explore links to all of the undergraduate and graduate programs in forensics.
Familiarize yourself with the forensic science literature in general and in your area of interest. Start with Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science (1995) by Richard Saferstein (Prentice-Hall: Englewood Cliffs, NJ).
An extensive list of in forensic science resources may be found at R. Scott Carpenter's Website.
Another great source of information is the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, the organization which publishes the Journal of Forensic Sciences.
Beyond this text, the reference librarians at Meyer Library and the Internet are good places to learn more about forensic science - what the field entails, prospects for the future, the kinds of forensics there are (chemistry, criminalistics, psychology, etc.), and more.
You can even consider taking the General Knowledge Examination (GKE) given by the American Board of Criminalistics. You may study for and take this exam even if you are not yet currently employed in the profession.
Consider doing a non-paid internship in a crime laboratory to gain experience in the forensic application of science. To my knowledge, there is no official "listing" for such opportunities. You will need to make some phone calls to labs in which you are interested. Call law enforcement agencies in close proximity to where you are living and start the conversation with them.
If you are able to take a university-level internship at the crime lab or other forensic setting (hospitals or morgues, for example), you may not only learn more about the field, you may be better able to determine if that is the kind of career you want and what you need to know to succeed in that field. Further, you will have on-the-job experience under your best and can request letters of reference for your next career move.Join your regional association of forensic science professionals. A listing of these organizations can be found on the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors. Consider joining the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, a national professional organization.
So you want to be a profiler, eh?
Take a look at the Career Guide for Criminal Profiling if this is a career in which you are interested.
What Forensic Specialists Do
Source of Information
Please read about the
varying forensics occupations below.
Following their description are links to related sites on the Internet.
Forensic Psychologists and Psychiatrists
Forensic psychologists or psychiatrists may be called on to evaluate a murder scene to suggest a possible psychological profile of the killer. The FBI has done much work in developing such profiles of serial killers and will often send one of its experts to assist the local police.
Fingerprint Experts
Dactyloscopy, the scientific study of fingerprints, was first developed nearly a hundred years ago to identify convicts. When law enforcers realized that fingerprints are also left behind on all manner of surfaces, the use was extended to catching criminals as well. With some recent additions to the original bag of tricks, dactyloscopy is still an important weapon in the crime stopper's arsenal.
Crime Scene Photographers
A crime scene must be photographed from every angle to clearly show every detail, with emphasis on accurately recording the size and distance of objects. The crime scene photographer, whose work often involves the use of specialized cameras and film, may also be trained in fingerprint lifting and analysis, and may be called the Identification Officer or Identification Technician.
Forensic Pathologists
Forensic pathologists, employed by the office of the medical examiner, determine the time and cause of death in cases of suspected homicide or suicide. The medical examiner's office is also often responsible for local public health issues such as investigating suspected cases of plague or other highly dangerous infectious diseases. Other medical specialties that may aid in criminal investigation are:Forensic Serologists
Forensic serology is the study of blood groups, blood, and other bodily fluids for identification purposes following a crime. Forensic serologists are also on the forefront of the new techniques of DNA fingerprinting, which offer the possibility of positive identification of an individual by
any available body cells.
Forensic Dentists and OdontologistsForensic dentists or odontologists examine the teeth of corpses for identification purposes or make casts of human bite marks in foods - sometimes in people - to match the bite with the biter.
Outside the medical field:
Ballistics Experts
From the Roman ballista, a sort of heavy-duty slingshot, ballistics began as the study of the flight paths of projectiles. By extension, ballistics experts are now experts in the study of everything to do with firearms.
Forensic Chemists
Forensic chemists specialize in analyzing such things as tiny chips of paint to determine the color and manufacturer, as well as determining the identity of minuscule amounts of drugs, dyes, and other chemicals and random unidentified particles.
Forensic Geologists
Forensic geologists can determine such things as where the suspect or victim walked by examining soil samples taken from their shoes or feet.
Forensic Entomologists
Forensic entomologists are specialists in the study of insects.
Forensic Anthropologists
Forensic anthropologists can, from examining a pile of bones, supply a surprising amount of detail about what the person looked like.
Forensic Artists
Forensic artists can draw a likeness of a person based solely on eyewitness descriptions.
Forensic Sculptors
Their training and expertise is as important as that of the forensic specialists. Forensic sculptors can reconstruct faces, usually in modeling clay or on a computer.
Forensic Linguists
Forensic linguists analyze the content of written or aural communication to identify who is speaking and indicate the speaker's intent, and can determine whether two communications are from the same person.
Related Internet Sites
Cecil Greek's Forensic Links
Dr. Cecil Greek, of the Florida State University School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, prepared this extensive list of sites dealing with various aspects of forensic science.Education in Forensic Science
This site provides general information on careers in forensic science and provides links to other forensic sites on the Internet.Forensic Science Links on the WWW
The Michigan State University Forensic Science Program has gathered one of the largest and most complete link sites for forensics on the WWW.What Forensic Specialists Do
Zeno has written a brief document describing the different kinds of forensic specialties. If you're not sure what a person can specialize in this field, visit this site.Job Openings in Forensics
Posted by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors. Visit their home site for more information on forensics.Zeno's Forensic Job Opportunities Page
A limited but suitable site for pursuing job openings in forensics.The following sites are provided compliments of Yahoo.com (click and scroll down each page)
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