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Posts Tagged ‘Forensic’

For diverse reasons, Forensic Science is becoming a very popular subject, although few people seem to have a concrete idea about this branch of Science. Probably the main reason for the popularity of forensics is the success some TV shows have enjoyed during the past few years. CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) is by far the best example, where teams composed by fashionable young investigators skillfully manage to solve the most complicated criminal cases whose preliminary evidence often lead to unpredictable outcomes.

However, the reality of the forensics world is often far from what is depicted on TV serials. Actual forensic investigations involve several groups of people, each specialized in a different area of expertise, rather than being a small group where the members perform very different tests and methods.

Leaving Hollywood aside, let’s take a brief look at the main areas that compete to forensic experts.

Forensic Anthropology: These experts search, recover and analyze human remains with the aim of establishing the identity of unknown individuals. They can deal with remains such as skeletons or decomposed, mummified, burned, or otherwise unrecognizable bodies to inquire parameters such as age at death, sex, stature (height), ancestry or pathology. Other estimations such as time since death and manner of death are also carried out. They are involved in criminal cases but also when deaths resulted from accident, suicide, or even mass disasters or human rights violations (i.e., genocide).

Forensic Pathology: These are also known as Medical Examiners. They usually carry out autopsies of dead bodies to establish cause of death and identity, or confirm it if not known yet. Autopsies are performed when death was sudden or unexpected, as it is the case of accidents, homicides, suicides or other tragedies.

Forensic Odontology or Forensic Dentistry: Specialize on using dental evidence to establish identity. Dentition remains are often helpful in cases of mass disasters or where multiple deaths occurred. Dental forensics also analyze bite marks looking for dental features that could lead to a match between a wound and a suspect’s dental features like tooth alignment and shape.

Forensic Nurses get involved in recognition of cases of abuse, either child physical or sexual abuse, or cases where adult domestic violence, raping are suspected. They usually work in hospital emergency room situations

Forensic Chemistry and its related field Forensic Toxicology deal with the analysis of chemicals such as drugs and poisons that may occur in body fluids or at crime scenes. Such studies can contribute to know the cause of death in murder, identify chemicals used in explosives or used to start or accelerate a fire. Other elements of interest for this field include fingerprints, soil, dust, fibers, glass and hairs.

DNA Analysis and Molecular Biology are becoming popular subjects in forensic science. The main purpose of this field is the analysis of DNA for purposes of human identification

Forensics is a big and growing field of the law related professional sphere and involves other aspects that I will address in other articles. Keep in mind that whichever branch one chooses to embrace, becoming a forensic scientist requires full commitment with ethics and a lifelong dedication. Just remember that working in forensics is not just a fashionable position but a job bearing some responsibility on imparting Justice and the freedom of the innocent and the ability of the Law to punish the guilty are at stake.

A forensic science online program offers the specialized training you will need to begin or advance your career as a forensic science professional. The amount of targeted training required will depend on the desired area of specialization and the degree level pursued. Your job will entail utilizing different techniques such as pattern evidence, microscopic analysis and forensic biology to analyze physical evidence from various crime scenes.

Online Associate’s Degree in Forensic Science

An online Associate’s degree in forensic science opens the door to an exciting career within the field. This two-year study program focuses on providing students with the required knowledge, skills and capabilities relevant to the study of forensic science. Students will explore introductory core courses and topics such as forensic pathology, forensic psychology, biology, writing, finger print technology, computer science and computer forensics. Other Associate degree courses also include topics in examination procedures, document analysis, crime scene analysis and professional standards and ethics. Students may also receive laboratory instructions that will teach them the different forensic sciences and evidence-gathering techniques needed to conduct various crime scene investigations. Associate degree in Forensic Science students will also learn the applications of trace evidence and social sciences to analyze physical evidence, criminal suspects and witness reports to determine their relevance to the investigation.

Characteristics of Online Forensic Science Degree Graduates

Successful completion of an Associate’s degree in forensic science opens the door to a Bachelor’s degree where you will have the opportunity to focus on a particular area specific to your career objectives. In addition to formal training, there are certain characteristic traits a forensic scientist must possess in order to become proficient in the profession. These abilities will help to propel your career for future advancement within the field. Some of these skills include:

The ability to use scientific methods and rules to solve work related problems The ability to tell if something is going wrong and preempt that problem Close attention to details The ability to read and understand ideas and pattern in written form Ability to read details at close range In-depth knowledge of chemical compositions including their structure and properties Knowledge of geometry, calculus, arithmetic, statistics and their applications

Employment Options with an Online Forensic Science Degree

Some of the targeted areas pursued by forensic science personnel include Forensic Engineer, Crime Scene Examiner\Analyst, Crime Laboratory Analyst and Non-Sworn Forensic Personnel. Most of these personnel work for federal or state crime laboratories.

Schools that offer Online Training in Forensic Science

Boston University
Everest University
Kaplan University
American Intercontinental University

Salary for Forensic Science Personnel

The average salary for an entry-level forensic scientist working with the state is around $1,900 per month. Salaries will vary widely depending on previous laboratory experience and level of education. Those with previous experience will earn around $3,000 per month.

Forensic Science is turning into a very famous subject, but, few individuals seem to have a concrete knowledge regarding this division of Science. Maybe the key reason for the fame of forensics is the achievement; some television shows have taken pleasure during the past several years. Crime Scene Investigation or CSI is the best example, where the teams composed by young investigators skillfully handle to crack the most complicated cases whose evidence usually lead to unpredictable results.

Leaving the Hollywood aside, let’s take a look at the areas that contend to forensic experts:

Forensic Anthropology:

These experts recover, search, and analyze corpse with the goal of looking for the identity of unidentified victims. They could deal with corpse such as decomposed or skeletons, burned, mummified, or otherwise unrecognizable corpse to ask parameters like age at death, height, sex, pathology or ancestry. Other estimations like manner of death and time since death are carried out as well. They are engrossed in cases but also when deaths resulted from suicide, accident, or even human rights violations or mass disasters.

Forensic Pathology:

These are known as Medical Examiners as well. They typically carry out dead body autopsies to set up the identity and cause of death. Autopsies are done when death was unexpected or sudden, as it is the case of homicides, accidents, suicides or some other tragedies.

Forensic Dentistry or Forensic Odontology: Specialize on utilizing dental proof to set up identity. Dental remains are usually helpful in cases of disasters or where a lot of deaths happened. Dental forensics analyze bite marks searching for dental features as well, that can lead to a match between a suspect’s dental features and a wound like tooth shape and alignment.

Forensic Nurses get engrossed in recognition of abuse cases, either child sexual or physical abuse, or criminal cases where adult violence, sexual abusing is suspected. They normally work in emergency room situations.

Forensic Chemistry and Forensic Toxicology handle the chemical analysis such as poison and drugs that may happen at crime scenes or in body fluids. These studies could contribute to identify chemicals utilized in explosives, distinguish the cause of death, or utilized to accelerate or start a fire. Some elements of curiosity for this field comprise soil, fingerprints, fibers, dust, hairs and glass.

Molecular Biology and DNA Analysis are becoming famous subjects in the field of forensic science. The purpose of molecular biology and DNA analysis is the study of DNA for purposes of corpse identification.