Why A Forensic Scientist Can Work In Many Different Disciplines

Forensic scientist roles have changed greatly, and become expanded, as the science has continued to evolve. In the early days of forensics, around a century ago, scientists were mainly concerned with the analysis of crime scenes. This was a development from several unrelated cases where crime scene evidence had led to a conviction, including one celebrated case where a bloody fingerprint could be matched to the prints of the murderer. Most forensics today still deals with crime scene evidence, but there have been other significant developments using new technology.

Forensic scientists are able to analyze crime scene evidence, and draw far reaching conclusions from it. Fingerprinting is only one example of how information left inadvertently is recorded and used. It remains one of the most useful techniques available to the forensic expert, because it offers a unique and totally definitive answer to the question of who used a certain object, or touched a certain door or wall. The prints left in soft earth by shoes can obviously be analyzed, but it is far harder to draw definite conclusions.

The fact that vehicles are so often used in crimes has added a new dimension to forensic science. Tire tracks can be analyzed to determine the make and model of a vehicle which has been driven from a road into a secluded soft earth area, although it is always possible for criminals to change the tires later. The depth of the markings, and their angle, can also be used to provide useful clues. Sometimes, the scientist is given more to work with, such as when rare oil from a motorcycle was deposited near a murder scene, allowing the murder to be identified.

The latest developments in forensic science have created a new breed of scientist, and that is the type that deals with digital media. When computers and other electronic devices are seized from those suspected of being criminals, they are routinely analyzed to see if there is any significant data in their memory banks. When electronic files are deleted, the user often assumes that they are gone for ever. That is rarely the case, as they remain in the memory until they are overwritten be fresh data. A qualified scientist with the right software can easily access them.

As you can see, the role of a forensic scientist now covers a wide variety of techniques, although many specialists only work in a limited range. If you have the desire to work in forensic science, it will be a good idea to know in advance which discipline you would want to specialize in, although a good grounding in all aspects of the science is a great asset. If you can get a place a police training center, and then work with an experienced scientist, you can yourself become a qualified forensic scientist.






 

Computer Forensics News:

 

Leading Russian Security Firm Group-IB Releases 2011 Report on Russian Cybercrime
MOSCOW-- - Group-IB, a leading Russian cybercrime investigation and computer forensics company and LETA Group subsidiary, today announced a 28-page report on the Russian cybercrime market in 2011. Analysts ...


Job market offers hope for college graduates - Patriot-News

Patriot-News

Job market offers hope for college graduates
Patriot-News
EURNot many job openings are really there for a lot of graduating seniors, no matter what their major,EUR said Kevin Pagano of Swatara Twp. Pagano attended Bloomsburg University and majored in computer forensics. The field involves extracting evidence from .

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Ransom to hire forensic accountant to investigate township financial records . - Scranton Times-Tribune

Ransom to hire forensic accountant to investigate township financial records .
Scranton Times-Tribune
She also was the Act 511 tax collector for earned income and occupational privilege taxes, earning a salary of 5 percent of what she collected, and also served as the planning commission/zoning secretary, according to minutes of a January supervisors' .

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Low autopsy rate seen abetting murderers - The Japan Times

Low autopsy rate seen abetting murderers
The Japan Times
To double the autopsy rate, the government will have to double the ranks of forensic experts to 340. But at present, there are no financial incentives for the job. "Performing autopsies is tough and risky, but our salaries are low.

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Bit9 to Speak at CEIC 2012 on Cyber Forensics and Application Control
Bit9, the global leader in advanced threat protection, will be sponsoring and speaking at the upcoming CEIC 2012 conference in Las Vegas taking place from May 21-24, 2012. The event offers more than 110 world-class learning sessions for attendees to gain insight from experts in computer forensics, e-discovery, cyber security, enterprise investigations, IT security and more...


New Evidence Released in Fakegate Global Warming Scandal
The Heartland Institute today released more evidence that the organization did not produce a EURclimate strategy memoEUR that Pacific Institute President Peter Gleick originally claimed came from a EURHeartland insiderEUR and later said he received EURin the mailEUR from an anonymous source.Heartland released a computer forensics report, conducted by Protek International, which states: EURWe conclude that the ...


The Fastest Growing Criminal Justice Jobs Through 2020 - Criminal Justice Degree Schools

Criminal Justice Degree Schools

The Fastest Growing Criminal Justice Jobs Through 2020
Criminal Justice Degree Schools
The career is expected to grow 19% by 2020, requires a bachelor's degree and has a median salary of $51570 per year. Forensic science technicians are responsible for collecting and processing evidence from crime scenes and in other situations, .

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Former Picacho Middle School basketball coach indicted on child porn charges
LAS CRUCES - A grand jury has indicted a former Picacho Middle School basketball coach for allegedly possessing child pornographic images on his computer...


 

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