So You Want to be a Forensic Scientist?
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Forensic science
is the application of science to law. Any science can be applied into a legal
situation, but some of the commonest forensic sciences include forensic
biology, forensic chemistry, and forensic toxicology. In order to be a forensic
scientist you must first be a scientist. You must have a strong grounding in
the science you are interested in, before you can apply that science into a
legal setting and become a forensic scientist.
Although on
television we see supposed ‘forensic scientists’ doing a multitude of jobs from
crime scene analysis to shooting the bad guy, forensic science in real life is
quite different. There are several career option s in the general area of
forensic science.
CRIME SCENE
INVESTIGATORS – the real crime scene investigators are not
civilians, as is so often portrayed on television, but rather, highly trained
police officers. These police officers are usually called Identification
Officers or Ident Officers. In some municipal or Provincial forces, the police
officers who analyze a crime scene may be in the Detective or Major Crime
Sections, but the qualifications, training and job are very similar. Ident
officers used to require at least 7 years service in the police force, before
entering the training and understudy period in Ident. Very recently, this has
changed and some forces now allow police officers to enter the Ident section
after only 3 years police service. However, in such cases, the understudy
period is lengthened from two years to five years. The training is intense and
involves course work, research and extensive oral and written examinations.
Ident officers are trained in all aspects of crime scene analysis from
photography, fingerprinting and DNA collection to
blood spatter pattern analysis (only a select few). The Ident team
handles the crime scenes and is not responsible for other aspects of the
investigation. Their duty is to the
scene and the analysis of some of the evidence. Other police officers are
involved in such things as interviewing suspects and following up leads. The
Ident team will correctly collect the evidence, and submit it to the forensic
scientists at the lab, who will then perform the analyses and submit reports to
the Investigating Officers. The Ident officer however, is responsible for the
actual individualization of fingerprints and the analysis of blood spatter
pattern. Quality control is extremely important in Ident so NO mistakes are
allowed. If an Ident officer makes an incorrect individualization of a
fingerprint and wrongly identifies a person, then they are immediately removed
from the Ident section. This can occur from their first training exercise to
the last print they individualize before they retire. If they make a mistake,
they are out of the section. Therefore, every Ident specialist can state in
court, that they have NEVER mis-identified anyone.
If you wish to
become a crime scene specialist in Canada, you must first become a police
officer and complete basic training and the first several years as a general
duty officer before you can apply to enter Ident. If you are not interested in
becoming a police officer in general, you should not enter the police force
with the express intent of entering Ident as many people are interested in this
field, so not every police officer who applies to Ident will get in. In some
other countries, there also civilian Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO’s). In some
of these areas, SOCO’s are highly trained civilian members of police forces,
and in others they simply assist the Ident team.
FORENSIC LAB – Forensic
Scientists work in the Crime Labs. Some of these are police labs, such as the
RCMP labs across the country and some are independent from the police, such as
The Centre of Forensic Sciences and the Laboratoire de sciences judiciaires et
de médecine légale. Forensic Scientists do not attend crime scenes (except for firearms examiners, who are often also police
officers do attend scenes as do members of the lab who analyze explosives and
clandestine labs) but receive the
evidence from the Ident officers and then analyze the evidence and submit a
report giving their opinion of the weight of the evidence. They will often
testify in court as expert witnesses. They are civilians, not police officers.
Such scientists have a core scientific background in the field in which they
are working. Usually they will have a minimum of a four year degree, with
honours. For instance, a forensic biologist will have a B.Sc. (Hon) in biology,
biochemistry, molecular biology or some similar field, a forensic chemist and a
forensic questioned documents examiner will normally have a B.Sc. (Hon) in
Chemistry and a forensic toxicologist will usually have a B.Sc. (Hon) in
pharmacy or biochemistry. Many scientists in the forensic lab have higher
qualifications. You will note that these people have science degrees not
degrees in forensic science. You cannot apply science to law without knowing
the science first. Therefore, the Forensic Lab hires people with strong core
science backgrounds. They do not require, nor usually like a forensic science
background. It is much more important, and desirable to have developed a strong
expertise in a specific science. Once accepted into the forensic lab, the
successful applicant then undergoes an understudy period of 9-18 months, depending
on area. Ongoing training continues throughout the career. So the successful
applicant has a very strong background in their field of science (strong enough
to explain and defend in court) and is trained in the application of that
science to law, or forensic science, by the Forensic Lab. In some positions,
such as those in the evidence recovery unit, or those of analysts rather than
scientists, only a three year degree is required.
The Forensic Labs
have several main areas including:-
Forensic Biology - Identification
of the suspect and the victim through body fluids and hair. Today, this mostly
involves DNA analysis.
Forensic Chemistry – Identification
of non-biological substance found at a crime scene. This can involve paint,
glass, liquids etc. Forensic
chemistry is involved in many crimes from break and enter, hit and run and
arson, to terrorism.
Forensic
Toxicology- The analysis of body fluids to determine the level of
a drugs or alcohol present, and the effects these toxins would have had on the person.
Questioned
Documents Examination – The analysis of documents and writing to
determine who wrote something, as well as looking at printers, fax machines,
lottery tickets etc. They do NOT
determine personality from handwriting.
Firearms and Tool
Mark Examination. – Matching a gun to
bullet or a tool mark to the tool that produced it. Firearms examiners
have a variety of background but usually have their degree in engineering or
physics.
There are several
RCMP crime labs across Canada and also Provincial Labs in Ontario and Quebec.
There are also some private labs that handle paternity and immigration cases.
FORENSIC
PATHOLOGIST – The forensic pathologist investigates the death
itself. They are all medical doctors who have specialized in the field of
Pathology. They require a medical degree, followed by several years advanced
training in pathology. In Canada, Forensic Pathology is not a separate
specialty from Pathology. So doctors specialize in Pathology and often go to
the States for experience ion Forensic pathology. In the US, a separate
specialty in forensic pathology exists. The forensic pathologist autopsies the
body and determines the cause of death and all other factors that relate to the
body directly. They may attend crime scenes and frequently testify in court.
In some Provinces,
we have a Medical Examiners system and in others a Coroners system. Medical
Examiners must be medical doctors, but not necessarily forensic pathologists.
Only the Chief and Deputy Medical Examiner are usually Forensic Pathologists.
In Ontario, Coroners are also doctors, but in the rest of Canada, coroners are
lay coroners and come from many backgrounds. In most cases, the position is
part-time, fee-for-service.
OTHER SPECIALISTS – There are many
other scientists that may be involved in forensic science. These specialists
are usually called in as consultants in a death investigation and are usually
regularly employed as university professors in the field of science. They
attend crime scenes and autopsies, analyze the evidence, submit reports and
testify in court as expert witnesses. Such specialties include but are not
limited to:-
Forensic
Entomology- the study of insects associated with a death investigation, primarily
to determine time since death. A minimum of a B.Sc. (Hon) in Biology, zoology
or entomology, plus a Masters in entomology are the minimum requirements, with
most practitioners also having a Ph.D. in entomology and many being Board
Certified
Forensic
Anthropology – the study of human bones to determine factors that
will help understand who the victim is and how the death occurred. The forensic
anthropologist can determine age, height, sex, race, as well as many other
things about the homicide. A BA or B.Sc. in anthropology with an emphasis in
physical anthropology followed by a Masters in physical or forensic
anthropology is usually required. Most practitioners also having a Ph.D. in
physical or forensic anthropology and are often Board Certified.
Forensic
Odontology – the analysis of teeth and bite marks in a criminal
investigation, as well as any other aspects that may involve dental evidence.
Teeth and dental records can be used to identify a victim and bite marks may be
used to identify the assailant. Forensic odontologists have a dental degree followed
by graduate work and many are Board Certified.
Forensic Botany – the study of plant
material including pollen, at crime scenes. There are very few forensic
botanists. Most have a minimum of a B.Sc. and a masters in Botany and some will
have a Ph.D.
There are many
areas in forensic science and many exciting career options. However, don’t
forget, you must be a scientist before you can be a forensic scientist.
For further
information please check out the American Academy of Forensic Sciences web site
at www.aafs.org and go to
Resources, then forensic links.