forensic

Hello! I'm a high school teacher and I teach a forensics class. I have a county death investigator coming to speak to my students about death investigation. What are some good questions to ask a death investigator? If you are a death investigator, what are some of the most memorable questions you've been asked? What are questions you want to be asked? Thanks!!

Hey everyone,

I'm currently based in India and I'm contemplating choosing forensic science as my major in college. I'm really passionate about this field, but I have some concerns that I'd love to get some insights on.

With AI dominating many industries, I'm curious about the future prospects of forensic science. Will advancements in technology impact the demand for forensic scientists? How can I ensure that my career remains relevant and thriving in this evolving landscape?

Additionally, I'm interested to know if a degree in forensic science is valuable in foreign countries as well. Are there opportunities for international career growth and development in this field?

Choosing the right major is a big decision for me, and I believe your advice and experiences can greatly influence my choice. Your insights on the future outlook of forensic science and its global relevance would be incredibly helpful in shaping my career path.

Thank you all in advance for your guidance and support. Your input could truly make a difference in my life. Let's start a conversation and help me make an informed decision!

Looking forward to hearing from you all.

Aman khan

I’m looking to go into forensic science but I’m worried about not being around creatives. Are there any art based colleges with the program? Or a college that has both sciences as well as a strong arts department? Thank you!

Hello! I have an interview for a forensic chemist position tomorrow and Im super excited. I have had a few interws before but I have a strong feeling with this one. If you have any helpful hints/questions I may encounter I would greatly appreciate any help!

Welcome to our weekly general discussion thread!

Feel free to chat with your fellow forensically-minded redditors about anything! Introduce yourself, show us pictures of your cat, complain about your kids, lament about exams/work, tell us what you're eating today... whatever you want!

Here are a few resources that might answer your questions:

A subreddit wiki with links and resources to education and employment matters, archived discussions on more intermediate topics in education and employment, what kind of major you need, what degree programs are good, etc.

• The subreddit Guide - Consider this an FAQ about our community and our field. Look here for basic education and employment questions/answers you might have. Didn't find what you were looking for? Please post in our weekly scheduled posts or to the subreddit. Note: please do use a desktop browser to view all features.
• List of verified forensics professionals
• Subreddit collections (please view on desktop browsers) on the following topics:
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  • Mental Health and Preparation for Working in Forensics
  • What It's Like Working in Forensics
  • Employment: Job Titles, Job Requirements, and Starting Salary in Forensic Science

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Hi everyone I need help with what I need to do. I just started college and 3 semesters doing an AA in chemistry so I’m still very early and can make changes for the best way to go about to being a CSI. First is a job. I’ve worked at a restaurant for some time but I would like to know a job that can help with that position. Sales? Customer services? Police stations or labs? Or any specific detail. Everyone has something different when it comes to a good place to get experience so it would be a big help. Next Is there any certifications I should get early on? Anything particular or specific that would help. I know there are some but for different fields in forensics so main courses would help. I’m very early in this path and I don’t want to go down unnecessary paths. Thanks!

I can find accounts of things like some Englishman's murder trial in the 1800s where the guy asked the court for a trial by combat and the judges realized that nobody had actually abolished it, but that made me wonder just how they actually proved these crimes back then, especially with the guarantees of rights a criminal defendant should be owed like to confront witnesses and to have an attorney, to be presumed innocent, and to be tried by an impartial jury or by impartial judges and that nobody is to be tortured.

Some things can work like fingerprinting but you don't have DNA or modern blood testing for sure. It seems just hard to communicate what a suspect looked like, to replicate exactly how they look with a sketch artist if one even was used. Imagine if you just melted down the knife and burned the wooden handle or sold it to a passerby having run it through a river for cleaning.

Of course many crimes are not exactly the most well concealed to begin with. The guy who was first electrocuted in the world had reported his own axe murder to his neighbour. The guy who shot President Garfield was easy to catch.

And prior to the 20th century, how did forensics evolve over time? I imagine quite a lot of interesting things happened as a result of the industrial revolution from 1750 onwards even before 1901 when the 20th century began.

I guess this is kinda an author request but I'm not sure.

Will studying a general science degree with a major in chemistry set me back or put me a bit behind if I want to work in forensic chemistry? I want to move to Victoria (Australia) and study at the University of Melbourne and I'm not really sure what there are in terms of internships in Victoria as I don't live there currently, but Victoria Police doesn't offer anything like that (they say so on their website), what other ways could I gain a more specific skill set (if needed) if the police don't offer that kind of thing. Where should I be looking to gain experience while studying? Will studying science with a major in chemistry set me back as opposed to studying forensic science with a major in forensic chemistry?

It is possible for me to study a forensics degree as there are universities in Melb that offer that, but I'd much prefer to study at UniMelb, which only offers Science.

Hello! I am graduating this May from a top 50 university with a BA in Psychology. I’ve always been interested in pursuing a career in something along the lines of criminal psychology, but I finally have the drive and confidence that I would excel at it. Can I get into a forensic science masters program without having taken chemistry and biology classes in undergrad? My university did not have anything related to forensic science so it wasn’t totally on my radar until now. If I can’t, what is the best path for me? Thanks in advance!

Hi there!

First, I’m sorry if the flair isn’t correct or if this post isn’t permitted, I can remove it if necessary.

I’m a junior pursing a BS in biomedical sciences (double minor in chemistry and bioinformatics) and I’m looking to pursue a Master’s in Forensic Science, preferably with a concentration in molecular biology. I have some course-based research experience in molecular biology (through SEA-PHAGES and SEA-GENES if anyone is familiar with these programs), however they are quite guided. I’ve also already completed a general genetics course and lab.

Right now, to prepare myself to apply for a Master’s program, I’m looking to find ways to boost my lab experience. I’d like to work in a lab over the summer, preferably a forensic science or a molecular biology one if that’s possible, but I’m not exactly sure where to start looking. Most of the ones I’ve seen online so far are looking for forensic science undergrads for internships (which I’m not eligible for since I’m biomed), want more experienced scientists, or are advertising for a permanent position.

What are some ways I could expand my search? Are there any resources that I could consult to help me out? Do you have any other general advice?

I’m located in the USA-northeast.

I’d appreciate any help at all. Thank you!

Welcome to our weekly thread for:

• Education advice/questions about university majors, degrees, programs of study, etc.
• Employment advice on things like education requirements, interviews, application materials, etc.
• Interviews for a school/work project or paper. We advise you engage with the community and update us on the progress and any publication(s).
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Please let us know where you are and which country or countries you're considering for school so we can tailor our advice for your situation.

Here are a few resources that might answer your questions:

• A subreddit wiki with links and resources to education and employment matters, archived discussions on more intermediate topics in education and employment, what kind of major you need, what degree programs are good, etc.
• The subreddit Guide - Consider this an FAQ about our community and our field. Look here for basic education and employment questions/answers you might have. Didn't find what you were looking for? Please post in our weekly scheduled posts or to the subreddit. Note: please do use a desktop browser to view all features.
• List of verified forensics professionals
• Subreddit collections (please view on desktop browsers) on the following topics:
  • Education and Employment
  • Mental Health and Preparation for Working in Forensics
  • What It's Like Working in Forensics
  • Employment: Job Titles, Job Requirements, and Starting Salary in Forensic Science

​

Hello! This may be a very long shot, but I am a junior in high school in South Carolina, who is very interested in becoming a forensic pathologist. I recently learned about that an internship and doing research in a lab is a must for extracurriculars for getting into a top college.

I was wondering if there are any professionals in forensics, located in the Houston, TX or Atlanta, GA (I have family there), that might allow me to intern or do research in a lab with them. If not, I would appreciate any connections or insight.

Thank you!

Hey everyone, I was curious as to if there are any notable observations in the autopsy report that would indicate death from coronary artery disease, including any specific trauma or inflictions to the organs or toxicology report

Welcome to our weekly discussion thread about forensic science!

Forensic Scientists and Professionals! What's going on this week?

Use any of the following as a prompt if you need to

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Remember! Don't reveal identifying info on decedents or victims. Change names or use nicknames if you must.

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Use any one of the following as a prompt if you need to

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Remember! Don't ask us to do your homework or assignments for you. We did the work and you have to do it too.

If you are asking for education or employment advice, please read our subreddit guide first and then look at our resources in the sidebar. If what we have doesn't address your needs, you can ask us a question here! Let us know where you are and which country or countries you're considering for school.

Don't know where to start when it comes to schools, programs, or degrees? Take a look at our subreddit wiki for a good rundown of what you should look out for.

Confused by all the job titles, requirements, and worried about things like starting salary? Please take a look at this collection of posts from /u/Cdub919, one of our verified forensics members.

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Hi!

I’m currently waiting for an application for a latent print trainee position to open up and wanted to ask for some advice regarding the position and application!

I’m an undergraduate at Cal studying immunology, so my background with lab work is strictly related to immunology, dna processing, and organic + inorganic chemistry. I don’t have any prior experience regarding forensics and am worried I won’t be a standout applicant due to a lack of experience. I’ve worked purely in academic labs and was wondering if anyone has had success in applying for trainee positions without prior background experience & how they managed to create a standout application!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!! :]

I have an interview for facial recognition tech (England) coming up soon! I graduated last year and this is my first successful application out of loads I applied for!

Any advice for police staff interviews and facial recognition tech would be extremely helpful!

The role also includes fingerprint and footwear analysis. I would also be updating databases ect!

Thank you in advance! Appreciate it!

What is the initial purchase cost for CB UFED 4PC and the annual license subscription costs? And what is the initial cost for CB Premium and does it have annual subscription costs? Most internet query results are outdated. Does anyone have accurate 2024 cost analysis information that they can share? Thank you.

I'm changing my career in my early 30s. And going back to school to get into forensic science. It seems like the jobs I have seen always need some experience.

I’m curious about the different job paths involving forensic biology. I’m wondering if there’s like a job where you can go into the field to look at evidence and do lab work of the evidence collected without being a police officer. I recently talked to a forensic biologist who does DNA extracting and profiling, basically the same thing everyday. Idk how i feel about that yet, I do want to do lab work but idk maybe not everyday every minute. I’d appreciate hearing about some different jobs that involve a little bit of both and whether it requires becoming apart of law enforcement !

Edit: Thanks to everyone who replied ! Im happy to know there’s jobs out there, gonna look in my area since it seems to varies everywhere

Does anyone know if ABMDI has an email list to sign up for? I received my certification in the last few months and would love to have some kind of email list/group chat/social media page or something to keep up with continuing education credit courses and other organizational news. I haven't been able to find something like that on their website, so I was wondering if one exists or if people are interested in having that.

*Special note that this kind of group would specifically be for either ABMDI-accredited members or those who are in the process of studying for the exam.

(Mods please let me know if there would be a better spot to post this, thank you!)

Hey guys, I’ve posted a couple of times about employment advice but I had a new question that I don’t believe I’ve asked before. Could my age be hindering employers from calling me back? I recently graduated with my bachelors last April, but I’m turning 21 in July. I fast tracked all of my schooling, so I’m pretty young, but I’m on track to have my masters degree in December so I was hoping that it would help me.

If a person changed account information on a laptop that uses VPN, is it possible to reveal the actual IP address of the laptop and where and when it happened? Some beneficiaries were changed and as I'm waiting for the information from the insurance companies, I wondered how they can determine the actual IP addresses if the person used VPN. Oh, and I'm not a techy person so please "dumb-down" your answers/comments. Thx!

From what I've read so far about waterboarding some say water doesn't enter the lungs, some say it does, so I'm guessing it could depend on how they do it and if it's the direct cause of death?

So let's say the victim is tortured, he's laying in a postion where his head is lower than heart, he has some kind of material on his face and someone pours a small amount of water on it, ask questions and repeats till they get all answers. (it gives the victim time to cough everything up and calm down a little?)

1. Is there any visible irritation or signs after, that could've been checked even without autopsy?

2. Would it be possible to detect in an autopsy that someone was waterboarded if his death was unrelated to it eg. a stab wound, if yes then what would've been the giveaway?

I'll be super thankful for any kind of response! :)

P.S. English isn't my native language, so I apologize if something is weirdly written

Welcome to our weekly general discussion thread!

Feel free to chat with your fellow forensically-minded redditors about anything! Introduce yourself, show us pictures of your cat, complain about your kids, lament about exams/work, tell us what you're eating today... whatever you want!

Here are a few resources that might answer your questions:

A subreddit wiki with links and resources to education and employment matters, archived discussions on more intermediate topics in education and employment, what kind of major you need, what degree programs are good, etc.

• The subreddit Guide - Consider this an FAQ about our community and our field. Look here for basic education and employment questions/answers you might have. Didn't find what you were looking for? Please post in our weekly scheduled posts or to the subreddit. Note: please do use a desktop browser to view all features.
• List of verified forensics professionals
• Subreddit collections (please view on desktop browsers) on the following topics:
  • Education and Employment
  • Mental Health and Preparation for Working in Forensics
  • What It's Like Working in Forensics
  • Employment: Job Titles, Job Requirements, and Starting Salary in Forensic Science

​

Weird question but just would like to see what other people do…

When you collect a phone, do you list an IMEI or serial number on the chain of custody/report?

Why or why not?

Thank you!

I'm writing a forensic analyst story about uncovering a shadow conspiracy via forensic skills. Our main character is examining corpses when he finds out that they have been unusually enriched with uranium. He goes to investigate the origins and from there, uncovers that there was a massive amount of nuclear material in the city at some point.

I know this is an extremely bizarre question but theoretically speaking, would a forensics analyst or scientist be able to recognize that a nuke had been in the area? Or at least, an extraordinary large amount of nuclear radiation?

Hello to my American counterparts!

I am a UK based CSI currently. However, I may shortly find myself in a position to make a move to the US, where obviously, the best career path would be to look for a similar role as the one I perform at the moment.

There are a few things that admittedly make me hesitant to make the jump, the main concern being the ability to maintain a work-life balance. So really, this post is to gauge how different the roles are between the UK and the USA, and whether I'm crazy for considering leaving the UK at all! So, hopefully, some of you kind folks can fill me in a little bit with my questions. It's probably aimed slightly more at the East coast CSI's, as that's likely where I'd be looking to live. Any help at all appreciated though!

1. Full time employees here receive 28 days annual leave (plus some public holidays) compared to the US standard of 10 days PTO plus holidays. Does the 10 days allowance increase with length of service or is this a hard limit? Seems a silly question but we all know the burnout is real so time off is an important topic to me.

2. I have heard stories of police officers having RDO (rostered day off) cancelled and having to come in to work shifts when short staffed, despite having no respite. While this does happen occasionally in the UK, it is not commonplace, and CSI staff are generally able to decline if asked to do so, as civilians are under no obligation to work an RDO. Is this an issue for US CSI staff?

3. Whilst some of us over here have experience in processing evidence found at scene, it is generally the case that once we have recovered and documented the evidence, it is then forwarded to the external labs to process and interpret results. Is this the case with you guys too? Or do you carry out any in-house activities?

4. Are you expected to be able to travel anywhere within your state to attend at a scene? Or indeed, outside of your state, if requested? Or are you limited to attend scenes within your own county?

5. Is there much in the way of employee benefits? For example, certain police forces here offer staff the opportunity to sign up for private dental and health insurance, but as we have the NHS, this is not given freely and we pay for the privilege. Are you covered by your employer for health, dental, etc, as standard? I'm aware this is generally the case in the US, but I don't know enough about it. Are your compensation packages reasonable?

6. This might be a question for senior management, but - obviously I am already trained as a CSI here, however I am aware UK standards and requirements will likely be very different to the US. Is it likely I would need to go through re-training and/or further training?

If you've reached this far, thank you! I understand I'm asking a lot so absolutely any help or advice given at all is super appreciated!!

I’m researching a case from 1985 in which the only evidence that wasn’t circumstantial is a palm print in a receipt. The court testimony indicated that the person that took the suspect’s palm print for comparison didn’t take it on a cylinder as recommended at the time by the FBI. In addition, the expert said it was a 61 point match on the palm print but is that a high degree of reliability for a match on a palm print? I’m just trying to get my head around the potential issues in the case. This is for a podcast.