Careers In Forensics

2y ago
29 Views
2 Downloads
308.22 KB
6 Pages
Last View : 1m ago
Last Download : 2m ago
Upload by : Luis Waller
Transcription

Careers inforensics:Analysis, evidence, and lawPOLICE LINE - DO NOT CROSS POLICE LINE - DO NOT CROSS POLICEElkaMariaTorpeyElka Maria Torpeyis an economist inthe Office of Occupational Statisticsand EmploymentProjections, BLS.She is available at(202) 691-5719 ortorpey.elka@bls.gov.In legal proceedings, a case is only as strong as its evidence.And whether that evidence is strong depends, in large part, onthe work of forensic specialists.The field of forensics is broad and involves many kinds ofworkers. Some of them are involved in crimesolving. Others, suchas forensic social workers or forensic economists, help to resolvedifferent legal issues.But one thing all forensic specialists have in common is thattheir work is connected to the law in some way. These workersmight have a background in life sciences, art, engineering, healthcare, social sciences, or a number of other fields. And althoughtheir specialized knowledge and job titles vary, all forensic workers have expertise related to a legal issue or case.This article discusses forensics and some of the work itencompasses. The first section talks about what forensic workersdo and lists selected specialties within the field. A second sectiondescribes places of employment, potential earnings and opportunities, and education and training requirements. A final section provides sources for finding more information.14 Occupational Outlook Quarterly Spring 2009

E LINE - DO NOT CROSS POLICE LINE - DO NOT CROSS POLICE LINEForensics at workForensic workers apply scientific or otherspecialized knowledge to questions and issuesrelated to the law. Their job duties fall intotwo basic categories: analyzing evidence andacting as expert witnesses in legal proceedings. Some forensic specialists concentrateprimarily on one of these tasks, althoughmany do both.When analyzing evidence, forensicspecialists often uncover details about pastevents—for example, a time of death, thecause of a car accident, or the source of acomputer hacking. They might investigateclues about what happened and draw conclusions using their expertise. Whatever theyfind, they share with law enforcement andother personnel involved in the case or investigation.Some workers focus largely on the studyof physical evidence. Like anyone who workswith items related to legal proceedings, theseforensic specialists must be careful to document their receipt and handling of evidence.They must also record their observations.Other forensic specialists look to thefuture. For example, a forensic economistmight help to determine the impact that aninjury will have on an individual’s earningspotential. A forensic social worker might seekto ensure that a client receives the servicesthat he or she needs.When testifying as expert witnesses,forensic specialists present their findings inlegal proceedings. They might need to prepare a report or exhibits that summarize theiranalysis and conclusions. Often, the information that forensic workers study is complex, sothey must be able to explain technical concepts to judges, juries, attorneys, and others.Forensic workers have diverse training,so their specializations vary. Job tasks dependon the area of expertise. Below are someexamples.Spring 2009 Occupational Outlook Quarterly15

Computer forensic investigators obtainand search computers and electronic recordsfor evidence related to a case—for example,by recovering deleted files from a victim’scomputer or by probing a company’s recordsfor evidence of fraud. For more information, contact the International Association ofComputer Investigative Specialists by writingP.O. Box 1728, Fairmont, WV 26555; callingtoll free 1 (888) 884-2247; or e-mailing cfce@cops.org. Or, visit online at www.iacis.com.See also the Occupational Outlook Handbookstatement on private detectives and investigators at www.bls.gov/oco/ocos157.htm.Crime scene photographers take photographs of details related to a crime. Theymight, for example, photograph the crimescene, a victim’s injuries, and other objects onthe scene. Contact the International Association for Identification by writing 2535 PilotKnob Rd., Suite 117, Mendota Heights, MN55120; calling (651) 681-8566; or e-mailingiaisecty@theiai.org. Or, visit online at www.theiai.org.Firearm and toolmark examiners studyguns, bullet striations, spent bullet casings,16 Occupational Outlook Quarterly Spring 2009and other markings to help determine thetype of firearm used. These workers also canidentify the particular tools used in a crime,such as those applied to a window pane forforcing entry into a building. Contact theAssociation of Firearm and Toolmark Examiners’ president Thomas Price at the KansasBureau of Investigation by writing ForensicScience Lab, 1620 SW. Tyler St., Topeka, KS66612; calling (785) 296-8309; or e-mailingtl.price@kbi.state.ks.us. Or, visit the association online at www.afte.org.Forensic accountants examine financialtransactions related to a legal case or issueto help identify fraudulent or illegal activity.Contact the Association of Certified FraudExaminers by writing the Gregor Building,716 West Ave., Austin, TX 78701; calling tollfree 1 (800) 245-3321; or e-mailingmemberservices@ACFE.com. Or, visit onlineat www.acfe.com. See also the OccupationalOutlook Handbook statement on accountantsat www.bls.gov/oco/ocos001.htm.Forensic anthropologists specialize inhuman bones and use this knowledge to helpdetermine information—such as age, height,and sex—related to skeletal or other remains. Anthropologists also help to findand recover these remains. Contact theAmerican Board of Forensic Anthropology by writing California State University, Anthropology Department, 400 W.First St., Chico, CA 95929; or calling ore-mailing the board secretary, ElizabethMurray, at (513) 244-4948 orElizabeth Murray@mail.msj.edu. Or,visit the association online at www.theabfa.org.Forensic artists produce art-relatedworks that may help to solve a case, suchas sketches of suspects based on witnessdescriptions or computer-generated images of missing persons’ age progressions.Contact the International Association forIdentification by writing 2535 Pilot KnobRd., Suite 117, Mendota Heights, MN55120; calling (651) 681-8566; or e-mailing iaisecty@theiai.org. Or, visit online atwww.theiai.org.

Forensic biologists examine organic substances and perform DNA analysis of samples, such as those of hair or blood. Information about forensic biologists may be availablefrom organizations for related occupations.See, for example, forensic anthropologist andforensic pathologist.Forensic chemists do chemical analysesof evidence that includes drugs, soil, andshards of glass. Information about forensicchemists may be available from organizationsfor related occupations. See, for example,forensic toxicologist.Forensic document examiners analyzehandwriting, printing, inks, and relatedtypes of evidence to verify authenticity ofdocuments. Contact the American Boardof Forensic Document Examiners, Inc. bywriting 7885 San Felipe, Suite 122, Houston,TX 77063. Or, visit the association online atwww.abfde.org.Forensic economists use economictheories and models to help calculate monetary awards in legal cases. Contact theNational Association of Forensic Economicsby writing PO Box 394, Mount Union, PA17006; calling toll free 1 (866) 370-6233; ore-mailing Nancy@nafe.net. Or, visit online atnafe.net.Forensic engineers interpret physicalevidence using their knowledge of engineering. They might, for example, reconstruct anaccident to determine its cause—and, thus,help to establish which parties are legallyresponsible. Contact the National Academyof Forensic Engineers by writing 174 BradyAve., Hawthorne, NY 10532; calling toll free1 (866) NAFE-ORG (623-3674); or e-mailingexecutive director Marvin Specter atspecter@nafe.org. Or, visit the academyonline at www.nafe.org.Forensic nurses provide nursing care toassault victims and collect physical evidencefrom them related to these incidents. Theyalso aim to prevent future assaults througheducational outreach programs. Contact theInternational Association of Forensic Nursesby writing 1517 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 208,Arnold, MD 21012; calling (410) 626-7805;or e-mailing info@iafn.org. Or, visit online atwww.iafn.org.Forensic pathologists are medical doctorswho perform autopsies or other investigationsto help determine a cause of death. Contactthe National Association of Medical Examiners by writing 430 Pryor St. SW., Atlanta, GA30312; calling (404) 730-4781; or e-mailingname@thename.org. Or, visit online at www.thename.org.Forensic psychologists apply their knowledge of human behavior and thought processes in a variety of legal contexts. Examplesinclude determining a defendant’s mentalcompetency, helping to develop a suspect’spsychological profile, or assessing a witness’scredibility. Contact the American Psychology-Law Society by writing, P.O. Box 11488,Southport, NC, 28461; calling (910) 9334018; or e-mailing APLS@ec.rr.com. Or, visitonline at www.ap-ls.org.Forensic social workers help to improvethe lives of people involved in the legalsystem. For example, they might meet witha child and later make recommendations ina custody case related to him or her, or theySpring 2009 Occupational Outlook Quarterly17

might help to evaluate and provide socialservices to criminal defendants. Contact theNational Organization of Forensic SocialWork by writing 460 Smith St., Suite K, Middletown CT 06457; calling (860) 613-0254;or e-mailing executive director Paul Brady atpbrady@nofsw.org. Or, visit the organizationonline at www.nofsw.org.Forensic toxicologists study bodily fluidsand other evidence to help determine whetherdrugs, alcohol, or other toxic substances wereinvolved in a crime or death. They also mightperform drug testing for employers. Contactthe American Board of Forensic Toxicologyby writing 410 N. 21st St.,Colorado Springs,CO 80904; calling (719) 636-1100; or e-mailing immediate past president Yale Caplan atABFTOX@aol.com. Or, visit the board onlineat www.abft.org.Latent print examiners identify suspectsby studying fingerprints, footprints, andrelated clues from a crime scene. Contact theInternational Association for Identificationby writing 2535 Pilot Knob Rd., Suite 117,Mendota Heights, MN 55120; calling (651)681-8566; or e-mailing iaisecty@theiai.org.Or, visit online at www.theiai.org.Career investigation: Where they work,what they earn, and how they prepareThe specialties described above are just someof many opportunities in forensics. This section gives an overview of workers’ employment, wages, and career preparation.Employment. Forensic specialists work ina variety of places. Examples include policedepartments, government agencies, prosecutors’ offices, law firms, insurance companies,hospitals, and consulting firms. Some specialists are self-employed, such as those whoanalyze clues and offer testimony as expertwitnesses. Others hold jobs in addition toforensics-related assignments—for example,a full-time civil engineer who also worksoccasionally as an expert witness.The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics(BLS) collects data on forensic sciencetechnician, a broad occupational title thatencompasses many forensic specialties. As18 Occupational Outlook Quarterly Spring 2009defined by BLS, these workers collect, identify, classify, and analyze evidence for criminal investigations. Some examples are firearmand toolmark examiners, forensic documentexaminers, forensic toxicologists, and latentprint examiners. According to BLS, all typesof forensic science technicians held about12,030 wage and salary jobs in May 2007.Competition is keen for jobs in forensics,due to the popularity of the work. However,demand for some of these workers is expectedto increase. BLS projects that forensic sciencetechnicians will grow by 31 percent over the2006–16 decade, faster than the average forall occupations, with job opportunities bestfor those who have a bachelor’s degree inforensic science.Earnings. Earnings of forensic specialists depend on the field in which they work.Forensic science technicians earned a medianannual wage of 47,680 in May 2007, according to BLS. Earnings of other forensic specialists most likely compare to those of workers in their broader occupation. For example,earnings of forensic chemists would likely besimilar to those of all chemists.Some forensic specialists have sporadicearnings, especially those who are selfemployed or who work on call. Expert witnesses, for example, might only be compensated when they work on a particular case.This compensation is often at a set hourlyrate, which varies by specialty, geographiclocation, and other factors.Skills and preparation. Precision, attention to detail, objectivity, problem-solvingability, and strong oral and written communication skills are important for forensicspecialists. Many of these occupations alsorequire specialists to remain analytical inpotentially unpleasant or challenging situations, such as viewing a murder scene orstudying an accident’s wreckage.Some forensic specialists, such as computer forensic investigators, have a background in law enforcement. And an understanding of, or experience with, the law andlegal procedures can be helpful for manyforensics careers.

Educational backgrounds of forensicspecialists vary. But all require at least theminimum knowledge or training for workersin their field of specialization, and many haveadditional requirements. Becoming a forensicpathologist, for example, requires a medicaldegree, completion of a residency program,and board certification in pathology and inforensic pathology.Most forensic specialists need at least abachelor’s degree and sometimes an advanceddegree. Workers who provide expert analysisand testimony often have a Ph.D. or master’sdegree in their field of expertise. In addition, workers who are employed as expertwitnesses usually need many years of workexperience in their occupation, credentialsfrom professional organizations, and sometimes, other achievements, such as publishedresearch. A solid professional reputation intheir field is also essential.this article, refer to the Occupational Outlook Handbook. The Handbook is availablein many public libraries and online at www.bls.gov/ooh (search “forensic”). And BLSemployment and earnings data on forensicscience technicians is available in the Handbook’s coverage of science technicians, onlineat www.bls.gov/ooh/ocos115.htm.For earnings data in occupations such aschemist or psychologist, refer to the Occupational Employment Statistics Web site atwww.bls.gov/oes.And for information about forensic science careers, contact:The American Academy ofForensic Science410 N. 21st St.Colorado Springs, CO 80901(719) 636-1100pgilliam@aafs.orgwww.aafs.org.Discovering more informationTo learn more about forensics careers, orabout the broader occupations discussed inSpring 2009 Occupational Outlook Quarterly19

POLICE LINE - DO NOT CROSS POLICE LINE - DO NOT CROSS POLICE LINE - DO NOT CROSS POLICE LINE - DO NOT CROSS POLICE LINE . Forensics at work Forensic workers apply scientific or other specialized knowledge to questions and issues related to the law. Their job duties fall into two basic categories: analyzing evidence and .

Related Documents:

-- Computer forensics Computer forensics -- Network forensics Network forensics - Live forensics -- Software forensics Software forensics -- Mobile device forensics Mobile device forensics -- "Browser" forensics "Browser" forensics -- "Triage" forensics "Triage" forensics ¾Seizing computer evidence

Any device that can store data is potentially the subject of computer forensics. Obviously, that includes devices such as network servers, personal computers, and laptops. It must be noted that computer forensics has expanded. The topic now includes cell phone forensics, router forensics, global positioning system (GPS) device forensics, tablet .

forensics taxonomy for the purpose of encapsulating within the domain of anti-forensics. Hyunji et.al [9] proposed a model for forensics investigation of cloud storage service due to malicious activities in cloud service and also analysed artiacts for windows, Macintosh Computer (MAC), (iphone operating system) IOS and

digital forensics investigation is recommended. DIGITAL FORENSICS OFTEN STANDS ALONE We feel that it is important to mention that while digital forensics may be employed during an e-discovery effort, digital forensics often exists independently from e-discov-ery. Digital forensics can be used anytime there is a need to recover data or establish the

Careers & Enterprise Company: Guide for new Careers Leaders in schools. Essential information, helpful resources and practical tools to help newly appointed Careers Leaders get started in the role. National Careers Service. The National Careers Service provides information, advice and guidance to help people make decisions on learning, training and work opportunities. The service .

careers that relate to the environmental goal defined on their worksheet. Students can search for related careers by keyword, subject area, or cluster. (If they need help identifying careers that fit their assigned goal, they can find the example careers in the program and look in the Related Careers section for inspiration.)

The concept of careers and career-related learning in the primary school phase typically provokes a cautious reaction. Terms such as 'careers learning', 'careers education' or 'careers lessons' are often conflated with careers guidance which is often understood to be focused on careers choice. Many parents and teachers have concerns

Skill in analyzing anomalous code as malicious or benign. Computer Forensics Additional S0091 Skill in analyzing volatile data. Computer Forensics Additional A0005 Ability to decrypt digital data collections. Computer Forensics Additional S0092 Skill in identifying obfuscation techniques.