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Forensic Science Technicians as a Career


Forensic Science Forensic science technicians are the professional who probe crime scenes. These persons are also called criminalists. The job of forensic science technicians is to look at physical evidence to crack crimes. This task is very vital and requires professional approach to analyze any criminal situation. Current scientific innovations and technology advancement benefited a lot to solve cases of Forensic science. Forensic science technician must possess good logical skills and have an ability to see edge details. He must also from extensive practical scientific background.

Educational Qualification for job:
Candidate must have two years of specialized training or associate degrees in applied science or science-related technology. Many employers hire applicants who have bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, or forensic science. In two year formal training programs, candidate get knowledge of scientific principles and theory with practical hands-on application in a laboratory setting with up-to-date equipment. Other Requirements: Forensic science technicians must have good communications skills. Technicians must have an ability to perform the task well with others. Organizational ability, to check every thing minutely and competency in analyzing scientific results are other important qualities of successful forensic science technician. Initially technicians start their career as trainees in routine positions and work under the direct supervision of a scientist or a more experienced technician. When technicians gain more experience, they take on more responsibility and execute assignments under only general supervision and some ultimately upgrade their position by performing the job of supervisors. The candidate who wants to become forensic science technicians must study details of task performed by professional.

Nature of job:
Basically, forensic science technicians investigate crimes through collecting and scrutinizing physical evidence. In the beginning, forensic science technicians usually employed at state and local governments. There are varieties of physical evidence such as any weapon, a piece of clothing, a bloodstain, or drugs. Trace evidence are less obvious items such as hair, handwriting, fibers, or glass. These evidences must be protected through proper collection and storage. Forensic science technicians inspect the evidence in order to rebuild the crime scene. They try to find out the relationships among all the evidence in order to connect a suspect to the offense. They also investigate guns and tool marks and impression evidence. These items may be a shoe or tires print which are made in soil or bite marks in food. Technicians inspect the evidences in details such as analyzing body fluid evidence or saliva. Some technicians are trained to investigate one or more types of evidence. Forensic science technicians construe lab findings to recognize the physical evidence. They often discuss with experts or other technicians to analyze the evidences. For instance, when a technician is investigating death cases, he might discuss with a doctors about the exact time and cause of a death. He also talks to a technician who specializes in DNA typing which provides a genetic map that is different for every person. There are specific duties of a forensic science technician which includes: examine, test, and analyze tissue samples, chemical substances, physical materials, and ballistics evidence, using recording, measuring, and testing equipment; interpret laboratory findings and test results to identify and classify substances, materials, and other evidence collected at crime scene; collect and preserve criminal evidence used to solve cases; confer with ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, documents, electronics, medical, chemical, or metallurgical experts concerning evidence and its interpretation; reconstruct crime scene to determine relationships among pieces of evidence; prepare reports or presentations of findings, investigative methods, or laboratory techniques; testify as expert witness on evidence or laboratory techniques in trials or hearings.

Essential skills:
Criminalists must develop themselves by acquiring important skills, knowledge, and abilities to execute their task. He should discover the way to find information and recognize essential information. When he collects all relevant information, he must be well competent to organize or classify manifold pieces of information. He should develop skill to comprehend written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents and categorize the nature of problems. He must have good knowledge to utilize appropriate scientific methods to work out problems. By using logical mind, he can identify the strengths and flaws of different approaches. He must have sound knowledge of chemistry such as knowledge of the composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. He must know uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods. He must be aware of public Safety and Security and have better understanding of weaponry, public protection, and defense operations, rules, regulations, precautions, prevention, and the protection of people, data, and property. He must be good in English Language. Basically, he has knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. Inductive Reasoning is very important skill of these technicians. This skill is very useful in combining separate pieces of information, or specific answers to problems, to form general rules or conclusions. With this skill, technician can provide rational explanation for why a series of seemingly unrelated events occur together. Technician must be able converse information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. He must develop competency in information Ordering. It means, he have to correctly pursue a given rule in order to organize things or actions in a definite order. The things can include numbers, letters, words, pictures, procedures, sentences, and mathematical or logical operations.

The work environment of technicians is in a crime laboratory and at crime scenes. The lab is well equipped, have proper light and ventilation and hygienic. Criminalists also have office space where suitable furniture and computer is provided to perform the work. Since criminalist's job is to collect physical evidence, they are more prone to any type of disease. Chemicals, odors, and fumes can cause allergy. Therefore, Criminalists have to take all possible preventive measures such as wear protective and disposable clothing that includes gloves, eyewear, paper suits, and paper shoe coverings when managing body fluid evidence to avoid the spread of disease. Criminalists are often visit court for providing expert testimony concerning their methods and findings. When students are planning to choose this career, they make certain to deal with such hazardous situations. There are many areas where Forensic science technicians may specialize such as DNA analysis, firearm examination, fingerprinting, handwriting or biochemistry. Their main responsibility to prepare reports documenting findings and may provide expert witness proof.

International college for studying forensic science course:
1) California State University, Los Angeles 5151 State University Drive Los Angeles, CA 90032.

Forensic Science Courses in India-

  1. Allahabad Agriculture Institute-Deemed University, Allahabad, offers a two year M.Sc.Degree in Forensic Science.
  2. Amity Institute of Behavioural Health and Applied Sciences, Noida BSc Forensic Science, MSc Forensic Science, Ph.D Forensic Science
  3. The Asian School of Cyber Laws is a global leader providing education, training and consultancy in, cyber law, cyber crime investigation and computer evidence analysis. The Asian School of Cyber Laws works closely with students, professionals, academicians, multinational corporations, governments and law enforcement agencies all over the world.
  4. Dr. Harisingh Gour University, Sagar: MSc Forensic Science, Ph.D. Programme in Forensic Science.
  5. National Institute of criminology and Forensic science (NICFS): MSc Forensic Science . MA Criminology.
  6. Panjab University, Chandigarh: Diploma in Forensic Science and Criminology
  7. St.Xavier's Collge Mumbai: Basic & Advanced Certificate Courses in Forensic Science.

Forensic science is mainly focused on the application of scientific principles to investigate the felony. Forensic scientists use latest technology to convert the traces collected from a crime scene into evidence permissible in a court of law. This is a demanding and interesting career options for those who have are inquisitive and be keen on adventure.