LIsa Black
Cape Coral, FL
Female, 49
I spent the five happiest years of my life in a morgue. As a forensic scientist in the Cleveland coroner’s office I analyzed gunshot residue on hands and clothing, hairs, fibers, paint, glass, DNA, blood and many other forms of trace evidence, as well as crime scenes. Now I'm a certified latent print examiner and CSI for a police department in Florida. I also write a series of forensic suspense novels, turning the day job into fiction. My books have been translated into six languages.
Take as many science courses as you can. Much depends on where you want to work and what you want to do. If you want to do DNA analysis and testify in court about it, you may need a PhD in genetics. If you want to work at crime scenes bagging and tagging evidence, you may need only a high school diploma, with added hireability for advanced degrees. The only way to know is to check job opening notices or call the agencies and ask. I would also suggest that you look for schools that have hands-on lab work with forensic topics such as fingerprints or crime scene work. Best of luck to you.
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What is it you’re going to want to know about them, because I may or may not be able to help.
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I didn't know there was a character limit. But yes, many people write 'how can I become a forensic scientist' without ever checking past questions to see that that has been asked 20 times. And I think others are trying to goad me into saying something non-PC. Apparently too many people have too much time on their hands.
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If you're trying to ask something, you need to be more specific.
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If the agency you apply to accepts it, then yes. Our agency just asks for at least an associate's degree but doesn't specify the subject, so you would qualify. What an agency is looking for beyond any degree is up to them. They might want only those with forensic training, or they might prefer someone who's had laboratory training even if not specifically in forensics over someone who had forensic training but no hands-on lab work. The only way to know is to call them and ask. Best of luck to you!
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At my agency we’d be calling either Dispatch or, less likely, another person, in which case we’d use their badge number. What people call their dispatch unit, base, station, (we call them the name of the city, the first word in ‘such and such police department) probably depends on the habits of that particular agency. In other words there is no difference. Hope that helps!
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I work in a police department, so yes, work with them every day.Though my immediate coworkers and immediate supervisor are all civilians.
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