Forensic Science Information
Quick Facts
- TV shows such as CSI make forensic science look fast paced and exciting. In real life however, it is more likely to be methodical, utilizing detailed scientific/technical skills and increasingly sophisticated tools.
- Most universities don’t have a bachelor’s degree in forensic science because the job outlook can be limited for someone without graduate training. You may be benefit from choosing a more marketable major and getting a forensic science minor.
- Your major should reflect the forensic discipline you want to work in. For example, drug analysts should have a degree heavy in chemistry while DNA analysts should have an emphasis on molecular biology
- If you have a criminal record, you have virtually no chance of getting a job as a forensic scientist.
- Forensic Science is a very small occupation. In the United States, there are about 4,000 crime laboratories, administered by the federal, state, or local governments or private industry. Most crime laboratories employ scientists in the areas of forensic chemistry (drugs, toxicology, trace evidence, explosives, fires, etc.) forensic biology (mainly DNA and body fluids and tissues), and criminalistics (fingerprints, questioned documents, firearms, and toolmarks).
- Most Forensic Scientists work in larger cities or organizations and some can have irregular hours.
- The American Academy of Forensic Science, the largest forensic science organization in the world, is composed of over 5,000 scientists organized into ten sections: Criminalistics, Engineering Sciences, General, Jurisprudence, Odontology, Pathology/Biology, Physical Anthropology, Psychiatry & Behavioral Science, Questioned Documents, and Toxicology.
Related Websites:
Job Listings
American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) http://aafs.org/employment/current-openings
American Association of Physical Anthropologists http://www.physanth.org/job-postings
American Board of Forensic Document Examiners http://www.abfde.org
American College of Forensic Examiners http://www.acfei.com/career.php
American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors http://www.ascld.org/
Association of Firearms and Toolmark Examiners http://www.afte.org/forum/smf1/index.php?board=33.0
International Association for Identification http://www.theiai.org/jobs/
International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts http://www.iabpa.org/employopps.htm
International Association of Forensic Nurses
Mid-Atlantic Association of Forensic Scientists http://www.maafs.org/employment.htm
Midwestern Association of Forensic Scientists http://mafs.net/index.php?id=employment
National Association of Medical Examiners http://thename.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=4&Itemid=27
Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists http://www.neafs.org/employ.htm
Northwest Association of Forensic Scientists http://www.nwafs.org/nwafsjobs.htm
Society of Forensic Toxicologists http://www.soft-tox.org/Default.aspx?pn=employment_exchange
Southeastern Association of Forensic Document Examiners http://www.safde.org/careers.htm
Southern Association of Forensic Scientists http://www.southernforensic.org/employment.asp
Southwestern Association of Forensic Scientists http://www.swafs.us/
Virginia Department of Forensic Science http://www.dfs.virginia.gov/jobs/jobs.cfm
Internship Program – NC State Bureau of Investigation http://www.ncdoj.com/About-DOJ/Employment/Summer-Internships.aspx
Volunteer Opportunities – NC Office of State Archeology http://www.arch.dcr.state.nc.us/programs/volunteer.htm
Job Opportunities and Job Descriptions http://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/employment.html
Crime Scene Investigator Job Description http://www.feinc.net/csi-desc.htm
Career Planning Resources
ASCLS Careers In Forensic Science http://www.ascls.org/jobs/grads/forensic_science_careers.asp
Dr. Midori Albert’s Website http://people.uncw.edu/albertm/index.htm
Careers in Forensic Science
http://www.ascls.org/jobs/grads/forensic_science_careers.asp
Forensic Science Technicians
http://online.onetcenter.org/link/summary/19-4092.00
Forensic
Technician - Career and Education Info
http://www.rileyguide.com/careers/forensic-technician.shtml
Carpenter’s Forensic Science Resources http://www.tncrimlaw.com/forensic/
Education and Training in Forensic Science http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/203099.pdf
FBI Laboratories http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/labhome.htm
Forensic Toxicology Laboratories http://www.abarbour.net//labs.htm
Kruglick's Forensic Resource and Criminal Law Page, http://www.bioforensics.com/kruglaw/forensic.htm
Locating Forensic Science Experts http://www.tncrimlaw.com/forensic/f_locate.html
Reddy’s Forensic Websites http://www.forensicpage.com/
Zeno’s Forensic Websites http://forensic.to/forensic.html
Professional Associations
American Board of Criminalistics http://www.criminalistics.com/
American Board of Forensic Anthropology http://www.theabfa.org/
American Board of Forensic Psychology http://www.abfp.com
American Board of Forensic Toxicology http://www.abft.org
American College of Forensic Examiners http://www.acfei.com/
American Society of Crime Lab Directors, http://www.ascld.org/
American Society of Forensic Odontology, http://www.asfo.org
American Society of Questioned Document Examiners, http://www.asqde.org
Association for Crime Scene Reconstruction, http://www.acsr.org/
Association of Analytical Communities International, http://www.aoac.org
American Academy of Forensic Sciences, http://www.aafs.org
American Association of Physical Anthropologists, http://www.physanth.org/
Association of Firearms and Toolmark Examiners, http://www.afte.org
Association of Forensic DNA Analysts and Administrators, http://www.afdaa.org/
California Association of Criminalistics, http://www.Cal-tox.orgEvidence Photographers International Council, http://www.epic-photo.org/
Forensic Toxicologist Certification Board, http://home.usit.net/%7Erobsears/ftcb/index.htm
International Association for Identification, http://www.theiai.org
International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts, http://www.iabpa.org/
International Association of Forensic Nurses, http://www.forensicnurse.org
International Association of Forensic Toxicologists, http://www.tiaft.org
International Homicide Investigators Association, http://www.ihia.org/
Mid-Atlantic Association of Forensic Scientists, http://www.maafs.org/
Midwestern Association of Forensic Scientists, http://www.mafs.net/
National Association of Document Examiners, http://www.expertpages.com/org/nade.htm
New Jersey Association of Forensic Scientists, http://www.njafs.org
Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists, http://www.neafs.org/
Northwest Association of Forensic Scientists, http://www.nwafs.org/
Society of Forensic Toxicologists, http://www.soft-tox.org
Southeastern Association of Forensic Document Examiners, http://www.safde.org/
Southeastern Association of Toxicologists, http://www.sat-tox.org
Southern Association of Forensic Scientists, http://www.southernforensic.org/
Southwestern Association of Forensic Document Examiners, http://www.swafde.org/
Southwestern Association of Forensic Scientists, http://www.swafs.us/
Donate Today