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Careers in forensics: analysis, evidence, and law.

Article Excerpt
In legal proceedings, a case is only as strong as its evidence. And whether that evidence is strong depends, in large part, on the work of forensic specialists.

The field of forensics is broad and involves many kinds of workers. Some of them are involved in crimesolving. Others, such as forensic social workers or forensic economists, help to resolve different legal issues.

But one thing all forensic specialists have in common is that their work is connected to the law in some way. These workers might have a background in life sciences, art, engineering, healthcare, social sciences, or a number of other fields. And although their 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 it encompasses. The first section talks about what forensic workers do and lists selected specialties within the field. A second section describes places of employment, potential earnings and opportunities, and education and training requirements. A final section provides sources for finding more information.

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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 acting as expert witnesses in legal proceedings. Some forensic specialists concentrate primarily on one of these tasks, although many do both.

When analyzing evidence, forensic specialists often uncover details about past events--for example, a time of death, the cause of a car accident, or the source of a computer hacking. They might investigate clues about what happened and draw conclusions using their expertise. Whatever they find, they share with law enforcement and other personnel involved in the case or investigation.

Some workers focus largely on the study of physical evidence. Like anyone who works with items related to legal proceedings, these forensic specialists must be careful to document their receipt and handling of evidence. They must also record their observations....