With all the attention given to forensic science in recent years, there has been an explosion of interest in this field. You should definitely feel inspired to be learning about this field at such an exciting time of growth and development! The courts have come to expect more from the forensic science community in respect to our capabilities, while at the same time applying more scrutiny to the analytical procedures and techniques utilized for the examination of evidence. Forensic labs are developing new techniques and utilizing new technology all the time to examine and make comparisons of forensic evidence. Many of these processes have allowed a level of comparison and identification not possible before and they have also created situations where procedures have been challenged in court as being “too new” or not “generally accepted”. The DNA examination procedures employed today went through this process a few years ago. Some newer DNA techniques such as “low copy number DNA” and Y-STR analysis are now being challenged in cases where they have been applied.
One bright light through all the criticism about the shallow attention given to forensic science research is the FBI’s Forensic Science Research and Training Center. This facility has established key research programs that have encouraged the standardization of many scientific procedures used by forensic labs throughout the U.S. Over my career, I have attended several training classes sponsored by this training center. I have also attended international symposiums sponsored by the FBI in which forensic scientists from all over the world were invited to attend and share information on the latest analytical techniques for conducting forensic examinations. The FBI is very involved in the establishment and maintenance of a variety of reference collections or databases in an effort to provide information which can help define the significance of the comparison of class materials.
I’ll close this blog by encouraging you to pursue your interests in this amazing field. Ashworth College’s forensic science covers a broad spectrum of the science of forensics and by now you should know that there is much more that can be learned. If you are taking this course because you were just curious to know more about forensics, then no doubt, you should have a much better understanding of the different aspects of forensic science and how the “real thing” is different from what is portrayed in the popular television programs.
I’m not knocking everything that is shown on television. While these shows compress the analytical processes into unrealistic time frames and depict some procedures using graphics and instrumentation which are inaccurate for the actual procedure used, they do portray forensic principles fairly accurately. I like to think of these shows as the “future” of forensic science.
If you are currently employed in the criminal justice field or are interested in a career in criminal justice or forensic science, this course is an excellent introduction. If your interests lie in field work or investigation, you now know the importance of proper documentation, collection, and packaging of forensic evidence for submission to the laboratory. This course should give you added confidence the next time you find yourself at a crime scene where you are required to collect evidence. But don’t stop with this course. There are many specialized courses out there which will further enhance your skills in the collection and preservation of physical evidence.
If your interests are in a position in a forensic laboratory, this course is a great overview of the field. You can use your performance as a gauge for how much additional training you should pursue. The course may have also given you insights into the particular area of expertise that most interests you. The days of the “generalist”, the crime lab scientist who conducts a variety of examinations, are pretty much a thing of the past. Most forensic scientists have very specific areas of expertise and spend years developing that expertise through academic coursework and practical training.
This course is an example of the interest expressed by students in learning more about this fascinating field. Careers abound in the criminal justice field, particularly for those who have received both academic and practical training. Congratulations again on taking this first step!
Joe Andrews
Forensic Science Instructor
Ashworth College
