Vocational Skills Needed to Become a Forensic Scientst

Forensic scientists often study found bones to identify bodies.

Forensic scientists work to solve crimes for the judicial system. These scientists must have a wide range of knowledge to achieve success in the field. While detectives try to figure out motive and other details surrounding a crime, forensic scientists "help identify criminals and analyze evidence against them," according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Analyzing Objects

When a crime scene unit returns all the evidence from an area to the crime lab, forensic scientists must be able to analyze the evidence and come to conclusive results. Sometimes the smallest objects can help to solve a crime. Forensic scientists need to be able to examine documents to detect forgery and photocopying, as well as analyze handwriting. Workers in this field must also be able to identify firearms to match bullets to specific guns. Toolmark identification is also a must, as crimes committed often involve tools to break into a locked building.

Biology and Chemistry

Forensic scientists must have a strong background in both biology and chemistry. Dead bodies are usually tested for controlled substances, and forensic scientists need to be able to understand the toxicology reports. These scientists must also "compare body fluids and hair for typing factors, including DNA analysis," according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The analysis of DNA has improved the effectiveness of forensic science greatly. Forensic scientists use chemistry to trace physical evidence like paint, glass and blood spatter to reconstruct the crime scene and understand more fully what happened.

Communication Skills

It is not sufficient for forensic scientists to merely analyze crime scene results. Because the results are a part of the legal process, forensic scientists usually have to give their professional opinion at trial in testimony against the defendant. Forensic scientists must not only be able to communicate their findings in person, but the written description of the report must be comprehensible to others who might need to read it.

Psychophysical Detection

A more specific vocational skill that forensic scientists need to obtain is the ability to conduct the psychophysical detection of deception exam. This test, formerly known as the polygraph, is "based on the scientific theory that when telling a lie, a person's body responds in a certain way," according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Forensic scientists monitor internal body functions like pulse rate, breathing changes and bloody pressure to detect lies from witnesses or alleged criminals.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: A Career in Forensic Science