Forensic Science Was Not Invented by Scientists

Students pursuing a forensic science degree may find it interesting to note that forensic science started in the police department and not in the science laboratories. However, it is in science laboratories that new methods of testing are developed. New methods in the area of fingerprint and fluid analysis are continuously being developed. Current progress in the field of DNA analysis has set a new scientific standard for accuracy.

Students of a forensic science need to be flexible, both artists and scientists, free thinkers and yet develop the technical know-how of mathematicians. Although this is a technical field, all facts must be taken into consideration and the accuracy of the tools used be consistent and precise. Skills that are developed in a forensic science degree include autopsy techniques, toxicology, chemical analysis, forensic anthropology, blood spatter analysis, DNA testing footprint or fingerprint analysis, foot-printing and modern computer or clay facial reconstruction.

Included in the study of forensic science is the study of Chromatography which  is a process of identifying and dividing complex mixtures in order for these future examiners of body fluids to correctly identify substances. Their results are life-changing and ought to be made with the highest standards of accuracy all of the time.

For instance, the first convicted criminal by DNA analysis in the United States was a rapist named Tommie Lee Andrews. However, the argument of what makes a satisfactory DNA match among forensic scientists at the time went on even during the process of his conviction. This indicated that the process involved in DNA identification was far from perfect. In the younger days of forensic science, improvement in the processes involved needed to be attained.

What resulted from this uncertainty was a developed DNA process that is so accurate and currently, so widely accepted and measurable. However, no matter how many breakthroughs are achieved in this particular area, it is important for students to note that less than ten percent of United States crime cases require DNA testing.

One such case was that of twenty-three year old Steven Barnes, convicted of raping a sixteen-year old. He was certain his name would be cleared by investigators due to his innocence and the fact that he had no prior criminal record twenty years ago. However, the forensic science department concluded that the two hairs found in his pickup truck was exactly like the victim's hair under the microscope. This resulted in a sentencing of twenty-five years in prison. It was only last year that he was cleared by new breakthroughs of  DNA analysis and released.

Forensic science degree techniques, tools and processes are becoming more and more improved with the discovery of rapidly advancing techniques. For instance an expert who recognizes patterns named Sargur Srihari is currently developing new software which quantifies not the fingerprint matches but the certainty of how accurately the fingerprint matched. Furthermore, a development of a database of miniscule microscopic tool-marks are assigned statistical significance to in order to identify any type of tool used by modern thieves.

Solving Crime with Computer Forensics

Computer Forensics is the scientific study of computers or computer related data in relation to an investigation by a law enforcement agency for use in a court of law. While this technology may be as old as computers themselves, the advances in technology are constantly revising the science of computer forensics.

In the technological old days, computer forensics was mostly related to data dumps, printing out every keystroke that had been logged on a computer in a series of eight digits, all of them zeroes and ones. Literally cases of paper would be used for the printing of the materials. Systems analysts would then have to convert all of the data into hex and then translate the value into whatever the actual keystroke was. In this way, it was possible to go over all of the data and figure out at what point the computer and the corresponding program crashed. Like computers and technology, Computer forensics has evolved by leaps and bounds since those days of old.

While all computer language still ultimately boils down to ones and zeroes or binary and then hex, the means by which programs are created, run and utilized has changed drastically. Computer forensics has done well to keep up with the task at hand. Now hard drives can be wiped clean. However, without an unconditional format (and in rare cases, even with the unconditional switch) the data can still be retrieved. It takes an expert in computer forensics however. It takes someone who is familiar with the technology of the computer and the science of computer forensics to reconstruct all of the data that has been wiped off of the hard drive.

Computer forensics can be used to track emails, instant messaging and just about any other form of computer related communications. This can be necessary, especially in the world today. Computer forensics experts have even advanced the technology to the point that they can track data real time, or while it is actually being sent and received. This is a mind-numbing task when you think about the billions of communications going on around the globe at any given time, but the science of computer forensics is constantly advancing every bit as quickly or sometimes even faster than the technology they are responsible for investigating.

Computer forensics is an interesting aspect of technology that is often overlooked. Computer forensics have been used to solve many crimes and should be considered a viable tool in many ways. The study of computer forensics is constantly growing along with technology.

5 Reasons to Study Forensic Accounting

Forensic Accounting although is not easy just as it sounds, it is also as interesting as it sounds. For a start, this course is not recommended for those who does not like numbers, the law and detailed investigations. These three are the main determinants in passing the exams, presumably.

#1 Salary
The salary for a beginner scales between USD30 000 to USD60 000 per year. That is averagely USD3000 per month. Annual increment of salary based on performance may even reach up to six digit. This is all based on your experiences and expertise. It is not much to start with but when you really get down to it, you will earn as much as a physician.

#2 Play detectives
The job is interesting because it lets you investigate. If you do not fit the requirement to become a detective, then this is one of your chances to be one. Being familiar with the law and also investigating fraud in accounts and the handling of money are the best skills needed in this job. Although it may be time consuming and head cracking, you will feel satisfied once you have reached the conclusion and get the result.

#3 Wide job scopes
It is not that there are many things to do in one particular job, it is just that there are different kinds of jobs to choose from by taking a forensic accounting degree. For example, one can be a bankruptcy specialist, chief financial officer, lawyer, consultant, defense department auditor, internal auditor and other jobs that involves accounting and litigation processes.

#4 The market
This course is still considered as new and not many colleges offer them around the world. This is the chance to bloom into the markets before it becomes a common job such as IT job where the market for IT students is very challenging.

#5 Software explorations
For those of you who just love to explore new computer software, this may also be for you. Financial auditing utilizes some of the latest and complicated software and by taking up this course, you will be able to get your hands on this software and be one of the "know-how's".

Forensic accounting is one of the exciting and challenging job that requires full concentration and usage of the brain just like any other brain draining jobs. If you miss out one small detail, then you will not be able to sort out the case. Therefore if you think you are up for the challenge and make big money, grab a registration from any offering college now.
Forensic School



The forensic school system at West Virginia University (frequently shorted to WVU) is often regarded as one of the most robust and comprehensive forensic school programs in the United States. In addition to the various departments at WVU which include a college of law, school of medicine, school of pharmacy, school of journalism and many others the forensic school program stands out as perhaps the most unique and least well known of the many accredited departments.

The lack of public awareness about the forensic school is surprising given the high profile nature of the partner that helped bring the program to the West Virginia University campus. A partnership between WVU and the FBI formed what became an accredited curriculum by the highly respected American Academy of Forensic Sciences. What is particularly special about the structure of the West Virginia University offering is that there is a great deal of breadth and depth with regards to the specific fields of study.

When most people think about the term forensic science their minds conjure up potentially misleading images of visuals they have seen in television shows like CSI or Dexter and in the movies. In actuality the term forensics as it is commonly used refers to a wide spectrum of applications with regards to implementing scientific scrutiny in a manner that advances the understanding of legal implications as they relate to better understanding details of alleged crimes. Trivia buffs will be interested to learn that the etymology behind the word forensics derives from the Latin "forensis" which means "before the forum." Essentially the Latin correlation relates to authenticating evidence surrounding an event before taking that information to the forum. In this context the Roman use of the word forum essentially means court or trial in modern English.

The West Virginia University forensic school options provide a great deal more than merely bloodstain analysis and toxicology report classes (although those courses are offered). The WVU offerings are as follows:

o Computer forensics (digital storage - also referred to as digital forensics)

o Toxicology forensics (chemicals, i.e. poisons)

o Odontology forensics (dentistry)

o Bloodstain analysis (spatter patterns)

o Textile forensics (cloth and clothing)

o Criminology (sociological behavior study)

o Forensic accounting (auditing and scrubbing number for court proceedings)

o Dactylography (fingerprint analysis)

o Forensic entomology (insect study as it relates to bugs decomposing flesh)

Through specially designed laboratories and staged crime scene locations students at WVU get the closest thing to real world experience available. Lab work is complimented with classroom learning which is primarily held in the Ming Hsieh Hall building on campus. Prospective students interested in majoring in any of the previously described fields are encouraged to contact the University of West Virginia and ask for additional information pertaining to their forensic school.