forensic

What happens when your much talked about multi billion project crashes and burns? Before you decide to let your career and professional credibility crash along with it, take charge and decide that you are going to turnaround this failure into a valuable lesson. Opt for forensic recover before you are blamed further for all the shortfalls in these projects. You should strive to create a ‘smooth’ landing no matter how rough the terrain and other conditions conspire against this.

That is why most large organizations are keen to appoint those project managers like you who don’t shy away from the difficult task of forensic recovery because the results of this are bound to be accurate, meaningful, and extremely rewarding. Without forensic recovery, you will just realize that your career may just be over before it had even begun.

Benefits of the forensic investigation

Learning in-house lessons is always difficult but it brings to light the accurate cause of the system’s or the specific project’s failure. Forensic recovery determines whether the said loss could have been saved or even avoided altogether.

A detailed forensic analysis can actually pay for itself by making the most effective recommendations which, when implemented at a later date, would weed out the possible recurrence of the underlying problems. The forensic analysis would bring to light whether the data structures on the computer system or relating to the specific project was an act of malice. The examination would naturally begin with a search for every file on the system. This includes not only existing normal files, but leftovers of deleted files, and any hidden, encrypted, or password-protected files.

However hard it is to handle an investigative atmosphere, once you are aware of the fact that there has been accidental or purposeful deletion of data, that must fortify your resolve trace and track those who are responsible for these errors. A major collapse in project or deadline alone is not the aim. But it is your badge of honor that is at stake so forensic recovery is integral to prove and convict wrongful acts that lost precious and priceless date.

Whenever such situations are encountered, it is best to hire the best forensic recovery experts to investigate, establish the facts and finally recover all hidden data evidence. This retrieved data can be subject to expert analysis so that the scope of the cyber crime can be evaluated by examining computer records, recovering previously deleted material and searching for electronic 'footprints', all of which may propel relevant evidence as to what may have occurred.

The professionals who tackle forensic recovery would be able to investigate storage devices be it hard disk, compact disk or any other storage devices.These experts would be able to identify documentary sources or other digital evidence. Preservation, analysis and presentation of the evidence are a part of their work too.

This is similar to the manner in which evidence is presented before the court of law. The aim of forensic recovery specialists is to carry out a structured investigation and find out exactly what has happened on the digital system, whet that is responsible for it.

Computer forensic investigators acquire the information, analyze it and prepare the final reports. It is a fact that most criminals leave some clues behind which help investigators to track. But unlike yesteryears, investigating is not as easy because of the complex strides in technology that is difficult for most investigators to remain updated with.

Once electronic evidence is gathered, the forensic experts make their reports ready. Attorneys are encouraged to collect massive volumes of information which increases the cost of computer forensic procedures. Some of the recovered data sources include backup tapes, compressed data, password protected files and encrypted data from any operating system platform, all of which are filtered down to a single collection that is delivered to you in your desired format.

Using these details relating to the importance of forensic recovery, remember to utilize this discussion for gathering dynamic initiatives so that future projects don’t crash.

For years, WARD'S has been on the cutting-edge of Forensic Science education, providing innovative learning materials designed for introducing students and others to this popular and growing field. You will find hundreds of unique lab activities, resources, tools and demonstrations.

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Since the introduction of DNA testing as evidence in 1990, criminal justice system has been improved but mistakes and human errors have downplayed the effectiveness of the technology.

This DNA forensic has undeniably helped in solving tough cases and yet, public awareness of the information is only surface touching depth.

Forensic identification tests can link the DNA segments to each individuals existing.

Examples of DNA uses in the field include identification of potential suspects whose DNA maybe match leftovers at crime scenes, establishment of paternity and family relationships of victims whom could not be recognized based on their outlooks and matching organ donors with recipients in transplant programs.

The selected interesting cases of DNA forensic identification involve the DNA Shoah Project, identification of the 911 and South East Asia 2004 Tsunami victims and others.

There have been two main types of forensic DNA testing. They are often called; RFLP and PCR based testing, although these terms are not very descriptive.

Generally, RFLP testing requires larger amounts of DNA and the DNA must be under graded. Crime-scene evidence that is old or that is present in small amounts is often unsuitable for RFLP testing.

Warm moist conditions may accelerate DNA degradation rendering it unsuitable for RFLP in a relatively short period of time.
PCR-based testing often requires less DNA than RFLP testing and the DNA may be partially degraded, more so than is the case with RFLP. However, PCR still has sample size and degradation limitations that sometimes may be under-appreciated.

PCR-based tests are also extremely sensitive to contaminating DNA at the crime scene and within the test laboratory.

During PCR, contaminants may be amplified up to a billion times their original concentration. Contamination can influence PCR results, particularly in the absence of proper handling techniques and proper controls for contamination.

PCR is less direct and somewhat more prone to error than RFLP. However, PCR has tended to replace RFLP in forensic testing primarily because PCR based tests are faster and more sensitive.

Science cannot yet provide conclusive results on genetics and behavior. Discovering more about ourselves to the basic components can reveal much more about us.

Blood group, originality, race, allergies, genetic dominance and other elements just showed that we are fascinating creatures to exist on earth.

What Is Forensic Accounting?

The forensic accountant calculates damage and helps in settling disputes before they reach the courtroom. If the dispute goes as far as the courtroom, the forensic accountant can double as an expert witness. In an investigation, they review the situation and come up with possible course of action, assist in the recovery of assets and work with private investigators and consultants.

As a part of the job, they may recommend the action that should be taken and the steps necessary to minimize future risk. They may also aid in the investigation of civil matters. For example, a forensic accountant may be hired to search for hidden assets in a divorce case.

Who Hires Forensic Accountants?

There are a number of industries that hire forensic accountants. Divorce disputes, investigation claims of business negligence and personal injury claims are a few fields that need the help of these professionals. Forensic Accountants find work in major accounting firms and are a part of investigating mergers and acquisitions, tax investigations and economic crime investigations.

Forensic Accountants work in all branches of the government, from the FBI, the IRS and the CIA to offices of the local authorities. Public companies are likely to increase the hiring of forensic accounting in the future, due to the need for strong internal control to comply with government demands for accurate financial reporting. More and more companies now realize that forensic accountants help in the detection and prevention of misuse of company resources.

How Can I Become A Forensic Accountant?

Most existing forensic accountants have a bachelor's degree in accounting and a number of them have additional academic qualifications in fields such as law enforcement and criminal justice. To be a forensic accountant, you generally require a CPA designation. To increase your value as a forensic accountant, you can take the Certified Fraud Examiner Exam that is administered by the ACFE. By earning this certification, you can improve your chances of landing a better position.

How Much Can A Forensic Accountant Make?

You can expect to earn around $30,000 to $60,000 a year, in an average entry-level position. After acquiring a few years of experience, you could easily improve your annual salary to six figures. It is quite common for experienced forensic accountants to make more than $100,000 a year.

What Other Skills Do I Need?

A forensic accountant has to combine the skills of a record keeper, a paralegal and a detective. In short, forensic accounting requires you to possess the ability to think logically. A capable forensic accountant must possess curiosity, persistence, discretion, organization, confidence, professional judgment and creativity. In addition, the forensic accountant must have good communication skills and the ability to listen patiently. You must be updated on recent developments in the field in order to be effective.

In this high paced, high tech world one of the things that we can depend on is that the crooks are usually one step ahead of the cops. This doesn’t mean that the cops are less clever than the crooks; it just means that there are fewer of them, with fewer resources and with loads more red tape. One area that criminals have taken serious advantage of is computer driven crime. A little technical know-how, a little computer savvy and it seems that just about anyone is an insider trader waiting in the wings.

We’ve all seen on TV how police forces and agencies have caught on and how they all have computer specialists who can crack computer codes, catch hackers and piece together broken computers and retrieve data from the tiny bits. Mostly we get this from CSI. Realty is probably a little different. In cases where computers are involved, experts from outside companies are usually called in to offer their services. They may be called in to secure proof or to repair or protect altered or damaged data. Their job is extremely important and may have a direct bearing on the outcome of a case; it depends on the reliability of the data retrieved, which often depends on the skill of the technician as well as on the original level of data corruption.

Computers used in unlawful activities often hold all the proof needed to convict suspects, even if they have deleted the evidence, formatted the computer or deliberately tried to damage it. Proof gained from computers has been used successfully in trade cases, secret theft, industrial espionage, divorce, and fraud, discrimination, narcotics, and smuggling and corruption cases. Experts are able to examine the computers and see whether or not data has been erased or damaged. They are then able to look for specific data, phrases, file, numbers and keywords. Once the data has been accessed they are able to determine if it has been used unlawfully used and can authenticate any breach of the software license.

This is all very interesting and I am sure we all very pleased that criminals who think that they are so smart, aren’t and get their comeuppance and all. Even though it is a somewhat scary thought knowing that you can’t completely hide everything that you do and that someone might always be able to find out. Its very George Orwell – 1984 -ish. In other words, not very comforting.

An important question, however remains: What happens if, just for arguments sake and this is rather extreme but run with it, what would happen if a movie scenario did come true? Lets use a James Bond scenario, anyone, they all use computers, just about. What if the world found itself held to ransom by a lunatic with very powerful computers and the ability and will to use them to create havoc and do much damage to most of the developed world? What would our forensic experts be able to do then? Would they be able to do anything? Would we have to turn to all the hackers that our forensic experts have put in jail, as so often happens in the movies? Are we ready for an uber criminal? Is one brewing? Have I once again been watching too many action movies?

Think what Al Capone could have done with the technology of computers. He would probably still have been caught for tax evasion but the scale could have been so much grander. He could have had his finger in about 3 dozen more pies than he did at the time. The man could have been epic. He could have been almost mythic in stature. He’s the kind of man who would have held the world to ransom. He’s the kind of man who would probably have got away with it. Elliot Ness would have needed a bigger gang of untouchables. They would have had to keep Sean Connery alive throughout the movie; goodness knows he was the brains behind the whole operation.

While more and more people are turning to computers to commit crime, experts are coming up with more and more refined ways of catching them. Not even damaging the computer or the hard drive is enough to destroy evidence; experts can piece together data from deliberately damaged computers just as easily as they can from accidentally deleted files. The point here is forensic computer services is a growing and evolving field, think twice before you decide that no one will miss that 20 grand.

Forensic science is one of the most challenging and stimulating careers that someone can choose for a litany of reasons. This is because, unlike other science careers, forensic science deals with the law and most particularly criminal law. What a forensic scientist actually does, is to use science to come to conclusions and solve puzzles with regards to evidence that has been gathered at crime scenes.

Unlike other scientists however; the forensic scientist must be able to defend their conclusions in a court of law. So it is imperative that the conclusions that a forensic scientist arrives at be flawless, because if any of their science is less than credible in one case it can also mean that the conclusions in other previous cases may too be called into question.

Many people are drawn to a career in forensic science because it is a science career that allows them to help people who have been victimized find justice. Problem solving and real life puzzles are still more reasons why people are so drawn to forensic science as a career choice.

Forensic science is continually advancing and new methods of finding answers to the puzzles that are left at crime scenes are continually being developed and tested. This means that a career in forensic science can involve making new discoveries that can be used to solve crimes in the future.

Job security is still one more factor that can't be ignored and with so many peoples lives being disrupted by a job loss, forensic science is a career that you can count on to stay with you your entire life.

Forensic science is not only intellectually stimulating but it is also financially rewarding as well and with the need for forensic scientists growing world wide it also offers an incredible opportunity for travel.

Clinical nursing, within the law enforcement includes the treatment of victims of sexual assault, child abuse, accident victims, trauma and the investigation of the culprits. Within the combination of medical and legal expertise, forensic-nursing includes investigation of death and treatment of the victims at psychiatric centers. Due to the steady rise in the crime rate and the successful role of forensic nursing within the judicial system, the demand for qualified nurses is high.

Role Of Forensic Nurses

Although nurses have always contributed positively to the treatment of victims and criminals, their importance has been realized and acknowledged only recently. Forensic nursing, a relatively new term, combines the services of medical science and judicial practice, to benefit mankind. Forensic nurses play a key role within the judicial system. They not only collect the evidence and forensic information pertaining to the trials, but also give their testimony in the court of law whenever required.

Collection of evidence, with the help of medical skill and information, helps in making justice available to the victims of violence and abuse, quicker. These nurses work at all levels to promote health and help the victims and perpetrators of violence to cope with the situation. Forensic nurses not only help the victims, but also their loved ones. They act as advocates and health educators to the families and the community. With the ever-increasing crime rate, the demand for forensic nurses is rising. The positions available include jobs at the healthcare and psychiatric facilities, county prosecutors, coroners' offices, medical examiners and insurance companies.

Forensic Nursing As A Career

There is a broad spectrum of jobs opportunities available in the field of nursing. Forensic nurses gather medical evidence and information to testify in trials within the jurisdiction and hence they also serve as legal nurse consultants. Although no nursing degree is required to qualify for the position of a forensic nurse, there are a number of degree programs available for those interested in making a career in this profession. These degrees offer a variety of courses and programs in forensic nursing, most of which are available online also.

Nursing students interested in becoming forensic pediatricians or geriatrician nurses need to complete a basic certification course. MS, with a counseling certification is essential for those interested in becoming forensic psychiatric nurses. Since there is a demand for nurses, there is also a continuous increase in the wages offered as well. According to statistics, this placement option in the field of forensic science will be in great demand in the near future.

This new branch in the field of forensic science, which combines the health care profession with the legal practice, offers an opportunity to help not only the victims, but also their families. For people who really want to make a difference and help the law enforcement process, forensic nursing as a profession is an exciting and rewarding career.

Forensic science is not just what you see on television shows like CSI but rather the use of actual science to help determine the answer to varied legal questions. There are many different types of forensic disciplines that are used to help police and other officials answer these questions. These include criminalistics, forensic psychology, forensic pathology and others.

Criminalistics is the science used to help understand the evidence in crimes. Evidence used in criminalistics can include biological evidence, trace evidence, impression evidence, controlled substances and ballistics. Biological evidence is usually bodily fluids such as semen and blood. Trace evidence are items like hair and fibers. Impression evidence are items like foot prints, impressions of car tires and fingerprints. Criminalistics is usually investigated in a crime lab. Many cities with very large populations have crime labs within their police departments. These include Miami-Dade, Florida and the famous Las Vegas crime lab.

Forensic psychology is the study of the mind of a criminal. Forensic psychologists usually study the motivations that led an individual to commit a certain crime. Forensic psychology has recently come into the limelight as more and more television shows have started to feature it. These includes CSI, NCIS and Criminal Minds. Criminal Minds especially digs into why a person committed the crime so that they may locate the victim before it is too late. Forensic psychology has also been discredited by some as being interpreted in court as opinion and what might have been going through an individual s mind, not what actually went through the individual s mind.

Forensic pathology is the study of the cause of death. Literally, pathology is used to determine how someone died and the forensic findings are usually used to backup a court case. Forensic pathology has also recently become popular for television shows such as CSI and NCIS. Many of the cases involve a mystery over death.

There have also been many other forensic sciences such as forensic meteorology, and forensic geology, although these are used much less often than other branches of forensic science. Many of them just involve using analytical skills to determine the cause of the events.

As with any science there have been some disagreements over the scientific effectiveness of certain forensic sciences. One of these cases was an experiment by the FBI. Comparative bullet lead analysis was used by the FBI for over 40 years starting when John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. The theory was that each batch of bullets had a specific chemical composition, much like an element on the periodic table, and therefore could be traced back to its original batch or even down to the very box. However, internal studies showed this to be exactly the opposite and the test was finally pulled in 2005.

No matter what you may think, forensic science affects you each and every day. Forensic science allows scientific means to be applied to almost any situation so that there can be a root cause determined. Forensic science in any form is just the answering of a legal question using analytical means.

Serving a forensic science internship is one of the most exciting and rewarding times in a persons life who has chosen fornsics as a career choice. Its the first time that they actually get to put their training to work on real evidence that has been gathered from actual crime scenes.

It is one thing to see in a classroom how things actually function in the lab with hypothetical cases and evidence but when the evidence is real and the actual conclusions that are being arrived at are to be used to solve a crime, it is a different story all together.

How does a person that is interested in serving a forensic science internship find a lab to serve it in? The fact is that forensic science labs regularly recruit their interns from forensic science schools and of course the best labs tend to recruit from the best schools.

A forensic science internship serves two purposes for the student. First, it allows a person to reinforce what they have learned, by assisting seasoned professionals with the actual work that is being done in a forensics lab. Secondly, it allows a person that has completed or is nearing the completion of their degree to work in a lab with with a certian level of flexibility.

This will help them in their final decision making process when they are deciding which direction to take in their career. Also, a forensic science internship is a time when a person that has recently graduated can begin to build a resume to use in finding a permanent job is a forensic science lab.

Choosing the right school to attend can be crucial in determining where you are going to be able to serve your forensic science internship. So, it is important to ask what their policies are on internships when selecting a forensics school to attend.

In recent years forensic psychology and related topics such as criminal profiling have been the subject of a whole host of books, films and television series. While this has undoubtedly raised the profile of forensic psychology, the subject has often been presented in a distorted, sensationalised and inaccurate way.

With this very much in mind, this article outlines what you need to be aware of in order to provide a satisfactory answer to the question, what is forensic psychology?

When my students arrived for their first lecture, I would always start by giving them 10 minutes to write down an answer to the question what is forensic psychology? Before reading on, why not quickly write down what you think forensic psychology is.

The reason I did this was because despite the fact that every single undergraduate psychology student (about 180 of them) chose to do the forensic psychology course, not one of them came to see me in advance to ask what the course was about. Now bear in mind students chose their optional courses well in advance of the start date, and in order to make an informed choice they were all strongly advised to speak to the lecturer running the courses they were interested in before making a final decision.

So why the no show?

I suspect, actually I know because I discussed it with the students afterwards, that they didn't feel they had to find out what forensic psychology is, because they already had a preconceived idea.

I mentioned that at the start of the first lecture I would give students 10 minutes to write down an answer to the question what is forensic psychology. What I didn't mention, however, is that after about 2 minutes I would ask for their attention and apologise for forgetting to tell them that they weren't allowed to use the words serial killers or silence of the lambs in their answer. It was usually as this point that most of the writing in the lecture theatre stopped.

If you're thinking I would have stopped writing as well, please contain your disappointment and don't rush off just yet. The answer to the question, what is forensic psychology may not quite be what you thought, but that doesn't mean that the subject has to be any less engaging.

The first thing to appreciate when addressing the question is that even psychologists in the field are divided as to what the answer is. The division of criminological and legal psychology within the British Psychological Society argued for twenty years as to whether their members should be entitled to call themselves Chartered Forensic Psychologists. It was finally agreed that they should, however, there still remains a great deal of debate and controversy surrounding the issue.

The central problem is that its members are drawn from a wide range of disciplines, so it is always difficult to state what the boundaries are when you talk of Forensic Psychology.

A fragmented discipline?

Psychologists in the prison/correctional services. Clinical psychologists in special hospitals & the psychiatric services. Educational psychologists. Occupational psychologists. Academics

Now while it is important to acknowledge that this fragmentation of role exists, it is just as important to realise that these different groups are linked to forensic psychology because their work, expert knowledge or research activity is somehow connected with the law.

This legal connection makes perfect sense when you consider that the word forensic comes from the Latin forensis, which literally means appertaining to the forum, specifically the imperial court of Rome. So in essence:

The debate as to what is and what isn t forensic psychology rests primarily on the nature of psychology s relationship with the legal system.

Let me give you an example, imagine 2 clinical psychologists meet at a conference and they begin talking about the work they do. The first psychologist tells the second that she recently gave expert testimony in court arguing that the defendant in a murder case was criminally insane; the judge and jury agreed and having been found guilty on the grounds of diminished responsibility the defendant was going to be sent to a secure psychiatric unit. Now there s a coincidence the second psychologist says I work in the unit where they're sending him, so I ll be dealing and treating this guy when he arrives.

So here you have a situation where two psychologists are linked to the legal system by way of a legal decision and you could argue, therefore, that both deserve to be seen as engaging in Forensic Psychology. However, there s a crucial difference.

The first psychologist actually helped inform the legal decision based on her psychological knowledge and expertise. The second psychologists' involvement on the other hand arose as a consequence of a legal decision that she had no direct influence over.

My preferred forensic psychology definition acknowledges this key distinction, namely:

That branch of applied psychology which is concerned with the collection, examination and presentation of evidence for judicial purposes (Haward 1981).

If you adopt this definition you are stating categorically that Forensic Psychology relates to:

The provision of psychological information for the purpose of facilitating a legal decision (Blackburn 1996).

So in the case of our two psychologists, strictly speaking only the first can be said to be engaged in Forensic Psychology.

Not everybody would agree with this, because there is a school of thought that would claim that any activity that links psychology to the law deserves to be described as Forensic. I m not going to try and convince you which is right, although I do have a strong opinion on the mater; the main thing is that you know that this debate exists.

Summary

In answering the question, what is forensic psychology we have discovered that:

In essence, forensic psychology refers to the application of psychology within a legal context.

The debate as to what is & what is not forensic psychology relates to the nature of this legal application & the level at which it is applied.

And this debate raises a number of questions that you need to think about. In particular:

The boundaries of forensic psychology?

The role of the forensic psychologist?

The credibility of forensic psychology.

To find out more about the fascinating world of forensic psychology visit www.all-about-forensic-psychology.com

Forensic science can be defined as the application of scientific methods and principles to solve crimes and other types of legal issues. In most criminal cases, a forensic scientist is typically involved in looking for and examining many kinds of physical evidence that can help establishing a link between a suspect of committing a crime and the scene of the crime or victim. Forensics is now a more popular subject since several TV shows became successful, such as Crime Scene Investigation (CSI).

However, very few people realize that being a CSI or forensic professional can be a very good career alternative. One can put forward many reasons that make forensic science one of the best career prospects nowadays. The reasons range from labor market, salaries, benefits to training availability and beyond.

The availability of jobs for someone seeking to be a forensic professional used to be very small for a long time until about five years ago, when many technological and scientific advances started to develop and provided new kinds of tools that substantially improved the efficiency of the police and security forces in solving crimes and other problems. As a consequence, most law enforcement agencies and other institutions greatly expanded their resources and facilities in order to increase their ability to employing techniques and methodologies of forensic science.

Even though police departments alone employ (and keep hiring) thousands of people coming from diverse areas of forensic work and with many different educational backgrounds, police is not the only alternative for those looking for a job related to forensic science or criminal justice. Methods and concepts of forensic science are increasingly being used by many other institutions for diverse purposes so the job market for forensics is greater than ever. Companies that develop, improve and produce tools, reagents, kits and devices to be used in forensic investigation are also a good part of the available job market. The size of the job market and the opportunities associated greatly increase if one considers working abroad. Besides the United States, countries like Britain and Australia are also part of this trend.

Being a discipline that relies strongly on technology, working in forensic science requires the acquisition of certain skills. This means somebody wanting to work in forensics needs at least some sort of higher education. The type of degree and the length of the program vary largely and depend on the kind of work one is interested in doing. Some positions require higher degrees such as Ph.D. or Masters, but many more posts can be taken after a short course of one or two years earned at smaller private academies.

But these requirements are not a big obstacle to be sorted out if one considers the many benefits of working for a forensic department. Positions at police agencies and other law enforcement institutions are often accompanied by substantial benefits and competitive salaries and, best of all, good prospects of stability and professional growth along with an aura of social approval typically associated with law and order public service. These and many other reasons make forensic science on of the best career alternatives available today.

To fully appreciate a subject it's important to be aware of the key historical figures who helped shape its identity. This article identifies a number of individuals who did just that within the field of forensic psychology.

Wilhelm Wundt

In terms of a tangible landmark in the history of forensic psychology the most significant development was the founding of the first psychological laboratory in 1873 by Wilhelm Wundt in Leipzig Germany.

Wilhelm Wundt championed and refined the experimental method within psychology. This rigorous methodology provided the framework for a whole host of applied psychological investigations, among them certain legal issues. For instance, a number of experiments were conducted into the nature of witness testimony, the findings of which highlighted the effects of situational and individual differences; which incidentally are still being examined today.

Hugo Munsterberg

An engaging and controversial figure Hugo Munsterberg was a key figure in the history of forensic psychology. He studied under Wundt at Leipzg before moving to the USA in 1892 to set up an experimental laboratory at Harvard; the principal aim of which was to introduce applied psychology into the courtroom.

He conducted research into witness memory, false confessions and the role of hypnosis in court. One of his earliest experiments tested subjects ability to discriminate between sounds heard in quick succession. Almost sixty years later his findings were included as part of the preparation for the trial (which for obvious reasons never actually took place) of Lee Harvey Oswald to help address the question of how many shots had been fired during the assassination of President Kennedy.

William Marston

Another important visionary in the history of forensic psychology. Marston was a student under Munsterberg who conducted research into the physiological effects of deception i.e. lie detector tests.

Alfred Binet

In 1889 Alfred Binet co-founded the first psychological laboratory in France. Having studied medicine and law he was interested in how psychology could be applied within the legal system, particularly in relation to witness testimony. However, it was Binet s work into intellectual assessment that was to have the greatest forensic impact. Working alongside Theodore Simon, he developed the first psychometric test of intelligence, the principles of which proved the basis for later forensic assessment. For instance, in the US the Wechsler Intelligence test for children was regularly employed as part of proceedings within juvenile court.

Later, group testing became extremely popular, particularly within the armed services as a way of selecting recruits and before long objective tests were being employed across a host of professions and for a variety of purposes as a means of measuring behavioural traits, skills, attitudes etc. Significantly for the practice of forensic psychology this included the judiciary who began allowing test results to be presented as evidence in court.

Career choosing can be such a mind-boggling job. But if you are deciding to take up nursing, let me assure you of the kind and comforting responsibility you are taking- not to comfort yourself, but instead be a comfort to other people. Today, we know how crimes have increased and how our society is not only dealing with victims who are hurt but also the perpetrators who are sometimes mentally ill, and need help also. Every minute, there is a rape or some woman getting beaten up by her mate, and our world is becoming more and more animalistic day by day. In the event of a heinous crime or sexual assault, it is the forensic nurses that come to the rescue of victims. Not only to treat their bruises and injuries, but to console them and make them feel safe.

When a murder takes place, forensic nurses act within the boundaries of legal and medical investigation and help to gather evidence of all types; especially forensic clues and information that will assist the legal cell to fight the case in court. They are also willing to testify if the need arises. Their testimony bears a lot of weight, as it based on the events pieced together and evidence. This helps the case a lot. Their basic aim and priority is to be of assistance to the victim in every possible way. Sometimes, this concern even extends to the victim's family, in the event of the victim not surviving. They are able to console and comfort the family, and reassure them that they would cut all corners, to try and catch the culprit.

Forensic nurses can opt to work in an advocate's firm, a hospital, health community's office, psychiatric facility, coroner's office, medical examiner's office, or insurance companies. They play a big role in finding evidence, to help the case. This is definitely a new terminology, but it is catching on as more and more people are being made aware of this career option. Also, there is a demand for forensic nurses as crime is on the increase.

You do not require a degree in nursing, but you do require certain other degrees. Basically, sometimes an interest is sufficient, and from there you can target some degrees in forensics. If you have an eye for detail and a detective streak in you, then it is to your advantage. It will make it easier for you to do your job thoroughly and effortlessly. This kind of job requires you to be eager to learn and not give up, when you can't find clues. Keep going till you have reached a dead end, as every bit of evidence, turns things around in favor of the victim.

You can also go online if you want to do a certificate course. Since the demand is going up, so is the pay packet. This career sees you making a lot of good money, as there is a lot of hard work on the field involved. It requires dedication and perseverance. Imagine how exciting it is to be present at the scene of a crime, for the adventurous kind. And for the kind hearted, it is rewarding to be able to help helpless victims and their families and in turn, the community on a whole. Forensic nurses are a very positive contributing factor to our legal system and the medical teams.

Television programs like Cold Case Files and CSI have prompted an increase in the publics fascination with forensic science. What is not generally known, however, is that forensic science is a field that involves much more than is shown on television. Everyone knows that forensic scientists work in an area of law and are responsible for examining evidence to solve crimes. But they do more than work in labs, testing samples of DNA. Forensic scientists also visit crime scenes, study the crime locations, and are witnesses in court cases.

Sometimes, these scientists can make mistakes if they dont follow established procedures, which include keeping exact files on the evidence in a case. In some cases, these mistakes can have a negative impact on innocent lives. Several individuals have been sentenced to death on the basis of expert forensic evidence and testimony. Later on, it was discovered that these people were innocent, and the real criminals were apprehended. In these cases, science save an innocent life, and the courts could provide justice. Recently, over eleven individuals were released from a Chicago jail after new forensic evidence showed they were innocent. These people had already spent years in jail as a result of mistakes made in the legal system.

You can get a degree in forensic science online in just a few years. To earn a degree, you need to have a previous degree in biology, physics, chemistry, or physical science in order to register. Some online colleges require a minimum of a bachelors degree in one of these subjects before you can begin courses in forensic science. If you want to find a degree program in this field you should consult organizations such as the American Board of Criminalistic-ABC, American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors-ASCLD, National Forensic Science Tech Center-NSFTC, International Association of Forensic Science, and International Association for Identification-IAI and International Society for Forensic Genetics, and International Association for Identification-IAI and International Society for Forensic Genetics.

Degrees in forensic science may cover budget analysis, forensic accounting, working in a morgue or hospital, studying DNA, or working with computers. There are many areas in which you can work after getting a forensic science degree. Computer forensics involves investigations of evidence by tracking information via computer technology. It is a new field, but expertise in this area increases daily. Computer forensics involves extracting data from various media and presenting the evidence collected to the courts. This field uses extensive software programs and applications. The FBI, CIA, and other law enforcement agencies use forensic science with computers to resolve their cases.

An online forensics degree requires more work and specific background education than other online degrees, but if you want an exciting career with many opportunities and a chance to make a difference, do not let this keep you from pursuing on online degree in forensic science.