by Faith Behrends

Created on: November 15, 2008   Last Updated: November 20, 2008

They gather together at the scene of a crime collecting bits and pieces of evidence. Maybe it's a strand of hair, a tire imprint in the mud, a piece of cloth, or a casually discarded cigarette butt. Then in comes the Medical examiner and within a few short minutes of looking the body over he turns to the Investigators waiting at his side and tells them everything they need to know in order to solve the crime. They scatter, some head into labs, others begin gathering witnesses, one runs off to a department store where a piece of fabric is commonly sold, Then the interviews begin and by the end of the day, they've got the victims identity, a set of fingerprints, the crime mapped out and a suspect pinpointed -whom they will crack a confession from within the blink of an eye.

Does Forensic science work so efficiently? The answer is no. Without question the advancement of forensic studies has improved our ability and capacity for explaining certain facts evident at crime scenes. Often, Forensic Investigators specialize in one field of study and are called in to go over evidence and further explain what occurred at the time of the victim's death to assist law enforcement professionals. Unlike what is seen on television forensic scientists are not cross trained and multi-functional, they aren't wholly responsible for gathering evidence, piecing it all together and going out in pursuit of the perpetrator. Forensic scientists are not the be-all, do-all. They aren't in the business of making arrests; they are in the business of evaluating evidence.

Is anything you see on the television shows real? Yes, most techniques demonstrated are very true to life as are the processes. What is exaggerated is the time frame in which this evidence is all systemized. Solving a crime, complete with evidence is a time consuming process. Given the number of crimes that happen and the small number of forensic specialists processing evidence can take months, sometimes years. There is currently a backlog dilemma many of these departments are facing, being under-budgeted for additional staff and more equipment, delays evidence processing.

Interested in forensic science? Considering a forensic science career? Many educational institutions are incorporating curriculums to keep up with the growing need for forensic specialists. Your best bet would be to determine what area interests you most. Blood spatters? Weapons? Fingerprint identification? DNA processing? Follow your pursuit, but go knowing, a forensic scientist is just one link in the chain!

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