Forensic Scientist

Forensic Scientist

LIsa Black

Cape Coral, FL

Female, 49

I spent the five happiest years of my life in a morgue. As a forensic scientist in the Cleveland coroner’s office I analyzed gunshot residue on hands and clothing, hairs, fibers, paint, glass, DNA, blood and many other forms of trace evidence, as well as crime scenes. Now I'm a certified latent print examiner and CSI for a police department in Florida. I also write a series of forensic suspense novels, turning the day job into fiction. My books have been translated into six languages.

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Last Answer on July 21, 2022

Best Rated

Hello Lisa, what has changed in your job since you started to now

Asked by Jamie over 4 years ago

The ability to find 'contact' DNA, the improvement and proliferation of video cameras and the improvement and proliferation of downloading cell phone data. I think those are the major points.

Hope that helps!

Do you wear a white suit? If so why or why not? What is really the point?

Asked by Benny about 6 years ago

Do you mean a Tyvek suit? To prevent cross contamination? We have whole body suits but have not yet had a scene that required them. We will wear disposable booties and of course gloves for any homicide scene. Sometimes the point, as with fentanyl and COVID risks, is to protect ourselves, and sometime the point is protect the scene and keep from dragging trace evidence from outside the scene to inside the scene.

What would you say is the best way to get into forensic science? I’m either thinking of going into a forensic science course or doing a chemistry/ biochemistry Uni degree?

Asked by Katie almost 6 years ago

Either is good. It depends a bit on what you want to do. If you want to work crime scene, then general forensic science is probably good. If you want to go into toxicology, then chemistry, and if DNA, then biology or genetics.

Hope that helps.

I knew the Coroner, the people who ran a forensics company, and other people who worked for them. How where they able to eat in the little room next to the morgue? With windows to see and the smell? They would eat lunch in there.

Asked by Ray almost 6 years ago

Did it every day. If it bothers you, you probably don't want to work there. Though our lunchroom was on an upper floor so there was no sight, just sometimes smells.

Have you ever asked someone a question on here? If so do you mind saying what it was?

Asked by QUESTION TO ALL about 6 years ago

Nope, not so far!

Woah! Maxwell finally got arrested! What should be done? Did she do it? How should they protect her in prison from escape, suicide, being killed, or whatever else could be tried to get rid of her because she wants to talk? Who else do you think is involved

Asked by Clearance almost 6 years ago

I have no idea.

Why do people ask you such non sense questions. If you look much of many of these questions the writing styles are the same I am getting the feeling someone or some people are messing around with the site and messing with the forms.

Asked by Jessica over 5 years ago

I agree.