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

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 do you think about that show on the weather channel when weather helped solve crimes?

Asked by Jocub almost 6 years ago

I have not seen it.

Do you work with cops on the regular?

Asked by Ronna about 6 years ago

I work in a police department, so yes, work with them every day.Though my immediate coworkers and immediate supervisor are all civilians.

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 about 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 about 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.

Is blood soaked evidence washed after testing? For example a leather glove. Would it just be dried out and kept like that or do they clean the blood off.

Asked by bailey almost 6 years ago

No, nothing is cleaned. It’s just dried and then kept as is. For one thing you might want to do more testing in the future so you’d never want to wash your evidence away.

Last question. I'm sorry, these were for my class.
If you were just choosing a career field, would you still choose to be a forensic scientist? Why or why not?

Asked by Jessie over 4 years ago

Yes, absolutely. I can’t think of anything I’d enjoy as much.