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

Biggest pet peeve out of co workers? I also heard working at police and sherif departments your lunch is always stolen is this true?

Asked by Mike over 5 years ago

That's never happened to me at the police department, but then there's only my forensic unit with access to our refrigerator so it's not a problem. But it used to happen in the lunch room at the coroner's office all the time! I injected candy with hot sauce once. That stopped it for about a week.

Should we be able to use torture on suspects during interrogations?!

Asked by Dan over 5 years ago

How does that question relate to forensics?

Is it ever weird cutting into and doing pretty nasty things to a dead person?

Asked by Jason almost 6 years ago

I do not work at a coroner’s/medical examiner so I don’t cut anyone. At a crime scene I might examine the eyes or test the limbs for rigor or look for injuries but that’ s about it.

My final question is why do conservatives not get to protest the lock down orders but ANTIFA, BLM, and other leftist groups can and they let them tear up things and sit in the middle of the road?

Asked by WE THE PEOPPE almost 6 years ago

I am an expert in some areas of forensic science. I am not an expert in law, public safety policy or our political system.

I mean a sworn police officer sorry for not being specific

Asked by Terry over 5 years ago

As far as the job is concerned, I would think the odds of getting the job would be the same, but there are other considerations. The pay and benefits are different (at least at my agency) between sworn and civilian because they’re different unions. A sworn officer would be taking less pay and benefits to be non-sworn so the hiring party might wonder why, or worry that they would get tired of it and want to leave.

Do you have any suggestions for a research topic in forensic science for a class project?

Asked by HG271 about 5 years ago

Wow, that’s a tough question—I can think of projects and experiments, but research....and what ages? I can ask my coworkers for suggestions.

How can we detect the GHB from urine sample by LCMS?
Is there any simple method?

Asked by Eman over 5 years ago

I’m sorry but I’ve never worked in toxicology. Sorry I couldn’t help!