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

Cadaveric spasm has also been called 'instantaneous rigor'. Will muscles/muscle groups frozen from cadaveric spasm 'unfreeze' before the muscles that froze from rigor mortis?

Asked by Tom Phillips about 8 years ago

I'm sorry I can't help but that's a pathology question. I do not know.

If you smoked weed within the past few years of applying to be a tech in a crime lab, could you still get the job or is that a deal breaker?

Asked by Cayla almost 8 years ago

It almost certainly would not be a deal-breaker. Just tell them the truth.

what on going knowledge does your job keep up with.

Asked by amelia almost 8 years ago

Our office gets journals from the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the International Association for Identification, as well as smaller publications like newsletters for the Florida Division of the IAI and the one for the association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts.

What's the most stressful part of being a Forensic scientist?

Asked by Sam over 8 years ago

Being 'on call' and knowing you can be interrupted at any moment of the day and have to go to a crime scene, even if it's the middle of the night or a holiday. Having to get up once or twice during the night after working 10-12 hours and knowing you have to work those hours for another day or two is pretty disheartening. I've also had to change vacations because I have to testify in a trial. I hate that. 

What is the first thing a forensic team does when they reach the crime scene in this case homicide?

Asked by marge white almost 8 years ago

Get everybody out of it, and then take pictures.

What can be said about a time(frame) of death if a deceased was found with no lividity and no rigor mortis?

Asked by Emonzi over 8 years ago

Barring any bizarre circumstances i would think they have only been dead for a short time. But that's really a pathologist's question.Hope that helps!

I’ve always wanted to be a forensic scientist and I’m in first year of college. Im struggling in the college level biology class and losing hope. I just think I’m not smart enough because many teachers had told me I’m not. Do you have any suggestions

Asked by Julia almost 8 years ago

First of all, no teacher should ever tell you you're 'not smart enough' for a field.

Second, not all forensic work involves a great deal of biology--really only DNA analysis and serology do. Toxicology will require a good chemistry background. But specialized fields such as latent prints, crime scene investigator, questioned documents, digital evidence, ballistics and impression evidence would use little to no biology.

If a formal degree becomes a problem, you might want to see if you can start out in an Evidence/Property area and work up from there.

Best of luck!