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

Hi! I'm writing a research paper and wanted to know....What kind of specialized language do you use to communicate with other in your field? Doctors use things like "code blue", do you guys have something like that when you'r talking about case?

Asked by Des over 6 years ago

We don't have any particular code words so that only we know what we're talking about. Police departments have all sorts of codes for types of crime--such as, where I live, a signal 23 is a burglary. Signal 4 is a traffic accident. 10-8 means you're on duty and available. 10-6 means you're on duty but busy. If we're somewhere, like a crime scene, and we don't want other people to overhear us we're just careful to move away and out of earshot. Hope that helps!

What is the regular intern day/night shift?

Asked by Crime Scene Investigator over 6 years ago

We don't have a set schedule for interns. They'll come in on weekdays, but other than that we work with their school/work schedule.

Are you able to tell if a person was unconscious just before death after examining the body? For example if someone hit their head and knocked themselves unconscious before they actually died?

Asked by TS over 6 years ago

I don't believe so (in fact I believe I address this question during an autopsy scene in my book Perish) but you'd have to ask a pathologist. Sorry I can't help.

What does forensic science mean to you?

Asked by Caroline almost 6 years ago

For homework interview questions, please email me at lisa-black@live.com.

what would i need to study to become a forensic pathologist?

Asked by esthers33741212 almost 7 years ago

Medicine. Forensic pathologists are doctors and go to medical school. So I would suggest you take every science course you can, especially biological sciences. Best of luck to you!

what is the importance of physical fingerprinting in a scientific sphere of DNA profiling?

Asked by Nic over 6 years ago

I”m sorry but I don’t understand the question. What is physical fingerprinting and what is a scientific sphere?

Do you help with Forensic Homework?

Asked by Al almost 7 years ago

I think that's what I'm doing most of the time when I answer questions on this site. If you look over the previous Q&As you'll probably see a lot of homework questions.