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

What are some safety hazards, contamination / degradation hazards and how do u package SEMINAL STAINS A

Asked by Jayleen over 5 years ago

That's a pretty broad question. I can tell you that for both seminal stains and blood stains, the best way to package one is to let it dry, then place in a sterile paper envelope or bag. Never plastic! Then keep in a dry, cool environment.

Hope that helps.

Are chaplains always sworn employees or can they be citizen employees?

Asked by Dan almost 5 years ago

At my agency the chaplains are all civilians from local denominations.

Your take on Gorge Floyd

Asked by DeeDee almost 5 years ago

You know as much as I do.

Will you go out with me?

Asked by Generic White Male over 5 years ago

No.

I want to become a forensic scientist but I've heard that you have to go through police academy and become a police officer first. Is that true?

Asked by Emily Jones almost 6 years ago

That entirely depends upon what agency you work for. Some police department crime labs may have that requirement. Many, like mine, have civilian employees for forensic support. The only way to know is to call the place you might want to work at and ask. (Or check their website for job postings.)

I am complaining about a civil attorney. He was supposed to send me some photographs. He sent an envelope, said the photographs are enclosed, but they were not. He claims he sent them, and I lost them. Can the envelope be examined for residue?

Asked by Tom about 6 years ago

Almost certainly, no. Unlike television, real forensic equipment is designed to test for certain things. For example the mass spectrometer in the toxicology department is set to test for illegal narcotics and not heavy metals such as arsenic. If arsenic is suspected, it could be detected with a different instrument or different parameters programmed into the same instrument. So I doubt there is any equipment that could be set up to detect microscopic amounts of photographic chemicals, if a photo would even shed any.

Will Nancy Drew make you a better in a job like this is what is in the game anything similar?

Asked by asdfasdfasdf almost 5 years ago

I don’t know that game.