. . . Applies scientific disciplines to physical
evidence
"People have often said, `Oh, you're like Sam on the TV show Quincy,'"
says Mark Farley, formerly a forensic chemist with New York's Suffolk
County division of medical-legal services. "But forensic chemists
hardly ever do investigative work like Quincy does. They handle evidence
picked up from the scene of the crime."
Susan Ragudo, forensic chemist with the Commonwealth of Virginia, Division
of Forensic Science, echoes. "Certainly in my job as a forensic chemist,
I am not trained at all to go out and deal with the criminals. I come
to work, I do my work in the laboratory, and then I leave and go home.
I don't do any of the investigating work like Quincy does."
A forensic chemist is, in general, somebody who analyzes evidence that's
brought in from crime scenes and determines a conclusion based on tests
run on that piece of evidence. A forensic chemist's job is to identify
the evidence as part of the larger process of solving a crime. Ragudo
specializes in drug chemistry but evidence brought into other labs can
include paint chips, human hair, glass fragments, blood stains, or soil,
to name a few. When evidence is brought in from a crime scene, Ragudo
runs a series of tests-preliminary screening tests such as color tests;
a series of chromatography tests to see if more than one drug is present;
and GC/MS to identify a controlled substance. "It's kinds of neat
when you have something that's an unknown and you're determining what
it is," says Ragudo.
"Forensic chemists are experts in the reconstruction of events
in the most basic form," says Mary Gibbons, director of the Oakland
Police Department Crime Lab in Oakland, CA. "We
apply scientific disciplines to problems that present themselves in the
form of physical evidence." Understanding the evidence requires tools
from many disciplines, including chemistry, biology, materials science,
and genetics. In fact, the prevalence of DNA analysis is making knowledge
of genetics increasingly important in this field.
. . . putting together pieces of the puzzle
"In forensic science, you can't control your sample material; you
have to play the card someone else deals you," says Kurt Dubowski,
George Lynn Cross distinguished professor of medicine and director of
the forensic science lab at the University of Oklahoma. Farley describes
this aspect of the job as `putting together the pieces of a puzzle.' Ragudo
adds, "You're trying to help put pieces together to see if a crime
was committed and who did it."
. . . Explaining and defending your work
Forensic chemists agree that public speaking skills and being comfortable
with what you do are important personal characteristics for this career.
"You have to be articulate and comfortable explaining complicated
things in simple ways," says Gibbons. Ragudo comments, "Sometimes
we're needed to explain to the jury what we do, what we found, and how
we came to our conclusion. All we're doing when we go to court is testifying
to what we found. We don't work for either the prosecution or the defense
so we have nothing to hide from either side. But it can be a little disturbing
to get up in front of a judge or jury and explain what you do. You have
to be comfortable enough with what you do to explain it to someone, and
you can't get annoyed very easily if defense attorneys try to get to get
under your skin. Sometimes defense attorneys try to discredit us by saying
that our tests are invalid just to make their client look okay in the
jury's eyes."
Farley points to one case in which he analyzed a sample found in the
pocket of a man charged with selling LSD. The suspect claimed the sample
was mescaline, says Farley, explaining that a conviction for selling mescaline
carries a lighter sentence. "I analyzed the material and confirmed
it was LSD. Later, in court, I had to explain my analysis to the jury
and describe the difference between the two drugs." In another case,
Farley was asked to verify evidence found on a suspect as quaalude tablets.
His analysis revealed the sample was aspirin. "What the suspect was
carrying in this case was not illegal. The police weren't too happy about
that," he says, "but I had to stand by my analysis. You also
have to remain impartial," warns Farley. "It's your job to analyze
the evidence, not to judge."
Not all cases go to trial, but when one does, giving expert testimony
in court is a significant piece of a forensic chemist's job. Some employers
require their forensic chemists to go through several months of mock courtroom
testimony training during their regular training. "If you enjoy teaching,
you may be well suited for the court aspects of this work," says
Gibbons. "You need to teach the jury about your analysis and your
findings, explain the basis of your opinion, and help them make a decision."
Forensic science is an environment in which everything is visible, from
the collection of materials to the final report. Farley explains, "You
have to document your work in exquisite detail. Often, you must present
and explain your work in court, and be ready to defend your results, and
face scrutiny of your personal qualifications and technical competence."
. . . Offers various opportunities
The career path for most forensic chemists is through federal, state and
county labs associated with the medical examiner's office. However, there
are different types of careers available with forensic chemistry, including
those in other fields of forensic science. Chemists can also move up within
a particular section. For example, as director of the Oakland Crime Lab,
Gibbons supervises other forensic scientists rather than being involved
in day-to-day analysis. She is also responsible for case review and general
lab management. Dubowski's career-long focus on behavioral toxicology
has taken his work into research, the development of analytic procedures,
and teaching. Farley transferred his technical training to the field of
patent law.
All three say the aspect of forensic chemistry they enjoy most is the
challenge of new projects and applying their scientific knowledge to a
unique set of problems every day.
Copyright 1997 American Chemical Society
WORK DESCRIPTION
Forensic scientists apply knowledge from diverse disciplines such as chemistry,
biology, materials science, and genetics to the analysis of evidence found
at crime scenes or on/in the body of a crime suspect. The field is a combination
of criminalistics and analytical toxicology. Criminalistics is the qualitative
examination of evidence using methods such as microscopy and spot testing,
while analytical toxicology looks for evidence in body fluids through
a range of instrumental techniques from optical methods (UV, infrared,
x-ray) to separations analyses such as gas chromatography, HPLC, and thin
layer chromatography. Most often, forensic chemists do not know the nature
of the sample before they analyze it. The results of their work are used
in police investigations and court trials where they may be called upon
to provide expert testimony and explain their findings to a jury.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Forensic scientists generally work in government labs which can be small,
understaffed, and underfunded. They spend time preparing and giving testimony
in court. Formerly under the jurisdiction of the police department, forensics
has traditionally been totally male dominated. However, over the last
15 years, the field has opened up to women who are moving up in its ranks.
PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT
Most labs are associated with a federal, state, or local police department,
medical examiner's office, forensic services lab, or branch of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation. There are some private labs which carry out forensic
analysis, but they rare.
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
Versatility and patience are the most often cited qualities of a forensic
scientist. Forensic chemists must be able to spend hours rigorously applying
analytical techniques to evidence, and then defending their work in a
court of law. They must be able to clearly and concisely answer challenges
to their findings. Integrity is also an important characteristic because
it is not unusual for the different interests in a case to try and sway
the forensic chemist's position.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
A strong background in chemistry, instrumental analysis, and a good grounding
in criminalistics are vital. A forensic science degree at both the undergraduate
and graduate level is recommended. If interested in working with trace
evidence such as glass, hair, and paper, focus on instrumentation skills
and take courses in geology, soil chemistry, and materials science. If
forensic biology and DNA analysis are preferred, take microbiology, genetics,
and biochemistry courses. Those interested in the toxicological aspects
of this work should study physiology, biochemistry, and chemistry.
JOB OUTLOOK
The forensic science field is guardedly optimistic about job prospects
for the future. Greater interest in the use of DNA analysis is expected
to create more jobs. Those interested in DNA work should keep up with
the rapidly changing technology and develop skills that distinguish them
from the pack.
SALARY RANGE
For chemists, incomes start in the low $30,000-per-year range. The median
salary is $40,000. Chemists at the high end are paid around $60,000-per-year.
Scientists involved with fingerprint analysis are on the lower end of
the pay scale.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact schools with academic programs in forensic science. University
of New Haven, George Washington University and City University of New
York all have graduate programs. Michigan State University has programs
on the graduate and undergraduate level.
WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW
Contact local forensics labs and find out when a forensic scientist will
be testifying in court. Going to see them testify will give you a sense
of whether this aspect of the work is right for you. Hands-on technical
experience is more difficult to get. Most labs do not have internships,
but may take on volunteers. Academic requirements are tightening. Give
thought to graduate work and research projects that show you are capable
of problem solving. To prepare for court presentations, scientists recommend
participation in the debate team and school theater.
American Chemical Society, Education Division, 1155 Sixteenth Street,
NW, Washington, DC 20036; (202) 452-2113. Production of career material
was funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
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