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forensic science and Forensic Nexus

Current Accredited Forensic Science Programs

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The Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) does a great job at updating their website with the current accredited universities that offer undergraduate and graduate programs in different disciplines of forensic science.

FEPAC is an organization that assesses and accredits forensic science education programs. They ultimately determine if programs fulfill certain standards upon performing a rigorous review process to ensure that the curriculum meets the requirements of forensic employers.

You can check out their extensive and frequently updated list here: list of accredited universities

 

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Four Critical Situations For Families That Forensic Psychologists In Chicago Can Assist With

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Because of the way the legal system works, forensic psychologists in Chicago may be called to court to provide supporting evidence. Clinical assessments and other evidence are often required for courts to be able to resolve disputes and accelerate decision making in complex cases. Forensic psychology combines the disciplines of forensics and psychology to provide objective and independent assessments, particularly when a matter is fiercely contested. There are a number of different ways that forensic psychology can support family law and provide assistance for issues that cause problems within a family unit.  Here are four significant ways a forensic psychologist may be able to help your family.

 1. A Forensic Psychologist Can Provide Assistance With Child Custody Cases

At times a forensic psychologist may be called upon to assess parents and children to establish who the best custodian would be. Times of divorce and separation can be very traumatic and parents may not always behave in the best way for their children so a forensic psychologist has to provide supporting evidence in the best interests of the children. In addition to making custody recommendations, the psychologist may also suggest counseling for parents and children.

2. Assessments Of Addictive Disorders

Family units can be torn apart by addictive disorders. Frequently addictions such as gambling, alcohol, substance abuse and sex addictions can co-exist in more complex problems such as crimes, deceit and betrayal. A forensic psychologist has to separate the lies from the facts and supply evidence to the court to help it make a decision or ruling.

If a criminal charge has been brought against the family member, the forensic psychologist may be required to assess him or her to establish if he or she is fit to stand trial.

3. Psychotherapy And Rehabilitation

Making recommendations to the court may just be a small component of a forensic psychologist’s duties. When problems are detected, the psychologist may be tasked with providing counseling and support for family members. In addition to counseling the member who is undergoing the problem, other family members may need help to be able to provide a level of support.

4. Forensic Psychology And Financial Distress

Sometimes families undergo financial pressures which could result in foreclosures or bankruptcies. To assess the validity of such claims the forensic psychologist may be required to audit financial documents and history and to help the court make a decision regarding the person’s financial situation.

This guest post was written by Jaffe Psych. For more information, please visit their website.

To contribute to the Forensic Nexus blog email us at info@forensicnexus.com.

Forensic Nexus Q/A Session with a Digital Forensic Scientist!

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GoldenS.Richard

Forensic Nexus would like to introduce you to Golden S. Richard of New Orleans, Louisiana whose area of expertise is in Digital Forensics.

Golden kindly agreed to being interviewed by Forensic Nexus to share his career path. We asked him the following questions:

What is your area of expertise/forensic discipline?

 My area of expertise is in digital forensics, which involves identifying, preserving, recovering, and analyzing data stored on digital devices, such as computer systems, mobile phones, digital voice recorders, flash media; etc.

 

Where do you work as a forensic scientist?

I do casework at Digital Forensics Solutions, LLC. I teach digital forensics and do research in computer security, reverse engineering, and digital forensics at the University of New Orleans.

 

What is your typical work day like?

I am focused more on research and teaching now, so a typical day involves preparing course materials, teaching students how to do investigations, and supervising graduate students who are doing research to advance the state of the art in digital forensics. I still occasionally do case work and this involves analyzing data on a variety of digital devices, with the most common being computer systems and smartphones.

 

What inspired you to pursue this career?

I have always been interested in file systems, operating systems design and internals, and other low level details of computer systems and digital forensics involves intimate knowledge of these issues, so it is a natural fit for me.

 

What is your academic background?

 I have a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in computer science.

 

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Currently, that involves interacting with students. But the “Sherlock Holmes” aspect of the job never fades–essentially, being able to recover data that users assume is long gone, whether in the context of some legal action or simple data recovery,

 

What suggestions do you have for students that are interested in pursuing a
career in your profession?

 Intimate knowledge of computer systems is extremely helpful. If you’re just starting your academic career I highly recommend degrees in computer science and if possible, from a university that strongly emphasizes computer security and digital forensics in the computer science curriculum.

 

Have we covered all bases? Any further questions come to mind while reading Golden’s story? Please feel free to submit questions by commenting on this post and we will direct them to Golden and post his responses.

Forensic Nexus would like to thank Golden for his participation. He has also agreed to offer mentorship to individuals seeking career advisement.

Contact us at info@forensicnexus.com for more information about mentorship.

To contribute your story, please visit this link: https://forensicnexus.wufoo.com/forms/forensic-scientist-questionnaire/.

Email Help: “I don’t have any lab experience, how can I get my foot in the door?”

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We receive emails all of the time with questions that we feel many of our readings can relate to. So we post them here, along with our responses to keep you informed!

Email Question:

I have a BS in Biological Science but I don’t have much lab experience. Is there anything you could recommend to get my foot in the door to a possible job (I’ve always wanted to do genetics but I’m not sure I have taken all necessary courses)? I’m considering graduate school but I am not really sure if that’s something I want to do quite yet.

 

Our Response: 

Not having any lab experience is very easily fixable by either interning or volunteering. Interships are key and many labs while they may not have a paid internship programs available, they usually agree to having you come in a few times a week if your schedule permits to shadow. I would suggest getting your lab experience that way. You can try local laboratories in your field of interest, even labs at local colleges and universities. Graduate school is definitely a commitment that one should be completely certain about before applying and attending. You should figure out why you want a graduate degree, in what and where you ultimate want to be or would wan to do with that degree. If you decide that graduate school is a great choice for your career goal, then much of your lab experience could potentially be achieved that way. Any further questions, please email us at info@forensicnexus.com. Hope this helps!