Forensic Specialists Forensics A - 2017
Crime Scene Examiner Document the scene Find and collect evidence Protect and transport all evidence to lab In Maine, they are called Evidence Recovery Technicians.
Latent Print Examiner Specializes in all types of prints Fingerprints Footprints Ear, palm, hand, etc. ……
Firearms/Ballistics Examiner Identifies types of firearms (pistols, rifles, shotguns) Compares bullets and casings Searches for GSR (gun shot residue)
Tool mark Examiner Compares marks from a specific tool (like the marks from a pry bar used to pry open a window), to a suspect one (a pry bar in the trunk of a suspect’s car.
Document Examiner Authenticates signatures Looks for forgeries Compares typewriters, printers, copiers
Trace Evidence Examiner Compares and analyzes the following to determine type and origin: Hair Fibers Soils Paint
Pathologist An MD who deals with diseases and how it changes the body
Anthropologist Studies human skeletal remains Can determine: age, sex, race and anything that might have happened to them.
Odontologist Examines teeth to identify: A suspect A body A bite mark
Entomologist A bug guy or gal Studies insects Knows the life cycle of flies Can give approximate time of death from flies on a body and what stage of their life cycle they are in
Psychiatrist Examines someone who has committed a crime to see if they are competent to stand trial. The examination includes: psychological testing and a medical examination to see if the problem is physical one (like a brain tumor). Many more tests are used to determine their level of competency.
Serologist Studies bodily fluids. Does blood typing Determines if stain is human blood Determines if stains are semen, saliva, vaginal fluid, etc.
Toxicologist Determines if a drug/poison caused death Determines the class of drug that was used
Botanist Studies plants and plant residue Identifies plant seeds, pollen, and fragments Studies where particular plants grow Are they only found in the north/south? Are they found in the desert or forest?
Medical Examiner A licensed doctor who trained in pathology Does forensic autopsies Determines manner, mechanism, and cause of death Signs the death certificate
Medical Examiner Identifies an unknown body Approximates time of death Gives expert testimony in court Links wounds and weapons that caused them.
Medical Examiner Presents an unbiased opinion to the court of the test results Educates the judge and jury about scientific information Is considered an expert witness
Expert Witnesses Specialists in a type of evidence Give testimony about the evidence after analyzing it
Court System Is adversarial Each side tries to out-fox the other Each side brings in experts Each side tries to discredit the other’s experts