By: Michelle IngDue: September 6th, 2013

Mrs. PanayiotouIDC4U3-01

Forensic Technician

What is a forensic technician?

• Also known as a criminalist• Specializes in the collection and analyzing of

physical evidence related to crimes• Mostly work in labs or in the field• Must be very focused, detailed and elaborate• Must follow strict protocols and rules• Is the binding role between the actual crime itself

and the evaluation of the evidence left behind

What do they do?• Works with physical evidence to evaluate further information

about a crime• Writes up reports on their findings• Figures out what evidence is relevant to the crime investigation • Work with DNA, chemical substances and firearms• Trace evidence in all sorts of items to come to conclusions (i.e.

body fluids, soil, glass, hair, etc.)• Work with tools including cameras, microscopes, spectroscopes

and different lenses• Often works with chemical substances and science equipment to

investigate

Who are they employed by?

• Mostly employed by the government, and government agencies

• Some privately owned companies will hire forensic technicians

• Labs that specialize in the evaluation of evidence for the police

HIGH SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS

• Average grade range: high 70s – mid 80s (depending on the post-secondary school)

• Six 4U/M credits – including ENG4U• Recommended credits: SCH4U, SBI4U,

SPH4U, one of MHF4U, MCV4U or MDM4U (varies per post-secondary school)

POST-SECONDARY REQUIREMENTS

• Obtain a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc), or higher

• Master’s degree is preferred• Some forensic technicians are also trained as

police officers • Must also go through extensive on-the-job

training (similar to co-op)

Salary Range

• Earnings average anywhere between $50 000 to $90 000 per annum

• Depends heavily on the position, experience, and employer

• Median salary in 2012: $52 840• Median hourly wage in 2012: $25.41

Clea Koff: Who is she?

• One of the top 10 most famous forensic technicians in history

• Works in the field of forensic anthropology• Studied the deaths of bodies in advanced

stages of decay/decomposition• Wrote an autobiography of her work

FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY

Maddie Theodorlis

CAREER DESCRIPTION & SALARY

• Ranges between $140,000 and $180,000 per year

• Specialize in how mental health can affect the law

• They often appear in court for criminal cases, giving insight on the mental condition of the person found guilty

• They can work for hospitals, prison facilities, or with the government

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTSbased on information from the Department of Psychiatry at Western University*

• Undergraduate: students participate in Psychiatry & the Behavioural Sciences (Medicine 5207), PCCM (Patient Centred Clinical Methods) and Psychiatry Clinical Clerkship

• Must earn a Bachelor’s Degrees• Must earn a Medical Doctor (MD)• Must go through 3 years of training in the form of a psychiatry residence• Must go through 1 year of more specified training during a fellowship• Must become Board Certified by passing an examination by the American

Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

DR. PETER IAN COLLINS

• Dr. Peter Ian Collins is the Forensic Psychiatrist in the Criminal Behaviour Analysis Unit of the Behavioural Sciences

• He received his FRCP (C) (Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians Canada) in Psychiatry from the University of Toronto

• He received his MD in Medicine from McMaster University• He received his MCA in Criminology from the University of Ottawa• He received his BA in Psychology at the University of Western Ontario

REFERENCES

• Dr. Peter I. Collins - Department of Psychiatry. (n.d.). Psychiatry - University of Toronto. Retrieved September 4, 2013, from www.psychiatry.utoronto.ca/people/dr-peter-i-collins/

• Litherland, N. (n.d.). The Average Salary of a Forensic Psychiatrist | eHow. eHow | How to Videos, Articles & More - Discover the expert in you.. Retrieved September 5, 2013, from http://www.ehow.com/facts_5799629_average-salary-forensic-psychiatrist.html

• Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences - Graduate Educations (Faculty of Health Sciences). (n.d.). McMaster University . Retrieved September 4, 2013, from http://fhs.mcmaster.ca/psychiatryneuroscience/education_graduate.html

• Overview | Department of Psychiatry, Western University. (n.d.). Schulich Medicine & Dentistry. Retrieved September 5, 2013, from http://www.psychiatry.meduwo.ca/dir/content/overview-uge

• Tronshaw, O. (n.d.). Educational Requirement for Forensic Psychiatry | eHow. eHow | How to Videos, Articles & More - Discover the expert in you.. Retrieved September 5, 2013, from http://www.ehow.com/about_6638999_educational-requirement-forensic-psychiatry.html

• Cox, C. A. (n.d.). Job Description of a Forensic Psychiatrist | eHow. eHow | How to Videos, Articles & More - Discover the expert in you.. Retrieved September 5, 2013, from http://www.ehow.com/facts_5290468_job-description-forensic-psychiatrist.html

• Elisabeth Zoffmann, MD FRCP(C) | Forensic Psychiatry. (n.d.). Elisabeth Zoffmann, MD FRCP(C) | Forensic Psychiatry. Retrieved September 5, 2013, from http://www.drzoffmann.com/services.htm

MEDICAL EXAMINERSYuchen ZhengIDC4U3Panayiotou

What do Medical Examiners do?

• In the field of forensics, medical examiners are

usually doctors who primarily determine the most probable cause of

death for victims through the use of a wide range

of knowledge of the sciences in addition to

data gathered from autopsies. Often, it is the

job of a medical examiner to carefully

examine and determine what led to the death of an individual who was

murdered or a victim to an unexpected death.

• In addition to determining the cause of death of the deceased, forensic medical examiners are also responsible for determining the identity of the deceased, and

the time of their death. Using data from toxicology reports, past

medical records, concrete evidence from police reports and lab results,

these medical examiners are capable of gathering this

information in order to aid the process of finding the cause of

death of the deceased. In addition, they are also responsible to

prepare a formal report regards the findings of the autopsy.

Educational Requirements• While it may be beneficial to realize

an interest in becoming a medical examiner early on in one’s life, it is not required. In fact, a bachelor’s degree in Forensic Science is not

absolutely required to successfully become a medical examiner. In terms of one’s undergraduate

years, students are encouraged to explore the principles behind pathology and focus on their

chemistry, biology, and physics courses in order to receive the

education and experience required to enter medical school.

• After successfully obtaining a bachelor’s degree, one must enter medical school in order to obtain

a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or a Doctor of Osteopath (DO). While many medical schools do not offer programs that specifically specialize in

forensic pathology, prospective medical examiners are free to choose to major in any

program within the medical field. Proceeding the completion of medical school, students are

required to enter a residency program in both pathology and forensic pathology, for a total of 5 years. They are then qualified to write an exam

administrated by the American Board of Pathology to become “board certified” in both forensic pathology and pathology. In total, it requires 8-13 years after the completion of a

secondary school education to become a medical examiner.

RECOMMENDED COURSES

• Throughout HIGH SCHOOL, consider taking the following courses:ScienceChemistryHumanitiesAnatomyPhysicsForeign Language

• Throughout THE UNDERGRADUATE YEARS, consider taking the following courses:HumanitiesPsychologyAnatomyPathologyPhysiologyScienceChemistryBiology

• Throughout MEDICAL SCHOOL, consider taking the following courses:Forensic PathologyAnthropologyAnatomyPathologyPhysiologyForensic Anthropology

Meet Dr. G, Medical Examiner

• Jan C. Garavaglia, M.D., known generally to the public as “Dr. G”, is the primary chief medical examiner for the District Nine (Orange-Osceola) Medical Examiner's Office in Florida.

• Dr. G graduated from St. Louis University School of Medicine through the completion of her fellowship in forensic pathology and later became certified by the American Board of Pathology in a combination of “anatomic and clinical pathology” and “forensic pathology.”

• Throughout her career, Dr. G received the Hidalgo Award for "outstanding work assisting agencies and providing forensic science services during a multi-jurisdictional capital murder investigation.“ She is also a member of the National Association of Medical Examiners and the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

• Numerous presentations and lectures at a wide variety of institutions have been presented by Dr. G and her work has been publically documented in the Journal of Forensic Sciences and The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology.

SALARY RANGE• The salary of the average medical examiner

can range anywhere from $23,000 to $102,000 which varies due to differences in educational qualifications, years of experience and certification among other factors. As a novice medical examiner, the salary usually hovers around $22,000 which can then increase up to $82,000 with experience after many years. Usually, those medical examiners with 5 to 9 years of experience can expect to earn a salary between $26,000 and $70,500. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for forensic science technicians, an industry that encompasses medical examiners, was $51,570 in May 2010. As the interest in the field of forensic sciences continues to grow, an increase in employment of 19% is predicted from years 2010 to 2020.

The REAL Crime Scene Investigators: Forensic Pathologists

By: Michelle Lefebvre

What is Pathology?

• Pathology is the medical study of diagnosis and disease.

• A forensic pathology is used to determine cause of death in cases of suspicious, wrongful or unnatural deaths.

What are a Forensic Pathologist’s Responsibilities?

Collecting evidence: Certain crime scenes such as sexual assaults require the forensic pathologist to gather evidence.

Collecting trace evidence such as secretions or blood.

Autopsies: a post-mortem surgical procedure to determine the cause and manner of death.

Testifying as an expert witness

How do I become a Forensic Pathologist?

• Education: – High school: Sciences and

Math courses to prepare for an undergraduate degree in Science.

– University: An undergraduate degree in Science.

– Graduate School: A medical degree followed by a fellowship offered only at University of Toronto or McMaster.

• Salary: The salary for a Forensic pathologist in Canada varies tremendously by years of experience.– Less than 1 year: $65

000– 5 years: $90 000– 10-20 years: $ 165

000

Frances McGill

• Frances McGill was a trailblazer for women in the field of Forensic Pathology.

• McGill broke many cases and set free innocent individuals who otherwise would have been incarcerated or executed.

• With many convictions under her belt, the RCMP valued her at high esteem and as an equal to her male counter parts

Katerina Germanakos

Neutron Activation Analyst(NAA)

JOB DESCRIPTION • Samples (50mg) are taken from

the substance in question, then it is entered into a machine that bombards it with neutrons The now-radioactive elements begin to decay. After a certain amount of time, the sample is placed into a detector, which monitors the gamma ray emission of the nuclei in order to determine the elements in the sample.

• This method is used in forensic sciences to decide whether or not two sample are the same. For example, gun residue on the sleeve of a shirt and bullet entry wound. Using NAA it proves that they are the exact same substance. In the past proof through NAA has been inadmissible, only recently has it become somewhat concrete.

Education High school: chemistry & math Post Secondary: Bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees

Example (real):Dr. Vincent P. Guinn used NAA to analyze the bullets and fragments that were used and found on JFK after his assassination. His studies had shown that the bullets fragments could be distinguished because of their levels of antimony, silver, and copper.

SalaryCanadian: $39,000 to $66,000States: Upward of $100,000

Fingerprint Analyst

Rachel Beard

Salary Range of $38,639 to $56,911 Per Year

Example of someone in the career: Andres J. Washington

• Career description: • Fingerprint analysts are forensic

science technicians who specialize in finding, recording and analyzing fingerprint evidence left at crime scenes. They take impressions of prints and compare them with fingerprint databases to provide a match.

• Skill utilization:• must be detail oriented• a great note taker • compose detailed and accurate

reports that may be reviewed by the courts as part of court cases.

• How career relates to forensics:• "Forensic science" is science used to investigate

crimes. Fingerprint analysts use scientific methods to evaluate fingerprints and identify to whom they belong. Fingerprint analysts help determine who is responsible for the crime.

• Education:• You must have a high school diploma and a

bachelor's degree in forensic science or a natural science like biology or chemistry. According to the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, it is best to take classes that emphasize mathematics, chemistry and biology to qualify as a fingerprint analyst. To reinforce the skills you need to write concise reports, you should also take writing courses like English composition.

Fingerprint Analyst

The Toxicologist

An $84,000+ Job

Ben Carson

Toxicology in a Nutshell• Toxicology is the study of how

chemicals react with living organisms. Toxicologists also deal with treatments, poisons and dosage of the toxin to the organism.

• A few things the typical toxicologist has; good understanding of chemistry and chemical structures, a very good understanding of biochemistry, good communication skills to people who aren't biochemists or toxicologists.

Continued…• Toxicologists can be involved in a

number of different cases including DUIs, homicides and . They tend to have a lot of cases that involve the use of drugs.

• To get into the right programs in university, in high school you must take the typical bio/chemistry match. Then in university you can take an undergraduate degree of toxicology. Because there isn’t usually an undergraduate degree for toxicology, most students major in biology or chemistry and then apply to work in a research lab. The labs can range from pharmaceuticals to law enforcement (forensics).

Henry Andrews (CSI)

Thomas Lawlor

(Firearm and) Tool Mark Expert

The Tool mark expert’s job is to identify, collect, preserve, examine and interpret physical evidence left at a crime scene. The expert is often the same expert that collects ballistic data, but this part of the job only deals with property damage (picked locks ect.) The Firearm and tool mark expert uses his/her skills to determine what tool did the damage shown. For example, if there is a picked lock, this expert will determine what was used to pick it.

Career Description

The starting salary for a tool mark expert starts at $25 000-$35 000. After 4 years it can range from $30 000-$85 000.

Salary

In order to become a tool mark expert you must have a degree in forensic sciences. Most tool mark experts specialize in ballistics and ballistic related fields.

Qualifications

• Geoffrey Arnold• Had 28 years with the metropolitan police

service as a firearm and tool mark examiner.• Majored in forensics in University

Example

Trauma SurgeonDelaney Randle

What is a Trauma Surgeon?

• Examines, diagnoses and surgically treats critical and life threatening injuries caused by blunt force trauma or penetrating trauma

• High stress and high pressure job often unpredictable

• Problem solving, critical thinking and quick decision making required

• Performs surgery on possible crime scene victims

• High school diploma (4 yrs)• Undergrad (4 yrs)• Med school (4 yrs)• General surgeon (3+ yrs)• Trauma fellowship (2 yrs)– Total 10-15 yrs after high school

School

Money and Fame

• Range from $72,542- $323,584 CDN• Median of $252,810• Famous Trauma surgeon: Owen Hunt – Grey’s Anatomy