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.

SubscribeGet emails when new questions are answered. Ask Me Anything!Show Bio +

Share:

Ask me anything!

Submit Your Question

989 Questions

Share:

Last Answer on July 21, 2022

Best Rated

Would you be fired if you accidently messed something up and ruined a case? Even if it was a total mess up and no negligence was involved. What if there was?

Asked by Melvin over 6 years ago

That would depend entirely on what the mess up was and what it affected, and whether it was an honest mistake or the result of negligence or bias. For a serious mistake, yes, I'd probably be fired.

I want to become a forensic scientist technician before I purse education towards becoming a pathologist or forensic scientist. Once I meet the minimum requirements, how do I get started without any experience?

Asked by Mariah Clark almost 6 years ago

A pathologist is a doctor, so you'd have to go to med school first, and they usually have standard placement systems. To be a forensic scientist, it's best to get an internship position with your local lab while you're in school or just graduated. Or at least contact all the labs you're interested in, ask for a tour, meet people. You can also attend forensic conventions, though you'll have to pay for the registration. Hope that helps!

Wow the person who continues to spam you does not realize is people like him are probably the reason he left. Anymore this site has just been spammers, trolls, people sharing links, people asking irrelevant and quite weird questions. what a shame

Asked by Follower over 6 years ago

I can’t imagine having so little to do. That would make me crazy.

What would happen if you had to work on someone who had a confirmed or even suspected case of COVID-19?

Asked by Jason about 6 years ago

See above.

So when a case is done and there is a gun, money, or drugs seized what is done with that kind of stuff? Does it sit around forever, what is destroyed, kept, and does things ever get auctioned off?

Asked by Mr. Brrown about 6 years ago

Yes, yes and yes. Our Evidence department’s job is to keep track of everything, how long it’s been around, and then get the responsible party (usually the collecting officer or a prosecutor) to sign off on it’s ‘disposition’, which can be returning it to an owner, destroying, or sale or donation. For example, if you find something (like money) and turn it in, if it’s not claimed after a certain amount of time, you can have it. Stuff that no one wants is destroyed. They had a company that used to sell stuff but I don’t think they’re using it any more. (I think it was called PropertyRoom.com) Things like bicycles can be donated to charitable organizations to give to underprivileged citizens. Drugs are destroyed (which has to be witnessed by at least three people from three different departments—I have to be one sometimes when my boss is busy and we have to escort the Evidence van to the waste management facility and stand there and watch the stuff go into the incinerator...not fun in the summer months!).

What things we must have to write when making a report of some case?

Asked by Hifz Ur Rehman over 6 years ago

The basics: our name, address of crime, date, time we arrived, and who else was there (cops, detectives, ME, etc.). Then what we did there, processed for prints, how many photos we took, chemicals used, if we collected evidence. We might also measure the area and make a sketch.

Hi my name is Olivia a I was wondering if I can have your email because I have a research paper on forenscience and I have to interview someone if you get a chance can u email me livia.alexander@aol.com

Asked by Olivia A over 6 years ago

Sure, it’s Lisa-black@live.com