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By Ruchi Vaz
A forensic scientist job description can vary as it depends on the area of forensic science being practiced. Forensic science is a broad field and therefore, it contains a number of specialties. Forensic science generally involving chemistry means the study of paint, chemicals, and similar substances and compounds usually found at crime scenes. (Forensic Chemist) They also analyse drugs/controlled substances taken from the scene and people in order to identify and sometimes quantify these materials. They work in labs and run tests on samples collected by the investigators. A variety of different techniques are used like microscopy, optical analysis (such as UV, infrared, X-ray), gas chromatography and other technologies. They carefully document their findings and report them to the criminal investigator, and they may sometimes have to testify in court.
A Bachelor’s Degree must be earned. Professional organisations recommend that aspiring forensic chemists possess at least a bachelor’s degree in a subject that includes math and science principals. Forensic chemistry degree programs combine instruction in forensic techniques with the principals of chemistry. Individuals with degrees in science or forensic science are typically eligible for entry-level forensic chemist positions. Employers may require that applicants have experience using equipment commonly used to conduct forensic toxicology tests. Although certification is not required to work as a forensic chemist, some professional organizations offer chemists the ability to voluntarily earn certification. Being certified may enable chemists to advance to higher-level positions in their careers.
Forensic Chemist earns an average salary of C$56,440- C$84,660 per year.
Dr. Schneeberger, a South African doctor who raped two women and used his knowledge of forensics to avoid conviction for almost ten years. Dr. Schneeberger drugged and raped one of them. Schneeberger foiled the DNA test by inserting a tube of someone else’s blood inside of his arm, making sure that the technician was drawing blood from the exact spot in which he had placed it. When the samples didn’t match up, her case was dismissed. Suspicions were raised again, however, when Schneeberger’s own stepdaughter reported that he had raped her multiple times in their family’s home. This time, DNA was taken from Schneeberger’s mouth, blood, and hair and tested by a forensic scientist. He was convicted but only sentenced to six years in prison.
A CSI Chief was Convicted of planting DNA Evidence. A person of authority and power, CSI director David Kofoed was responsible for carefully collecting DNA evidence, which would convince multiple juries beyond a reasonable doubt. Kofoed claimed happened when he planted blood samples in the car of a murder victim’s relative; the use of a contaminated testing kit was likely the reason that Kofoed had haphazardly placed blood in an innocent person’s vehicle, or so his defence claimed. The jury disagreed, and Kofoed was convicted of tampering with evidence. The two victims, a couple who had been shot down, had DNA matching blood found in their nephew’s car. However, this was the only evidence attaching their nephew to the crime and contradicted the rest of the details surrounding the case. Finally, Kofoed was successfully convicted.
OJ Simpson was considered guilty of murdering his ex-wife and her friend, one question surrounding the case remains a complete mystery is did two police plant DNA evidence at the scene to try and create an easy case? A detective, who was ousted as a violent racist during the trials, was accused of planting OJ’s glove at the scene. It was proven that Simpson’s blood sample was brought to the crime scene by a police evidence technician, and it was later discovered that the tube of blood only contained 6cc of blood when 8cc had been extracted. Simpson’s blood at the crime scene reflected DNA that had been mixed with EDTA, a substance added to blood taken for DNA testing by a forensic scientist. OJ ‘conspiracy’ and is now a convicted felon.
Another use for chemistry in the field of forensic science would be in a murder case in which a victim was killed using an unidentified firearm. The police may have a particular suspect of the crime in mind and will call in a forensic scientist to examine and gather evidence. The forensic scientist would examine the suspect’s hands and clothes with special infrared lights to look for gunpowder residue. If residue was found the forensic scientist would take samples of it and analyse its chemical structure to determine what type of bullet it came from.
Forensic scientist may be called by the police to take a sample of blood from a deceased victim of a serious car crash to determine whether the victim was driving drunk at the time of the accident. The forensic scientist would probably take a sample of the driver's blood and examine it in the lab. He would use chromatography (the separating of blood into different chemical compounds by means of intense heat) to determine the ratio of alcohol to the amount of blood.