Forensic Science

[maleonolo]

Not at all. But keep in mind the entire industry is very different now than when it was in my time.

A lot of it involved taking an industry-recognized ten-month vocational program on web design which cost me $11,000 out of my own pocket in 1998. The rest I learned by studying books on such subjects...when paper was still a primary media.

It would seem nowadays one doesn't write straight code, but depends on programming to do it for them. Sounds grim....unprofessional. Most of all it probably translates into much less pay than in my time. Oh well...

What currency was that? Must have taken a lot of work to earn that much. Wait the entry level in my country is 1.5 k per month so it would've taken maybe a year to earn it. My peers in school used ChatGPT to write their code (and essays) for them, I don't know why they even went to school. Maybe they studied at home and pretended to not know anything in school, something similar has happened before

 

[Judge]

What currency was that? Must have taken a lot of work to earn that much.

It cost me eleven thousand dollars, some 27 years ago. The high end of vocational training in Northern California.

I was 40 years old when I decided to leave insurance and learn website design. By then I had amassed plenty of money to pay for it. But as I said, the entire industry was different, and still relatively new. When it paid very well. When one was expected back then to know a great many things and perform them from scratch.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

I taught myself excel just used help function, used my knowledge of math. instructions pretty good.

 

[Judge]

I taught myself excel just used help function, used my knowledge of math. instructions pretty good.

LOL....yeah I had to teach myself Excel in less than a working day when my supervisor told me he wanted a spreadsheet on his desk the next day showing all the website projects and domains I was in charge of. I winged it....learning enough to get the job done without ever mentioning I had never used Excel before.

In my line of work at the time it was a wise decision. My bad.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

My issue with excel was relearning it after each upgraded drove me nuts I guess as an Aspie I like continuity.

 

[Tired]

My issue with excel was relearning it after each upgraded drove me nuts I guess as an Aspie I like continuity.

Right, because we as NTs just adore when we learn something, and then it's changed, and we have to relearn it again (sarcasm)

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

I always thought it was new guy taking over project having new ideas, saw this at work. standardization matters.
I also works. makes stuff interchangeable. I guess the new guy thinks his way is better. To me once you got the best way it's the right way, think Molarity in chemistry, through Normality is a slight improvement.

 

[Judge]

Right, because we as NTs just adore when we learn something, and then it's changed, and we have to relearn it again (sarcasm)

Welcome back.

 

[FayetheADHDsquirrel]

You may like this. I do not trust forensic Science a very immature area of science many wrong assumptions made over the years. When I was in college we did instrumental techniques for analytical testing, Things like isotopic testing did not exist. hopefully this video show you more options for a possible career that fits your interests and abilities more closely.

I have been puzzled from time to time since first reading this post and watching part of the video. Why do you trust forensic techniques applied to a case that is from several thousand years ago and yet don't trust the same techniques for cases that are only months, weeks, days, or even hours old? Also, why would this be a better fit for my interests? The situation was most certainly tragic; nevertheless, after the elapse of several thousand years, I am fairly certain that both the perp and any surviving immediate family members of the victims have long since passed. While what happened does in fact matter and was undeniably tragic, helping capture modern crooks that are still on the loose and could still do further harm seems like a bigger priority as well as providing closure for families who are still alive and capable of benefiting from receiving answers.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Forensic science waas built on a false premise it was science many of the techniques were developed by amateurs taking guesses without any basis in science. Take fore example finger prints some guy just noticed most people do not have identical prints just statws it is acurate 99% of the tme, no actual statistical study done to determine accuracy done until many years later. I was surprised how many analytical tecniques were similar most notably after learning many of these techniques in college learning their limits. and then again seeing seeing false convictions after court cases after being trained as a quality engineer. and seeing first hand the limits of many of these techniques. The law was changed up here only about 20 years ago up hers requiring statistical evidence for any forensic technique used, many were discredited. Remember a case uo here nurse acused of murgering kids in the chemist a wiitness used GLC alone remembered from college should always be matched with a second analysis by a another instrumental techniqe to be valid as two chemicals could have the same retention time in the column. This expert witness chemist was an idiot any any person like me with a formal training could see it. Same with a very well known case before I was even born, See Steven Tuscott a very well known case up here. boy the forensic evidence was garbage so easy to see through after I went to college and trained in quality. Once You get a critical eye you start to see stuff. Mistakes have very serious consequences for the person on trial. The public does not see NothIng worse than seeing something like this. Even DNA testing has holes which I Can see having basic training in statisics stupid comments like one in a billion chance, I remember many years ago cops wold fin a paint chip it would get analysed, the lab would state make and year of car based onbatch formulation. The lab guy had no idea how paint was formulated or tinted, yet they could tell the make and year of car, LOL. where is the science to back this up conjecture does not count You can fool the jury, not me.

IncIdently my parents owned a hardware store in the town of Clinton while I was in college in reference to the example Truscott murder case. The chemist taught high school chemistry my youngest brother student in his class and yes he was an idiot cherry picked by the lawyer for the case.

 

[Judge]

I have been puzzled from time to time since first reading this post and watching part of the video. Why do you trust forensic techniques applied to a case that is from several thousand years ago and yet don't trust the same techniques for cases that are only months, weeks, days, or even hours old? Also, why would this be a better fit for my interests? The situation was most certainly tragic; nevertheless, after the elapse of several thousand years, I am fairly certain that both the perp and any surviving immediate family members of the victims have long since passed. While what happened does in fact matter and was undeniably tragic, helping capture modern crooks that are still on the loose and could still do further harm seems like a bigger priority as well as providing closure for families who are still alive and capable of benefiting from receiving answers.

"The good, the bad, and the ugly". Just type into a search engine textbox: "flaws in forensic science"

You may find so many links rather disturbing.

Though none of it seems to diminish the use of such efforts on the part of prosecutors and independent laboratories to apply forensic conclusions regarding evidence to aggressively prosecute defendants. Equally with any number of adept defense lawyers welcoming so many potential flaws in such evidence.

That science in itself is seldom the last word when it comes to a "burden of proof" which has to be conveyed to both a judge and jury to achieve a successful prosecution.

-Duck Duck Go Search Assist results based on the question:

Can forensic science personnel who make mistakes be "blacklisted" ?

"Yes, forensic science personnel who make significant mistakes, especially those that lead to wrongful convictions, can face professional repercussions, including being blacklisted in their field. This can result in difficulties finding employment in forensic roles and damage to their professional reputation."

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

I Hate watching some poor smuck get put away, due to a bottom of class lawyer. just becase they got their credentials. Why working with colour was great for me. Boy did I control a lot of the colour people see.

 

[Judge]

I Hate watching some poor smuck get put away, due to a bottom of class lawyer. just becase they got their credentials. Why working with colour was great for me. Boy did I control a lot of the colour people see.

Happens all the time. In my country your chances of beating a rap depend to a certain degree on the quality of legal representation you are willing to pay for.

Something I learned "up close and personal" in an attempted murder case when I was one of twelve jurors. Prosecuted by the District Attorney himself, rather than by any ADA. He demolished the defendant's case, represented by a public defender fresh out of law school.

Though the public defender didn't have a chance given the defendant and the circumstances alone. Where after the conviction the DA personally told us of his criminal record, having served hard time over 30 years in 3 prisons.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Why I hate being called for jury duty, I would be the guy that causes a hung jury.

 

[Judge]

Why I hate being called for jury duty, I would be the guy that causes a hung jury.

In our system, unless you were willing to perjure yourself, in the jury selection process such an attitude would likely be "flushed out" before the actual trial.

A principal reason why I was never allowed to serve on a civil case, every time they inquired about my employment as an insurance underwriter. Prosecutors never wanted anyone with experience in legal liability to on their jury. Yet they loved me when it came to criminal offenses. Of course I knew better than to hide or lie about myself in any way.

Funny to think in 15 years, the state of Nevada has never called me up once. A process based primarily on voter registration data. Wondering if it's my status as a non-partisan voter that keeps me off their jury duty rolls.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

I Have been called for jury duty three times so far, latest while in hospital. First time I got off mentioned I had a friend who was a prison guard.

 

[Judge]

I Have been called for jury duty three times so far, latest while in hospital. First time I got off mentioned I had a friend who was a prison guard.

True, there are any number of ways to avoid serving in the selection process whether deliberately or not. Reminds me of observing an incredibly belligerent fellow who seemed like a moron. The judge eventually dismissed him from serving, though with the last question he asked the man what he did for a living.

He answered citing he was a doctor of dentistry. Everyone in the courtroom seemed to appreciate the humor in this. Everyone except the judge.

I did have one incident where myself and another juror recognized each other and started talking. The judge immediately question both of us for an extended interrogation. She let it slide though, as she nor the defense attorney didn't perceive us as being prejudicial. We were merely casual acquaintances.

It all does make me wonder if anyone connected with forensic investigation is immediately barred from the process, particularly if they interact with anyone in law enforcement or District Attorney's office. TMI when it comes to just about any form of evidence.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

My buddy the guard I knew nieghbout, friend in high school and also joined me at college through different major.
Knowing him waa enought to get disqualfied.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Lets not drift to far as Faye is trying to decide her future path. For me forensic science is like economics need more work before I take it seriously rigor not there. Two much water under the bridge as a pseudo science. Public watches to many shows like CSI, way to much poetic licence. See below this is how it was done when I was in college.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

From my lab book the only experiment I did that had any thing to do with career years later. So do not decide by what is taught, rather by what is available after graduation. If it involvesany type of engineering you are probably good to go. My position working with colour involved no math just exceptional colour vision. Diploma just got me in the door. My Being on The spectrum gave me the colour vision.