| Forensic science can be defined as the application | | | | Methods and concepts of forensic science are |
| of scientific methods and principles to solve | | | | increasingly being used by many other institutions |
| crimes and other types of legal issues. In most | | | | for diverse purposes so the job market for |
| criminal cases, a forensic scientist is typically | | | | forensics is greater than ever. Companies that |
| involved in looking for and examining many kinds | | | | develop, improve and produce tools, reagents, kits |
| of physical evidence that can help establishing a | | | | and devices to be used in forensic investigation |
| link between a suspect of committing a crime and | | | | are also a good part of the available job market. |
| the scene of the crime or victim. Forensics is now | | | | The size of the job market and the opportunities |
| a more popular subject since several TV shows | | | | associated greatly increase if one considers |
| became successful, such as Crime Scene | | | | working abroad. Besides the United States, |
| Investigation (CSI). | | | | countries like Britain and Australia are also part of |
| However, very few people realize that being a | | | | this trend. |
| CSI or forensic professional can be a very good | | | | Being a discipline that relies strongly on technology, |
| career alternative. One can put forward many | | | | working in forensic science requires the acquisition |
| reasons that make forensic science one of the | | | | of certain skills. This means somebody wanting to |
| best career prospects nowadays. The reasons | | | | work in forensics needs at least some sort of |
| range from labor market, salaries, benefits to | | | | higher education. The type of degree and the |
| training availability and beyond. | | | | length of the program vary largely and depend on |
| The availability of jobs for someone seeking to be | | | | the kind of work one is interested in doing. Some |
| a forensic professional used to be very small for | | | | positions require higher degrees such as Ph.D. or |
| a long time until about five years ago, when many | | | | Masters, but many more posts can be taken |
| technological and scientific advances started to | | | | after a short course of one or two years earned |
| develop and provided new kinds of tools that | | | | at smaller private academies. |
| substantially improved the efficiency of the police | | | | But these requirements are not a big obstacle to |
| and security forces in solving crimes and other | | | | be sorted out if one considers the many benefits |
| problems. As a consequence, most law | | | | of working for a forensic department. Positions at |
| enforcement agencies and other institutions | | | | police agencies and other law enforcement |
| greatly expanded their resources and facilities in | | | | institutions are often accompanied by substantial |
| order to increase their ability to employing | | | | benefits and competitive salaries and, best of all, |
| techniques and methodologies of forensic science. | | | | good prospects of stability and professional |
| Even though police departments alone employ | | | | growth along with an aura of social approval |
| (and keep hiring) thousands of people coming | | | | typically associated with law and order public |
| from diverse areas of forensic work and with | | | | service. These and many other reasons make |
| many different educational backgrounds, police is | | | | forensic science on of the best career |
| not the only alternative for those looking for a | | | | alternatives available today. |
| job related to forensic science or criminal justice. | | | | |