Ask a Forensic Scientist anything

989 Questions

Last Answer on July 21, 2022

I had crash some OLA 2.5 pills with olanzapine 10 mg tablets together and had kept it. Just few weeks back some police officers came to my house n found it. They tested it with forensic and it came back as heroin.
Please can you explain why

Asked by Malvin over 5 years ago

I’m sorry but I can’t. That’s a question for a toxicologist. I don’t know anything about drug chemistry.

Have you ever worked a case that was cold?

Asked by Seth over 5 years ago

Yes, certainly. I didn't manage to find the one piece of evidence that solved the whole thing, but I have worked on several. In my department a double homicide finally broke open after 30 years: https://www.news-press.com/story/news/crime/2020/10/01/joseph-zieler-suspect-two-cape-coral-homicides-seeks-dna-expert/3584935001/

353 Votes

So you wanna be a Forensic Scientist?

Check our Jobstr's career page for salary information, educational requirements, suggested reading and more!

Why do police still collect so much evidence even though they already have enough to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that someone did it. Like a clear video of someone doing it but they still need DNA, white seed, and a confession. I don’t understand

Asked by Jane over 5 years ago

Because trials don't occur, especially for a homicide, for another year or two or three after the crime, when there's no longer a chance to go back and collect other evidence. Confessions can be recanted, videos are never as clear as they look on TV, and everything will be challenged during a trial. And the evidence can be twisted. I had a guy who confessed to three different people the night of the crime, and then a year later went to trial and pled not guilty.

353 Votes

Would a B.A. in physiology be an acceptable degree for pursuing a career in forensics?

Asked by Abigail over 4 years ago

Any agency can use whatever requirements they want, so some (like mine) require only a high school diploma (but give extra points for advanced degrees, so we all have degrees). Some might require a Bachelor’s in any subject but give more points for forensic training—or not. The only way to know is check their job postings. Best of luck!

353 Votes

Also on Jobstr...

Casting Director

What do you look for when auditioning candidates for reality TV?

Chick-fil-A General Manager

How often do you have to fire someone, and does it ever get ugly?

Social Security Employee

How do you check to see whether someone claiming disability is actually disabled?

I am back to school to complete some science and math courses, like Organic Chemistry and Physics. I then plan on going onto graduate school for a master's program in forensic science. Will that increase my chances of getting a job in the field?

Asked by Yuna over 4 years ago

I think it would absolutely help your chances. But all agencies might not be looking for the same things. I would check the websites for all the agencies you’re interested in to see their job postings.

Best of luck to you!

353 Votes

I am from India.
My father was missing about 1 month ago(23-05-21). after 25 days of missing police got one dead body with only skull and 2 or 3 bones. And there besides my dad clothes there and inside pocket
There has my dad's bike key. this possi

Asked by Kalyan reddy almost 5 years ago

See next answer.

353 Votes

If a person is hung on their knees, when cut down and laid on the back with the knees/gegs still stiff and bent, can the blood still pool to the back?

Asked by TK over 5 years ago

That’s really a question for a pathologist, but apparently lividity develops before rigor, so it shoudn’t shift much after rigor has set in. However that can vary depending on temperature and physical/medical conditions. Blood will pool following the law of gravity but if the legs were bent, restricting the blood vessels, then it might pool in the torso. Sorry I can’t be more help.

352 Votes

Showing 876 - 882

Show All

67 More Answers by Forensic Scientist

Last 7

123 124 125 126 127 128

...

Next 7 Answers

Forensic Scientist

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

I had crash some OLA 2.5 pills with olanzapine 10 mg tablets together and had kept it. Just few weeks back some police officers came to my house n found it. They tested it with forensic and it came back as heroin.
Please can you explain why

Have you ever worked a case that was cold?

So you wanna be a Forensic Scientist?

Why do police still collect so much evidence even though they already have enough to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that someone did it. Like a clear video of someone doing it but they still need DNA, white seed, and a confession. I don’t understand

Would a B.A. in physiology be an acceptable degree for pursuing a career in forensics?

Also on Jobstr...

I am back to school to complete some science and math courses, like Organic Chemistry and Physics. I then plan on going onto graduate school for a master's program in forensic science. Will that increase my chances of getting a job in the field?

I am from India.
My father was missing about 1 month ago(23-05-21). after 25 days of missing police got one dead body with only skull and 2 or 3 bones. And there besides my dad clothes there and inside pocket
There has my dad's bike key. this possi

If a person is hung on their knees, when cut down and laid on the back with the knees/gegs still stiff and bent, can the blood still pool to the back?

Forensic Scientist

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

I had crash some OLA 2.5 pills with olanzapine 10 mg tablets together and had kept it. Just few weeks back some police officers came to my house n found it. They tested it with forensic and it came back as heroin.Please can you explain why

Have you ever worked a case that was cold?

So you wanna be a Forensic Scientist?

Why do police still collect so much evidence even though they already have enough to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that someone did it. Like a clear video of someone doing it but they still need DNA, white seed, and a confession. I don’t understand

Would a B.A. in physiology be an acceptable degree for pursuing a career in forensics?

Also on Jobstr...

I am back to school to complete some science and math courses, like Organic Chemistry and Physics. I then plan on going onto graduate school for a master's program in forensic science. Will that increase my chances of getting a job in the field?

I am from India.My father was missing about 1 month ago(23-05-21). after 25 days of missing police got one dead body with only skull and 2 or 3 bones. And there besides my dad clothes there and inside pocket There has my dad's bike key. this possi

If a person is hung on their knees, when cut down and laid on the back with the knees/gegs still stiff and bent, can the blood still pool to the back?

Login

Forgot Your Password?

Register

I had crash some OLA 2.5 pills with olanzapine 10 mg tablets together and had kept it. Just few weeks back some police officers came to my house n found it. They tested it with forensic and it came back as heroin.
Please can you explain why

I am from India.
My father was missing about 1 month ago(23-05-21). after 25 days of missing police got one dead body with only skull and 2 or 3 bones. And there besides my dad clothes there and inside pocket
There has my dad's bike key. this possi