CSI Webquest

American Academy of Forensic Sciences

admin — Tue, 03 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The American Academy of Forensic Sciences also known as AAFS is a professional society that people from all areas of forensics can join. Founded in 1948, they have been around for more than 60 years and today have more than 6,000 members who work in 11 different professions inside the field of forensics. There are members from all 50 states in the United States as well as from 55 other countries worldwide. Some people who join the American Academy of Forensic Sciences might surprise you, members include attorneys, dentists, physical anthropologists, physicians, toxicologist, document examiners, psychiatrists, engineers, educators, criminalists, and chemists.

No matter where a member is from or what their job the AAFS offers them chances for professional development, personal contacts, recognition, and awards. The American Academy of Forensic Sciences even sends out newsletters and mailings to their members in many carrier fields to keep them up-to-date on the latest news in their field.

The AAFS is about more than just professional development, personal contacts, recognition, and awards. They are also well known in the forensic fields for being the publishers of the Journal of Forensic Sciences, an internationally recognized scientific journal. They host an annual scientific meeting as well is several smaller seminars and meetings to keep their members up-to-date on the latest forensic maters. No matter what a members reason for joining, they are sure to find it a rewarding a fulfilling experience.

Association for Crime Scene Reconstruction

admin — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Association for Crime Scene Reconstruction (ACSR) is a professional organization that helps skilled crime scene investigators. This is an important resource for law enforcement crime scene professionals. When any professional leaves school the things they studied don’t stay the same. There are constant changes with new discovery’s and advances in technology. In order for crime scene professionals to be able to do the best job possible, they have to keep learning constantly.

The ACSR provides trainings to help keep these professionals up to date. They list trainings including blood stain pattern analysis, forensic photography and gunshot trajectory reconstruction. All of these and other courses can help crime scene professionals be one step ahead of criminals.

This training is crucial because everyone involved in a crime scene from the first responders to the detectives and the CSI’s can affect the crime scene and possibly affect changes that could allow criminals to get away with the crime. In addition the ACSR provides a way for crime scene personnel to contact other professionals. Sometimes it is important to get another view point or consult an expert.

Members of ACSR include FBI agents, Border Patrol Agents, Police Officers, CSI’s, and crime lab personnel. Being at the top of their game helps these skilled professionals solve crimes and keep the public safe. This organization helps law enforcement do their jobs better – Thank you!

Consider a Career Fighting Cybercrime

admin — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Internet can be a great resource tool for people but it can also be used by criminals to commit crimes. It is important for trained professionals to be able to track down these individuals so that they can be prosecuted for their crimes in a court of law.

Individuals should consider pursuing a career in fighting cyber crime. The career field is a solid one and qualified applicants will be needed for many years to come. Cyber crime costs the United States a lot of money ever year. Cyber criminals commit horrible offenses such as child pornography, identity theft, and computer hacking. The career is incredibly rewarding for people because keeping the Internet safe and secure for online users is beneficial to everyone all across the globe.

Sadly, pedophiles and con artists use the Internet to take advantage of people. Tracking down cyber criminals is hard because people can change their ISP’s all the time. This is why having cyber crime fighters are needed so that they can follow these criminals who hide behind a computer.

People who want to have careers in cyber crime fighting can specialize in many different areas such as computer forensics. The salaries pay well especially if people can get hired by the FBI, police departments, or the DEA. Many colleges and universities now offer college level courses in the area of study and the job outlook is very good which means even a recession will not hurt the industry much.

Dr. G: Forensic Medical Examiner

www.csiwebquest.org — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

If you want to see how forensic science can be utilized by a medical examiner (yes, that means a physical investigation of a body after a person has died) you might want to check your local Direct TV listings to find out when Dr. G Medical Examiner will be airing in your area. In the Discovery Health series, Dr. Jan Garavaglia (Dr. G) uses cutting-edge forensic science and technology to solve one of the biggest crimes a person can experience: their own untimely and unexpected death. In the case of this show, it is forensic pathology that is the science used. By definition, a forensic pathologist is a subspecialist in pathology whose area of special competence is the examination of persons who die sudden, unexpected or violent death. A forensic pathologist is specially trained to perform autopsies to determine the presence or absence of disease, injury or poisoning; to evaluate historical and law-enforcement investigative information relating to manner of death; to collect medical evidence, such as trace evidence and secretions, to document sexual assault; and to reconstruct how a person received injuries. In the series (which can also be found on FitTV), Dr. G. follows at least three unexplained deaths in each episode where she uses cutting-edge forensic science and technology to solve the mysteries of each death thereby answering questions for law enforcement as well as providing closure for the families involved.

A Twisted CSI: Dexter

www.csiwebquest.org — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

If you love glomming onto all-things CSI and you haven’t yet checked out the Showtime series Dexter, you might be considered asleep at the wheel. As defined, Dexter is a drama based on the life of a forensic bloodstain pattern analyst for the Miami police department but there’s so much more than that since the title character also moonlights as a serial killer!Dexter patterns his killings around the “Code of Harry,” a body of ethics (and killing procedures) devised by his deceased adoptive father to make sure Dexter never gets caught and to ensure that he kills only other killers. It’s basically the penultimate story of tit-for-tat (something many of us secretly fantasize about).But the point here (apart from Dexter being highly entertaining) is to evoke possible interest in another avenue of CSI investigation that of a crime scene reconstructionist with regard to blood patterns and blood splatter.The beauty (or appeal, if you prefer) to this arm of forensic science is that it draws on various scientific disciplines and if an analyst follows the prescribed scientific process, this applied practice can produce strong, solid evidence; making it an effective tool for investigators.And should you need further convincing that a blood splatter specialist might be to your liking (if Dexter didn’t pique enough of your interest), you might recall that Catherine Willows (played by Marg Helgenberger) of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (yep, the original) played one well before Dexter did!

Want to be a CSI? Here are tips to get started

www.csiwebquest.org — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 19:52:26 +0000

As with most things that are fun and exciting in life there’s a little bit of due diligence involved. I mean if you wanted to compete in skate boarding at the Olympic level you wouldn’t just buy a board and show up, right? And so it is with crime scene investigating. You pretty much need to have a degree of some sort before you can get in on the action. Common degrees are in criminal justice, biology, or chemistry. Once enrolled (and passing your courses) you should contact your local police department to inquire about the recruiting process for CSI personnel. Listen to the answers and adjust your course work based on what you hear. If you hear that they need a lot more lab personnel versus street beat, then re-think your course of study and make adjustments after discussing your findings with the school’s career counselor. While in school check out career websites and look for CSI-related openings in your area. Even though you haven’t yet made it through school, some positions are offered as intern-based which means you may be able to get on board before graduation (mind you there will most likely be zero or minimal pay associated with these positions, but hands-on experience looks wicked awesome on a resume). And speaking of resumes, make sure yours is current and ready to send out at a moment’s notice and make absolute sure you’ve listed any and all extracurricular courses or seminars you’ve attended since they all add up to making you a more desirable candidate.

Beiber to Hit the Big Screen in CSI Premiere

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:11:45 +0000

One of prime time’s highest ranking shows and the biggest name in pop culture will collide in this fall’s season premiere of CSI. The episode will air September 23 at 9pm/8c to what may prove to be an unusual mix of fans. Canadian-born pop and R&B singer, Justin Beiber, has already broken industry records in his short career. The 16-year-old has also attracted what can only be called a cult following. Now the question remains, will his acting skills impress fans as much as his voice. Luckily for Bieber, he has fans obsessed enough to kiss the ground he walks on no matter what kind of show he puts on. But Justin Beiber isn’t the only record breaker in this equation. The young pop star his getting his acting debut on one of the most popular television shows of the decade and what is currently the most watched show on television. The September premiere will mark the start of CSI’s 11^th season. On the show Bieber will play a troubled teenage boy, Jason McCann, who ends up facing a run-in with the CSI team. Though details about the plot involving Bieber have been minimal, we do know that it is a role that will make more than one appearance throughout the season. Both sides have plenty to gain in this partnership. Bieber is guaranteed to bring in viewers who may not even watch the show but will watch anything involving their teenage hero, which will help CSI maintain its top-ranking status. For Bieber, this is his chance to prove he is more than just a cute face with a great voice. If he can successfully execute this role, a whole new world of possibilities will open and we might truly have a multi-talented star on our hands.

More than Just a Show: The Cultural Effects of CSI

www.csiwebquest.org — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:08:53 +0000

So it has a following of millions of fans and has been granted the title of world’s most popular television show, but there is more to this TV drama about homicide investigations that just prestigious awards and great ratings. Having been a strong primetime presence for the last decade, it’s a great time to reflect on how CSI has changed our culture besides just adding a popular new evening program.Many critics of the show have discussed the problems of what has become known as “the CSI effect.” Because each crime on the show is solved in just one, occasionally two, episodes, the entire focus of the team is that one incident, and forensic processes that may take days or weeks appear to be performed momentarily. This has created some issues in the courtrooms with juries who perceive the forensic evidence process to occur this rapidly and therefore expect every case to have irrefutable evidence for an easy conviction. This unrealistic expectation can be frustrating, but it can also put the pressure on the system to step up their game in this department. Shows like CSI are being credited with the recent increase in the number of individuals entering into the fields of forensic and archaeological science.Another popular culture shift we’ve seen since the 2000 premiere of this crime drama is a demand for this type of television. The success of the original series led to the creation of two spin-offs, CSI: Miami and CSI: NY. Perhaps it stems from the increase in awareness of terrorism and organized crime that creates a desire to see justice carried out. Shows such as CSI and subsequent dramas including Bones and Criminal Minds, though violent and gory at times, also give the satisfaction of witnessing justice being served to violent members of society, which is something Americans have a need to see.

An Old Favorite Returning to CSI

www.csiwebquest.org — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:03:50 +0000

After playing the vital role of Sara Sidle in almost every episode of the first seven seasons, actress Jorja Fox began slowly fading from the scene. Fox has enjoyed an extensive fan base throughout her time on CSI and her announcement in 2007 that she was leaving the show was met with outcry from distraught fans. A few appearances during seasons 9 and 10 were just enough to remind fans just what it is about this character that they love so much. Sidles troubled past, independent nature, and fragile relationship with Grissom are just a few of the reasons she’s a cast favorite. Years worth of watching the subtle but budding relationship between Sidle and Grissom, which finally ended in Grissom’s proposal, have created a special tie to this character. And just when expectant fans finally got what they wanted, Fox up and left the show! But, to the delight of her fans, she will be returning this fall for CSI’s 11^th season. It has not been confirmed how extensive a role Sidle will play and whether or not she will be back on as a regular, but either way, we’re all glad to know she’ll at least be around for a while. Now the question remains, what led to Fox’s decision to rejoin the show? Some speculate that the show’s falling numbers in the last couple of seasons prompted this decision as an attempted ratings boost. Other, less complimentary observers of Fox, suggest that she left in search of more money or other opportunities, which she did not find, and is therefore returning to CSI. In the end, these are all merely guesses as to the nature of Fox’s decision, and all that really matters is that the widely-adored Sara Sidle will be back onscreen this fall.

Step into the Scene of the Crime

www.csiwebquest.org — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:00:10 +0000

Impressive forensic technology and intuitive detective skills are at the forefront of every CSI episode. So, have you ever caught yourself wondering just how well you could pull off the role of crime scene investigator? Judging by the number of interactive CSI games, you’re not alone. If you’re an avid CSI fan or just think you’d make a great detective, try your hand at one of these popular games based on television’s most watched show.CSI: The Experience is a comprehensive online game that lets you take on the role of investigator, with the help of the show’s characters. Before you begin, you can tour through DNA lab technology, a guide to the terminology and ethics of the job as well as tips on what to look for in a crime scene. You can create an account on the website to play multiple games and save one when you’re in progress. By the time you crack all these cases, you’ll be ready to hit the field.If you’re a gamer, you’ll love the new CSI: Deadly Intent video game. Available for Xbox 360, Wii and Nintendo DS, this software will open the doors to forensic investigations. Work alongside the season 9 cast to solve murder mysteries. The game’s website compliments the videogame with more crimes needing solving. A line of CSI PC games are also available for purchase on Amazon.Fans can’t seem to get enough of this show and there are now CSI games for mobile phones being offered. The opportunities for interactive gaming on phones are expanding with the growth and improvements being made to smart phones. CSI: Miami, a new game available at the Apple App store has fan’s cracking cases everywhere they go. For only 99 cents you can play this game on your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad.