News reports indicate more than 2,600 firearm comparison cases from the Virginia Department of Forensic Science are under review due to examiner “bias” and “drift”. Possible issues identified starting with a failed 2024 proficiency test. Two examiners taken off of casework. A former supervisor retired before completing remediation. And the department has recently been sued by a former employee in federal court for being retaliated against as a whistle blower. https://www.vpm.org/news/2026-10-21/virginia-dfs-lohmann-western-laboratory-firearms-crime/

I am just graduating my undergraduate with a double BA in Chemistry and Biochemistry/Molecular Biology. I want to pursue a career in Forensic science and know I will have to do graduate education to get a good position, but I’m not sure what to pursue.

My main question is should I go for PhD or Master’s?

And should I get a specific Forensics degree or go more broad (like chemistry with an analytical focus) just so I have more job opportunities outside forensics in the future?

Please give me the benefits and consequences when you reply please! Personal stories welcome!

So, there’s a show I love called Dead Boy Detectives on Netflix, and in episode five, The Case of the Two Dead Dragons, two boys called Brad and Hunter were killed via poisoning. I was wondering exactly what kind of drug could have possibly been used since the results were very strange and maybe not correspond to any real life drug at all? From what I’ve gathered, it causes asphyxiation, paralysis, bleeding from the eyes, and eventually death. We can presume that it was an over the counter drug or prescribed by a doctor based on the bottle it was in and the labeling, and it looked like drops—like eye or ear drops. In small doses it can cause temporary loss of consciousness since that’s what Maren was trying to do to them, but if you overshoot the dose ever so slightly, it causes death. And it can be easily accessed by the public. What fucking drug does that??? You can reference the episode yourself, but I just wanna know if this is possible or not.

I recently finished my PhD in biology and I currently work as a postdoc at the university I did my PhD at in Canada. I have an interview in a few weeks with our provincial forensics lab for a (permanent) court-going scientist position. I passed a (virtual) screening interview a few weeks ago for this role and interviewed with this lab a few years ago for a more technical position when I was trying to decide whether to continue with my PhD (unfortunately didn't get that job). I'm super excited about the role, but am equally nervous for the interview.

Any suggestions on how to prepare? In addition to the interview, I'm going to have to deliver a presentation (topic TBC) and complete a 1-hour test afterwards. I had done a test for the last position I had interviewed for, which didn't go super well (can't recall what exactly was on it, but was forensic biology related). My undergrad degree was in forensics, but I have since move away from forensics for my master's and PhD.

I am a nonprofessional seeking information about the practical process of having a body exhumed for DNA testing.

CONTEXT: I have a family member who went missing 100 years ago in Indiana. Circumstantial evidence suggests that he might have been murdered. An unidentified corpse matching his rough description, including evidence of assault, was discovered in the city at the time he went missing. If a coroner's inquest was performed on this corpse, the report did not survive, so there's no hard evidence linking the body to my family member. Because of this and the age of the case, police have no interest in committing resources (which I understand). So it's up to family.

QUESTION: I'd like to exhume this body to have it's DNA tested, but family will likely have to pay out of pocket for this expense. My question is, what are the practical realities of that process? Indiana statue requires permission from the Health Department and that a licensed mortician oversee it. Since the body is unidentified, getting family permission is not an issue. Otherwise, I don't believe a court order is required.

Once the legal requirements have been met, could a group of volunteers unearth the casket, then hand it over to forensic specialists for testing? If made of wood, a casket might have disintegrated. At what point would forensic experts be required to collect bones? What would the cost of that be?(The cost of DNA testing is a different issue which I am addressing in a different way.)

I've heard a price tag for exhumation as high as $20,000, but of course there are variables. I guess I'm wondering if it can it be done for less. Are there companies that do this as a business, and if so who are they?

Strange question, I guess, but thanks for any insight you might be able to provide.

As someone considering a job in forensics, I keep seeing that these federal positions are super competitive. I would love to pursue a job in this field, but any schooling is super expensive so I am apprehensive to pursue a degree in a field that I am not assured a job in. Besides the FBI, where could I likely get a job in forensics anthropology or psychology? I would hate to give up this interest, but if there is just a slim-to-none chance of getting a job in this field, I would like to know now instead of investing more time into this subject. Thank you guys!

Hi guys, I have a strong intent to be in Forensics in Australia, ready to start from fresh. I have a strong healthcare and clinical background. I am more interested in Forensic Biology and Chemistry. Currently looking into relevant courses and workshops, that can land me in a job. I dont intend to give a large portion of my time, in academics right now. Any helpful tips or advice on this.?

With ALS/IR, are there clear visual characteristics to GSR directly deposited onto a surface vs being present as a result of a transfer mechanism?

I'm a writer and one of my characters reports his own crime over the phone to the police. However, he does this with a "girl voice" (AKA he imitates a stereotypical girl/woman by pitching up his voice). If a recording of his voice from the phone call was analyzed, would the investigators/analyzers/etc. be able to discern that the caller does not actually sound that way and was purposely making themselves sound different? Would they need a sample of his original voice or could they tell without it?

Lmk if you have any questions. Thanks!

Hey everyone! Bit of an unusual request. My brother is autistic and forensic science is his special interest. He watches every documentary, reads everything he can find, and has a running list of questions that Google just can't answer properly.

Would any forensic scientists here be open to a Q&A session with him sometime? Totally on your schedule — video call or even just a long chat thread, whatever works. I'm also happy to pay for your time, I know it's valuable and I want him getting real answers from someone who actually does this work.

His biggest questions are around DNA analysis and crime scene work but honestly he'd talk about any of it for hours lol.

Thank you to anyone who's open to it, it would mean a lot to him (and me).

Welcome to our weekly discussion thread about forensic science!

Forensic Scientists and Professionals! What's going on this week?

Use any of the following as a prompt if you need to

• What do you do?
• What kind of work are you doing?
• Are you doing any new kinds of analyses?
• What is your work week like?
• Do you have crazy stories from the field/lab? Tell us!

Remember! Don't reveal identifying info on decedents or victims. Change names or use nicknames if you must.

Students! How's school?

Use any one of the following as a prompt if you need to

• What degree are you pursuing?
• What are you learning about?
• Have you learned something new and/or exciting?
• Are you involved in research?
• Is there anything about the field you'd like to know?

Remember! Don't ask us to do your homework or assignments for you. We did the work and you have to do it too.

If you are asking for education or employment advice, please read our subreddit guide first and then look at our resources in the sidebar. If what we have doesn't address your needs, you can ask us a question here! Let us know where you are and which country or countries you're considering for school.

Don't know where to start when it comes to schools, programs, or degrees? Take a look at our subreddit wiki for a good rundown of what you should look out for.

Confused by all the job titles, requirements, and worried about things like starting salary? Please take a look at this collection of posts from /u/Cdub919, one of our verified forensics members.

Have questions for someone working in the field? Take a look at our list of verified forensics professionals. They are frequently tagged in comments and posts when mods or other community members see that their expertise is needed. You might reach out to them in a private message or chat if you need their help. Please be respectful of their time and advice and don't harass anybody for a response.

Hi all! I want to volunteer at AAFS for the 2027 conference. Does anyone know what time sign-up opens? Or can anyone give any insight into what time it has opened in the past?

I know that my sign-up opens on the 19th, I just don't know what time.

Welcome to our weekly general discussion thread!

Feel free to chat with your fellow forensically-minded redditors about anything! Introduce yourself, show us pictures of your cat, complain about your kids, lament about exams/work, tell us what you're eating today... whatever you want!

Here are a few resources that might answer your questions:

A subreddit wiki with links and resources to education and employment matters, archived discussions on more intermediate topics in education and employment, what kind of major you need, what degree programs are good, etc.

• The subreddit Guide - Consider this an FAQ about our community and our field. Look here for basic education and employment questions/answers you might have. Didn't find what you were looking for? Please post in our weekly scheduled posts or to the subreddit. Note: please do use a desktop browser to view all features.
• List of verified forensics professionals
• Subreddit collections (please view on desktop browsers) on the following topics:
  • Education and Employment
  • Mental Health and Preparation for Working in Forensics
  • What It's Like Working in Forensics
  • Employment: Job Titles, Job Requirements, and Starting Salary in Forensic Science

so currently i am active duty military and want to start my college degree again. i’ve always wanted to be a forensic science detective for homicides. i already have 12 credits in criminal justice but i plan on getting a degree in forensic science now, the only thing is that i dont want to be a civilian police officer doing LE. i am currently security forces and do LE (i hate and love it at the same time). but what im tryna ask is what do yall think my chances of becoming that without being a cop on the civilian side is? and also for anyone who has a degree, how difficult and challenging is the school work? please let me know

Hello, this is a very late post but i’m hoping anyone who specializes in serology could answer my question as to how you get in this specific field. I major in Forensic Science with a concentration in Biology and I honestly really want to work in sex crimes and i’m wondering if anyone has any advice. Serologists or not.

Hello, I am a junior student at the American University of Sharjah.

I am conducting a study on the ethics of web sleuthing and and how their research is conducted for a university level research project that could potentially be published in a journal. this is an anonymous survey that i need people to answer in order to get enough data for my research. I am hoping to get first hand accounts on the subject from people in the community.

https://forms.gle/ACAzfpdvjumr2Xqb6

I would appreciate if you can help me by answering this survey.

https://reddit.com/link/1x3tflm/video/weyqzdqpryuh1/player

Quite a simple question, really. Ever since I was a child, I've been a forensics nerd, because I watched CSI (Vegas specifically, Greg and Grissom could get it) with my mum. One of my favorite crime anythings is the film The Silence of the Lambs. I've seen the film many times, and I wanna go to the library and reread the book tomorrow. For those of you with actual experience, especially back then, how accurate is it?

Quick clarification on what I mean by "Is it accurate": Is the way they go about the crime scenes and the autopsies accurate to how it is in real life? I know a lot of times, like in CSI, it's very dramatized, because movie fun, suspension of disbelief, yada yada.

Hi everyone! I'm trying to get a serious conversation started about changing how Nebraska handles medicolegal death investigations, and I'm looking for people who would be interested in helping me research, develop, and potentially launch a citizen initiative.

Nebraska currently assigns county coroner duties to county attorneys under state law. I want to explore replacing that structure with a statewide medical examiner system led by qualified medical professionals, with consistent standards and coverage for all 93 counties.

I'm not just looking to complain about the current system. I want to put together an actual, legally sound proposal that addresses how the system would work, how it would be funded, and how we could get it on the ballot.

Here's what I'm working toward:

• A complete legislative proposal: Identify every Nebraska statute that would need to be amended, repealed, or updated, including laws governing county attorneys, coroners' physicians, autopsies, death certificates, and related investigations.
• A statewide operating system: Develop a practical model with a state medical examiner's office and regional offices to provide coverage throughout Nebraska, including rural counties.
• Qualified professionals: Establish appropriate medical examiner qualifications, forensic pathology standards, and professional death-investigation training.
• Independent investigations: Separate medical determinations of cause and manner of death from criminal prosecution decisions while preserving cooperation with law enforcement.
• A realistic funding plan: Research staffing, autopsy facilities, toxicology, transportation, regional coverage, and state funding so the proposal accounts for actual costs.
• A transition plan: Determine how existing cases, records, contracts, personnel, and county responsibilities would transfer without interrupting services.
• Comparative research: Examine how other jurisdictions have structured their systems, including New Mexico's statewide Office of the Medical Investigator, Virginia's regional medical examiner system, and Cook County, Illinois, where voters approved replacing the elected coroner with a medical examiner.
• A citizen initiative: Research Nebraska's constitutional requirements, signature thresholds, geographic distribution requirements, filing procedures, and the legal review needed before collecting signatures.

I know this is a substantial project. Nebraska has 93 counties, and a proposal like this needs more than a good idea. It needs careful statutory research, medical expertise, cost estimates, legal review, and people willing to put in the work.

I'm looking for people with experience or an interest in:

• Law, legislation, or legal research
• Forensic pathology, death investigation, or medicolegal services
• Public administration, government, or policy analysis
• Budgeting, public finance, or state and county government
• Petition drives, ballot initiatives, and civic organizing
• Research, writing, fact-checking, or community outreach

You absolutely do not need to be an expert to get involved. Someone willing to research statutes, contact professionals, locate official reports, or help organize the project would be valuable, too.

I'm also interested in hearing from Nebraska residents who have thoughts about how a statewide system could work, what concerns they would have, and what questions the proposal needs to answer.

If you're interested, please comment or message me. I'd especially appreciate connections to Nebraska attorneys, forensic pathologists, medical examiners, legislators, or anyone familiar with the state's death-investigation system.

My goal is to move beyond discussion and determine whether we can develop a complete proposal that is legally viable, financially responsible, and suitable for Nebraska voters to consider.

I'd love to find a few people willing to help turn this into a real, organized project.

Starting pay up to 112k!

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/loudoun/jobs/5509698/biometric-examiner?pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs

Welcome to our weekly discussion thread about forensic science!

Forensic Scientists and Professionals! What's going on this week?

Use any of the following as a prompt if you need to

• What do you do?
• What kind of work are you doing?
• Are you doing any new kinds of analyses?
• What is your work week like?
• Do you have crazy stories from the field/lab? Tell us!

Remember! Don't reveal identifying info on decedents or victims. Change names or use nicknames if you must.

Students! How's school?

Use any one of the following as a prompt if you need to

• What degree are you pursuing?
• What are you learning about?
• Have you learned something new and/or exciting?
• Are you involved in research?
• Is there anything about the field you'd like to know?

Remember! Don't ask us to do your homework or assignments for you. We did the work and you have to do it too.

If you are asking for education or employment advice, please read our subreddit guide first and then look at our resources in the sidebar. If what we have doesn't address your needs, you can ask us a question here! Let us know where you are and which country or countries you're considering for school.

Don't know where to start when it comes to schools, programs, or degrees? Take a look at our subreddit wiki for a good rundown of what you should look out for.

Confused by all the job titles, requirements, and worried about things like starting salary? Please take a look at this collection of posts from /u/Cdub919, one of our verified forensics members.

Have questions for someone working in the field? Take a look at our list of verified forensics professionals. They are frequently tagged in comments and posts when mods or other community members see that their expertise is needed. You might reach out to them in a private message or chat if you need their help. Please be respectful of their time and advice and don't harass anybody for a response.

Currently I’m a CSI with three years under my belt and I have an opportunity to possibly work with our medical examiners office as a death investigator. One of the reasons I’d like to switch is because sure I feel like our agency isn’t as busy as it used to be and now we are on shift work so there’s even a smaller window of opportunity to work a call. I think I would enjoy being busier.

Another reason I’d like to switch is because a major part of my job I enjoy is working death calls. Shootings, stabbing, assaults etc are…fun enough I guess? Vehicle processing, search warrants, and burglaries are my least favorite and I feel like now that’s mostly what I’ve been doing this year.

Anywho, I guess I’m just reaching out to see if anyone has made the switch and what your experience has been like doing so?

Thank you so much!

I graduated last spring with a bachelors of forensic science with an emphasis in crime scene investigation. Since July, I have been a parole officer. Not ideal, but it paid well and was the most relevant job I got hired for. Now a forensic scientist job just opened in my city and I really want to put in the best application i possibly can for it. I just kinda wanted some general advice for what to put down about my current job on there to help.

This is my rough draft so far for my responsibilities….

- Conduct investigations involving parole violations, criminal activity, and threats to public safety.
- Collect, document, package, and preserve evidence in accordance with established procedures and chain-of-custody requirements.
- Collect DNA samples and complete required documentation for submission and processing.
- Conduct residential, personal, electronic, and property searches for evidence of criminal activity and parole violations.
- Utilize criminal justice databases to research criminal histories, warrants, law enforcement contacts, court records, and investigative information.
- Collaborate with local and state law enforcement regarding criminal activity, active investigations, searches, arrests, and evidence-related matters,
- Conduct interviews with clients, victims, witnesses, family members, and law enforcement personnel to gather and corroborate investigative information.
- Prepare detailed investigative reports, violation reports, case documentation, and written summaries of evidence and investigative findings.
- Testify in parole hearings regarding investigative findings, evidence collected, client behavior, and parole violations.
- Evaluate and interpret information from multiple sources to identify patterns, establish timelines, and make evidence. based recommendations.

How much should I shorten this up? Also, the position is for latent prints specifically and that was my role in my classes in college whenever we’d be assigned a specific role. i’ve also taken classes specifically for latent prints. But i’m not sure how to even put that on a resume. Or in the application? There’s also a skills section of the application, is it good to actually put stuff in there? Or should I just put it on my resume?

I know these might be kinda dumb questions, but no one in my family has a professional level job and i don’t have any friends in this field so i don’t really know how to figure all this out otherwise.