Forensic science can be defined as the application of scientific methods and principles to solve crimes and other types of legal issues. In most criminal cases, a forensic scientist is often involved in searching for and examining many types of physical evidence that can help establish a link between a crime suspect and the crime scene or victim. Forensic science is now a more popular topic since various television shows were successful, such as Crime Scene Investigation (CSI).

However, very few people realize that being a CSI or a forensic professional can be a very good career alternative. There are many reasons that can be put forward that make forensic science one of the best career prospects today. The reasons range from the job market, wages, benefits to the availability of training and more.

The availability of jobs for someone seeking to be a forensic professional used to be very small for a long time until about five years ago, when many technological and scientific advances began to be developed that provided new types of tools that substantially improved police efficiency. . and security forces in solving crimes and other problems. As a result, most law enforcement agencies and other institutions greatly expanded their resources and facilities to increase their capacity to employ forensic science techniques and methodologies.

Although police departments alone employ (and continue to hire) thousands of people from various areas of forensic work and with different educational backgrounds, the police are not the only alternative for those seeking a job related to forensic science or forensics. criminal justice. Forensic science methods and concepts are increasingly being used by many other institutions for various purposes, making the forensic science job market bigger than ever. The companies that develop, improve and produce tools, reagents, kits and devices for use in forensic investigation are also a good part of the available labor market. The size of the labor market and the associated opportunities increase enormously if you consider working abroad. In addition to the United States, countries such as Great Britain and Australia are also part of this trend.

Being a discipline that relies heavily on technology, working in forensic science requires the acquisition of certain skills. This means that someone who wants to work in forensic medicine needs at least some kind of higher education. The type of degree and the length of the program vary greatly and depend on the type of work one is interested in doing. Some positions require higher degrees, such as doctorates or masters, but many more can be taken after a short one or two year course obtained at smaller private academies.

But these requirements are not a huge hurdle to solve when considering the many benefits of working for a forensic department. Positions in law enforcement and other law enforcement institutions are often accompanied by substantial benefits and competitive salaries and, best of all, good prospects for stability and career growth along with an aura of social approval typically associated with service. public law and order. These and many other reasons make forensic science one of the best career alternatives available today.