Description:

A forensic expert (from the Latin expertus (experienced) and crimen (criminal, related to a crime) is a specialist in collecting and examining evidence from a crime scene.

Forensic science is the science of the mechanism of crime, the occurrence and concealment of its traces. Forensics involves a system of collecting, analyzing and using physical evidence.

To collect material evidence, a forensic expert goes to the crime scene together with the investigator. There he seizes traces and objects that may turn out to be evidence. However, analysis of many pieces of evidence is only possible in laboratory conditions.

There are various types of examinations with which you can create a picture of a crime, as well as identify the victim, criminal, crime weapon, etc. Fingerprint, ballistic, traceological, graphological, phonoscopic, auto-editing, examination of explosive devices and explosives, etc. For example, traceological examination involves the study of traces left at the crime scene by a person, a vehicle, or a crime weapon. A forensic trace scientist uses special techniques to determine what object was used to strike, to describe the person based on footprints, teeth, etc.

New technologies complement forensic science with new examination methods. An example of a relatively new method is DNA research. It allows you to identify a person by organic traces (saliva, sweat, hair, etc.)

Place of work

A forensic expert works in structures involved in the investigation of crimes. They can change their name and subordination (prosecutor's office, investigative committee, etc.), but the essence of the expert's work does not change.

Additional features:

Ordinary forensic experts spend most of their working days at the computer and in the darkroom, because each investigation of an object must be supported by a photograph. If there is a special assignment from the authorities, forensic experts have to go to crime scenes, where they need to inspect and seize material evidence without delay.

Responsibilities:

• carrying out work trips on call;
• crime scene inspection;
• photographing the crime scene, seizing evidence, taking fingerprints;
• conducting laboratory research (fingerprinting, determining the type of weapon, etc.);
• documenting the results of the research, drawing up a conclusion for the investigator.

Requirements:

Personal qualities

To work successfully, a forensic expert needs a penchant for analysis, curiosity, intellectuality, rationality, methodicality, erudition, and self-confidence. A good memory, the ability to concentrate on the subject under study for a long time, and resistance to stress are required.

Professional knowledge and skills

· knowledge of the theory of criminology;

· proficiency in fingerprinting and graphology;

· ability to conduct various examinations with materials of biological and non-biological origin found at the crime scene (traces of blood, hair, etc.);

· knowledge of technologies for determining the type and origin of items included in the crime scene report (caliber of weapons, car brands, etc.);

· knowledge of the rules and technologies for taking, packaging and storing items that are material evidence

Education

In order to work as a forensic expert, you must obtain a higher education in the specialty “Forensic Science”, or a higher education in the specialty “Forensic Science” - this can be obtained at one of the universities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia

Training at departmental universities is 70% practical, fire training, hand-to-hand combat, studying various types of examinations (from fingerprinting to graphology) and employment in the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Important. Some universities that provide training in the specialty “Forensic Science” do not train criminologists. Specialists in technical types of examinations are trained here.

For people with higher education, the Russian Federal Center for Forensic Expertise (RFCSE) under the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation is constantly recruiting future forensic experts. It invites candidates with higher education in the fields of physics, chemistry, ecology, philology, linguistics, psychology, etc.

A forensic expert specializes in collecting and analyzing evidence from a crime scene.

Wage

40,000–50,000 rub. (zarplata.ru)

Place of work

Forensic experts work in government law enforcement agencies, as well as public and private examination centers.

Responsibilities

The science of “criminology” itself studies the patterns and mechanisms of crimes, their occurrence and methods of hiding traces. A forensic scientist can develop his own research methods or use existing ones. The main goal is to collect and analyze physical evidence.

A forensic expert does the following: goes to the crime scene, thoroughly examines the area or premises, removes all kinds of traces (blood, fingerprints, suspicious objects), examines the bodies of the dead, and conducts a preliminary analysis. The work then moves to the expert laboratory. Upon completion of the process, a final report is prepared.

Important qualities

The following qualities are important in the profession: curiosity, erudition, analytical mind, self-confidence, observation, attentiveness and responsibility.

Reviews about the profession

“You need restraint, responsibility, the expert must be competent, objective, unbiased and confident. After all, any conclusion we make often becomes the main and only evidence in a criminal case. For example, in my practice there was a case when I was summoned to court four times in a case of theft of a large sum of money. I had to justify my expert opinion.”

Timur Khamitovich Salemgareev,
expert criminalist.

Stereotypes, humor

The profession does not tolerate candidates with a weak nervous system and a heightened emotional background. That is why there are more men than women in the profession.

Education

To become a forensic expert, you need to obtain a higher legal education and then master a specialization in the field of forensic science. You can study, for example, at St. Petersburg State University or St. Petersburg Law Academy.

Medical universities in Moscow: Moscow State University. Lomonosov, First Moscow State Medical University named after I.M. Sechenov, Russian National Research Medical University RNRMU named after N.I. Pirogov.

Forensic science is a legal science that studies the characteristics and mechanism of a crime with the aim of solving it. The profession of a criminologist is, of course, quite complex and stressful, but at the same time exciting and interesting.

Historical reference

The first criminologists studying the mechanism of preparation and commission of crimes appeared in the 19th century. At the same time, practical manuals on criminology were published, which described tips and methods for solving a criminal act. But only in the 20s of Soviet times began to systematize the data of this science. After the Great Patriotic War, criminology began to be taught as a separate discipline in law schools and academies of internal affairs.

Work specifics

Until a forensic expert arrives at the scene, police officers, including the investigator, have no right to touch or move anything. The expert goes to the site, takes photographs and records, collects and studies material evidence, and also examines the body of the injured or deceased for damage. Evidence includes various traces and objects, such as traces of blood, shoes, fingerprints, objects left at the scene of the crime and traces of them, weapons of the criminal act committed.

After preliminary analysis, all evidence research work is carried out in a special laboratory. The expert’s responsibilities also include documenting and describing the results of the research conducted. Only after the careful work of a forensic expert does the investigator reproduce the overall picture of the criminal act committed. It happens that a forensic expert goes to the scene of an incident dozens of times a day.

Areas of work

1. Graphology is the science of studying handwriting. An expert can determine a person’s condition (nervous, intoxicated) by handwriting or even signature.
2. Traceology is the study of traces that reflect the mechanism of a crime. These could be fingerprints, signs of a break-in, or car wheels.
3. Ballistics is the testing and analysis of firearms used to commit a crime. An expert can determine the type of weapon, under what conditions and at what distance it was fired.
4. Phonoscopy is the study of sound traces. A specialist can determine whether a voice in an audio or video recording belongs to a specific person.
5. Author's examination is a study of a text in order to establish information about the identity of the author and the conditions for creating the document.
6. Examination of explosives. An expert can establish the fact and circumstances of the explosion and its consequences.
7. Examination of explosive devices. The main task of a specialist is to detect, fix and remove objects related to the explosion.
8. Fingerprinting is a method of identifying a person using fingerprints. If the criminal has been previously prosecuted, a forensic expert will easily determine his identity.
9. DNA research. DNA can be used to determine a person's identity.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

First of all, a forensic expert must know the theory of forensic science, master its methods and technologies, such as fingerprinting and graphology. Secondly, the specialist must be able to conduct various examinations, master the technologies of the origin of things from the scene of the incident, and know the rules for collecting material evidence.

Personal characteristics

A forensic expert must have many qualities necessary in his work:

• resistance to stress and possession of nerves of iron,
• perseverance, patience, methodicalness,
• attentiveness, accuracy and painstakingness.
• mobility, ability to work in a team, responsibility,
• curiosity, erudition.
• logical thinking, analytical skills.
• willingness to acquire new knowledge, skills, abilities,
• long-term and operational memory, tendency to analyze, ability to concentrate.
• ability to master technical means.
• Confidence in your strength.

Studies

Quite a few higher educational institutions offer training in the specialties “Jurisprudence” and “Forensic Science”. Applicants are usually interested in the question, what subjects need to be taken for admission? We will answer you: most often these are exams in the Russian language, social studies, history and physical education. But each university has its own requirements, so it is advisable to check with the university or institute where you plan to enroll which disciplines you need to take. In order to obtain the right to independently conduct any examination, you must have a diploma of specialized higher education, as well as regularly undergo relevant internships and take tests.

Where to get a job

If you are just starting your career in the field of forensics, then most likely you will go to law enforcement agencies, structures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs or examination centers. The Russian Federal Center for Forensic Expertise of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation often requires forensic experts. Experienced specialists have an excellent opportunity to get a job in a private laboratory.

Prospects for the profession

If you decide to become a criminologist, then, of course, you are interested in salary and prospects for possible development. At the very beginning of his career, a specialist can start working as an assistant to a forensic expert or a laboratory assistant. After gaining experience, he has several paths: firstly, this is a narrow specialization in forensic science, for example, a digital forensics specialist, and, secondly, this is work in a private organization or law enforcement system. In the structures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs there are benefits and bonuses for employees, but, nevertheless, in private offices the salary level is much higher.

In government organizations, the salary ranges from 20,000 to 45,000 rubles and depends on the length of service and experience of the specialist. In private offices, the salary of criminologists depends on the organization’s profit; income starts at 65,000 rubles and above. In addition to the prospect of career growth and increased wages, a specialist has the opportunity to gain new knowledge and improve their skills. When changing your specialization or even your profession as a whole, for example, when moving to the position of investigator, the experience of a criminologist will always be useful to you. The value of social protection should also be understood. Length of service affects not only officer shoulder straps, but also the size of the pension. Agree, there is a big difference in receiving 10,000 or 60,000 rubles.

Conclusion

Since you have chosen a profession as a forensic scientist, be prepared for the fact that your workday will never be boring. After all, the work of a criminologist is multifaceted, complex and incredibly interesting. When operatives cannot apprehend a criminal without delay, a criminologist appears on the scene. He can make a description of the mechanism of the crime committed, the specifics of its preparation and much more necessary for the investigation and the capture of the attacker. In the law enforcement system, criminologists with extensive experience are highly valued, which is reflected in their salary level.

And experts on private issues are special. For example, a forensic expert has a higher medical education. Forensics. The profession is suitable for those who are interested in law and social studies (see choosing a profession based on interest in school subjects).

Short description

Forensic science is a science that studies the patterns and features of the mechanism of a crime, its occurrence and ways for participants in a crime to hide its traces. In addition, forensic science develops and uses special tools and special methods for collecting, researching, and, finally, analyzing the collected material evidence.

Specifics of the profession

An important part work of a forensic expert- this is a joint visit to the scene of the crime with the investigator , participation in the inspection, seizure of evidence: traces of blood, gloves, shoes, fingerprints, objects that, as suspected expert criminalist, may turn out to be important material evidence, and inspection of damage to the bodies of the victims and dead.

However, for the most part, only preliminary analysis is carried out on site, and a full and thorough examination of the evidence is carried out in the laboratory.

There are different types of examinations - traceological, ballistic, fingerprint, phonoscopic, graphological, auto-editing, examination of explosives, explosive devices, technical examination of documents, etc. They help to recreate the picture of the crime, identify the criminal and his victim, and identify the weapon of the crime.

Thus, a trace examination is a study of any traces remaining at the crime scene (for example, clothing, shoes, teeth, a vehicle, a crime weapon), an analysis of traces of a break-in and the features of the trace formation mechanism.

Using special techniques, a forensic traceologist establishes the specific characteristics of the existing traces, determines the object that left them, the uniqueness of the blow inflicted and the object with which it was made, and describes the person based on the traces he left.

Forensic science is constantly evolving and updated with the latest methods and technologies to assist in investigations. One of these methods is DNA research, which makes it possible to determine the identity of a person based on the organic traces left (for example, hair, sweat, saliva).

Place of work and career

Forensic experts, especially beginners, work in government law enforcement agencies (investigative committee, prosecutor's office) and in examination centers. The most professional and experienced specialists can easily get jobs in various private forensic laboratories in the future.

Higher education:

• Industrial and civil construction, land management;
• Automotive equipment, in terms of road construction, technology for the manufacture and repair of vehicles, engines and spare parts;
• Finance, economics, accounting, auditing, valuation activities, merchandising of all groups of goods;
• Physics, only in terms of radio physics, radio engineering, electrical engineering, electronics, design and repair of cellular communications and computer equipment, optics and spectroscopy, materials science and physical research methods, physics of combustion and explosion;
• Chemistry, physical chemistry, organic and inorganic chemistry, chemical technology, explosives, chemistry of combustion and explosion;
• Genetics, biology, biotechnology, microbiology, biochemistry, pharmaceutical manufacturing technology, soil science, plant and animal biology, botany;
• Ecology;
• Geology, geochemistry, mineralogy, jewelry;
• Mathematics, only in terms of information technology, programming, pattern recognition, image processing;
• Philology, Russian language and literature, linguistics;
• Psychology, psychophysiology;
• Fire engineering, explosion engineering;
• Military affairs, only in terms of engineering, technical, construction specialties;
• Jurisprudence, only in terms of criminology, forensic examination or experience as an investigator (at least 5 years);
• Printing only in terms of printing technology and properties of printing materials;
• Art history;
• Graphics, in terms of animation and computer graphics;
• Metallurgy, metallurgy and metalworking;
• Technology of manufacturing textile materials and semi-finished products, technology of clothing production.

makes it possible to get a job as a forensic expert at the Russian Federal Center for Forensic Expertise (RFCSE) of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, where candidates are constantly being recruited.

Salary as of 08/05/2019

Russia 36000—36000 ₽

Required personal qualities

Like any other work of a forensic expert requires the candidate to have certain qualities. A successful forensic specialist must certainly be inquisitive, highly intelligent, erudite and, at the same time, self-confident, methodical and rational. He must have a good memory, be prone to analysis and be able to concentrate on the object under study for a long time.

Knowledge and skills

Forensic expert knowledge of the theory of criminology and mastery of its methods and technologies is required.

Training to become a forensic expert (lawyer)

Russian Institute of Vocational Education "IPO" - recruits students to obtain a specialty through a distance program of professional retraining and advanced training. Studying at the IPO is a convenient and quick way to receive distance education. 200+ training courses. 8000+ graduates from 200 cities. Short deadlines for completing documents and external training, interest-free installments from the institute and individual discounts. Contact us!

Those who aspire to become forensic scientists can pursue almost any post-secondary education (see below). But you can obtain the specialty “Forensic Expertise” only at the corresponding university of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia (for example, at the Moscow University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, at the St. Petersburg University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, at the Saratov Law Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, at the Volgograd Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, etc.), which gives a diploma on higher education in the specialty "Forensic Expertise".

Classes in such departmental institutes consist, for the most part, of practice (up to 70%), hand-to-hand combat, fire training and, of course, the study of various types of forensic examinations and the features of their application. After training, graduates receive assignments to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for work.

It must be remembered that some universities that train specialists in the field of “Forensic Expertise” graduate only professionals in technical forms of examinations, forensic expert training can't get through there.

An example is the specializations “forensic economic examinations” and “forensic speech studies” existing at the Institute of Forensic Expertise of the Moscow State Law Academy.

Forensics is one of the legal areas whose tasks include solving crimes by studying the mechanism and features of their commission. The profession of criminologist is a complex activity that requires deep specialized knowledge. In Russia, there are many universities that can provide those who wish with education in their specialty, but a diploma alone is not enough for successful career development. To become a criminologist, you must have a lot of special personal qualities and a great desire to constantly improve your professionalism.

Who is a criminologist

The first forensic experts appeared in the 19th century. At the same time, publications appeared that contained information on the preparation of crimes and recommendations for solving them. At the beginning of the 20th century, the data was systematized. After the Great Patriotic War, criminology, as a separate science, began to be taught at law faculties. They began to train professionals who could usefully work in government law enforcement agencies.

A forensic expert examines the scene of a crime in order to collect evidence and make a preliminary assessment of the situation.

Based on the analysis of the collected material evidence, he tries to reproduce the picture of the crime. This information is necessary to identify criminals and capture them.

In practice, a specialist has to do the following:

• inspection of the crime scene, photography, identification and numbering of evidence, drawing up a protocol;
• examination of the body of the deceased in order to establish the preliminary cause of death;
• conducting analyzes and drawing up reports on them;
• issuing an expert opinion.

The list of what a criminologist does may vary depending on his field of activity. Graphologists study the features of human handwriting. Tracerologists specialize in deciphering traces at crime scenes. Ballisticians work with firearms. An experienced employee has a lot of useful skills and knowledge that help him in the investigation process. However, he is not necessarily involved at the crime scene. There are forensic experts who check texts to identify their author.

Required personal qualities

Just studying various types of forensic examinations is not enough for high-quality and fruitful work in this area. Profile knowledge in this area is only a mandatory basis for starting activities. They also need to be able to apply them in practice.

To become an expert, you must have a number of personal qualities:

• resistance to stress, the ability to remain calm in the most difficult and unpleasant situations;
• patience, pedantry, consistency in actions;
• attentiveness, accuracy;
• responsibility, ability to work in a team;
• mobility – sometimes experts have to travel to several incident sites in a day and work at night;
• erudition, desire to constantly learn something new;
• the ability to remember and analyze a large amount of information, draw logical conclusions;
• Ability to use technology and learn new skills.

When planning to obtain a complex but interesting specialty, the applicant should evaluate his strengths, strengths and weaknesses of character. A career aptitude test will help with this. He will show the feasibility of the plans made and indicate points on which additional work should be done.

Where to study to become a forensic expert

The field of criminology requires a variety of experts, but you can’t do it without a legal education. When deciding where to go to obtain knowledge and a diploma, you should think about your goals, take into account your interests and strengths. Today, educational institutions teach not only the basics of the profession, but can also help, if necessary, expand knowledge or change qualifications.

Education in the field of forensic science can be obtained at the following universities:

• Moscow State Law Academy;
• Saratov Law Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs;
• University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in St. Petersburg;
• Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in Volgograd.

Moscow University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs named after V.Ya. Kikotya

If it is not possible to enroll in one of the listed institutions, you can try another option. It is necessary to obtain a higher education in any field and take specialized courses in the field of “criminal examination”. Their duration is at least 3 months. You can get a diploma from a number of organizations, for example, the Modern Academy of Science and Technology.

The list of USE disciplines or exams that must be taken to become a criminologist depends on the requirements of a particular educational institution. Most often it includes the Russian language, social studies, physical education, and history. People who want to solve economic or computer crimes should additionally pay attention to such disciplines as mathematics and computer science, respectively.

Place of work and career

Graduates of the universities listed above often end up in the criminology department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Specialists of a narrow profile and those who showed themselves best during training can count on positions in the Investigative Department or the Investigative Committee. Experienced professionals often go to work in private expert laboratories that promise a higher level of income.

Forensic examinations

They involve the study of physical evidence using various experimental and scientific approaches. This is done by specialists from state law enforcement agencies, budgetary and commercial offices. Representatives of the region identify 7 basic areas of activity for specialists. The work is carried out with handwriting and sound, traces, weapons of various types, documents, portraits of people. Career growth in this environment is usually horizontal and involves obtaining positions in the most prestigious laboratories.

Prosecutor's activities

The specialization of forensic forensics allows prosecutors to correctly evaluate evidence and build an accusation on it. Very few service employees have the necessary amount of specialized knowledge. Specially trained people draw up conclusions that simplify the process of drawing conclusions from the reconstructed picture of the crime. As the employee gains experience and increases in rank, he can expect to receive a high management position.

Operational search activities of internal affairs bodies

A special area of ​​work for criminologists. Their activities are aimed at finding missing people or fugitive criminals. Such specialists must have an impressive list of skills and knowledge and be technically savvy. Career development here occurs vertically. If you have education and ambition, you can become the head of a department or even an entire service.

investigative committee

Such criminologists have appeared relatively recently. They not only have expert skills, but also the knowledge of an investigator. Specialists are able to work in different areas and areas in which crimes are committed. The career opportunities here are almost endless. To start working, you need to obtain a multidisciplinary (legal and criminological) higher education.

Private forensic laboratories

The work of such establishments is mainly aimed at providing services to individuals and organizations. This is often necessary to resolve private or corporate disputes, establish copyrights, and resolve sensitive issues without involving law enforcement agencies. The salary of such a forensic expert can exceed 100-150 thousand rubles and depends entirely on the employee’s abilities.

Forensic examination (RFTSSE) of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation

The federal budgetary institution is always in need of young experts whose work is aimed at protecting the interests of the state and upholding the rights and freedoms of individuals and legal entities. Expertise in criminal, administrative, civil and arbitration cases is carried out here. The institution conducts scientific work, publishes departmental publications, and conducts certification of criminologists.

Salary range

How much a forensic expert gets depends on a lot of factors. At the initial stage, the salary of a civil service employee without work experience is 10-25 thousand rubles. As the employee's rank and qualifications increase, so does his salary. On average, a professional in his field earns 45-60 thousand rubles. The profit of a top-level expert is 30-50% more. The monthly income of a managerial employee is 70-100 thousand rubles. Representatives of private expert organizations receive from 70 thousand rubles and more, depending on their qualifications and field of activity.

Forensic science is an extremely interesting field, which can also become a source of good income. Just don’t forget about the responsibility that lies with a professional. The correctness of the work of operatives and investigators, the actions of government prosecutors and lawyers, and court decisions depend on his expert opinions. Even in the commercial sphere, a criminologist’s mistake can affect the fate of a person or organization. On the other hand, a representative of the region always has a number of options for career growth and professional development.