Resources
At ForensicsColleges, we want to connect students, prospective students, and professionals to the multitude of resources available online in order to stay up-to-date on recent news and trends within the online forensics community. From national news in the industry, cold cases in kidnapping, and top websites for different areas of forensic study, you can always find what you’re looking for here in our resources section.
Further your forensic knowledge and help continue the advancement of forensic research today. For additional information and up-to-date news, follow us on Twitter at @ForensicsEd.
The Hottest Areas of R&D in Criminal Sciences
Researchers and professionals are exploring innovative approaches to tackle modern challenges, leveraging everything from artificial intelligence and machine learning to biotechnology and digital forensics. These cutting-edge technologies promise to enhance criminal investigations' accuracy, efficiency, and effectiveness, offering new opportunities to solve cases that were once considered impenetrable.
How is DNA Fingerprinting Used to Crack Criminal Cases?
DNA fingerprinting, also known as DNA profiling, emerged in the mid-1980s as a transformative tool in forensic science. The technique was pioneered by Sir Alec Jeffreys, a geneticist at the University of Leicester, who discovered that specific regions of DNA vary greatly among individuals, much like fingerprints.
What Qualifications Does a Bloodstain Pattern Analyst Possess?
Bloodstain pattern analysts examine bloodstains at crime scenes in order to determine the events that caused the bloodshed. By analyzing the patterns, shapes, and distribution of bloodstains, they might be able to deduce the type of weapon used, the sequence of actions which took place, and/or the positions or movements of the victim, perpetrator, and any other people involved. This analysis helps in understanding the dynamics of the crime and can provide critical evidence in investigations and court proceedings.
What is CODIS? A Forensics Professional’s Guide
The Combined DNA Index System, commonly known as CODIS, is a tool used by law enforcement agencies to aid in solving crimes. Developed and maintained by the FBI, it is one of the largest DNA databases in the world, containing over 14 million offender profiles and over four million arrestee profiles, along with profiles from crime scenes, missing persons, and unidentified human remains.
Follow the Money: Tax Evasion & Asset Recovery
In an increasingly global and digital economy, preventing, detecting, and prosecuting tax evasion is a major challenge for governments worldwide. Even knowing the size of the problem is hard: hidden assets are difficult to count.
Handheld devices are not new to investigations—consider the magnifying glass or the breathalyzer test—but their growing complexity and efficacy are changing the way modern investigations are conducted. Samples that previously needed to be sent to a laboratory can now be analyzed at the scene. Combined with an increasingly skilled investigative workforce, this cuts down on processing times and opens up exciting new possibilities for the fields of criminal justice and forensic science.
Forensic AI: The Increasing Automation of Digital Forensics
Digital forensics will continue to evolve rapidly in the coming years. Advances in AI, IoT, cloud computing, and even quantum computing are already opening up new horizons. While the technology increases in power and capability, it will fall on tomorrow’s digital forensics experts to assist in the accuracy, efficiency, and accountability of those tools.
Graduate Certificate Programs for Forensics and CSI
Students may complete a bachelor's degree, but not come to develop specific career goals until they have been out in the work world gaining experience and insight. This is where a graduate certificate in forensics science and crime scene investigation can come in handy.
