Who is a forensic expert and what does he do?

From time immemorial, human history has been confronted with crimes, their disclosure by law enforcement agencies, justice, and punishment. Unfortunately, the percentage of crime, even in the most advanced countries, leaves much to be desired, and this means that people will always be needed who can correctly solve a business - find evidence and bring it to a fair conclusion.

One of such professions that has existed for more than one century is the profession of forensic expert.

This profession is universal. The forensic scientist should help solve crimes: together with the police, he must go to the place where the crime was committed, collect evidence, deal with their description and analysis in the laboratory, and subsequently make a competent opinion. A true professional in this difficult profession must possess not only theoretical and practical skills, but also high moral and stable mental qualities. In addition, he needs to have a logic of thinking. Much depends on the work of this person during the investigation, therefore it is necessary to approach very carefully and thoughtfully in choosing your future path in forensics.

The specialty of the forensic expert is more general, as she combines the work of an investigator, scientist, police officer, doctor and so on. So, for mastering the narrower profession of a forensic medical expert, higher education in medicine is required.A broad outlook will be only a plus in this area: for a successful investigation of a crime, one sometimes has to resort to knowledge of psychology, history, or even art.

The success or failure in the investigation of crimes depends on the work of the forensic expert. And that means that such a person will need a systematic approach to his work, composure and endurance, as well as selflessness and independence in his decisions.

TO personal qualities forensics include stress resistance, courage, accuracy. A specialist in this profession should have a high level of IQ, good memory, have an analytical mindset, be impartial and physically resilient, healthy. The fate of people can depend on the conclusions of the forensic scientist - the correctness of the conclusions and a thorough examination can justify an innocent person or put in prison someone who is not initially suspicious.

People with a fragile nervous system are unlikely to be able to remain calm when dealing with grave and terrible crimes related to murders, suicides, and numerous evidence of a different nature. therefore the forensic scientist must have strong nerves and endurance.

The forensic specialist performs a series of actions to investigate crimes: from going to the crime scene, collecting evidence first, compiling a protocol to conducting various kinds of examinations and working with documentation. We can say that the forensic scientist is engaged in full fixation and detailed analysis of the crime committed. In addition, his responsibilities include the implementation of photo and video shooting, as well as the ability to work with general and specialized programs on a personal computer.

The forensic profession arose two centuries ago, but in demand to this day. Moreover, it does not stand still and requires specialists to constantly improve themselves: new technologies appear and develop, new methods and devices are created, in which the forensic scientist must be able to understand.

Narrower areas may exist within other professions, the most relevant of which are the following related specialties of the criminalist:

• chemist;
• psychiatrist;
• pathologist.

The general knowledge that a forensic expert needs is:

• theoretical foundations of forensic science and other legal disciplines;
• knowledge of forensic analysis techniques;
• the foundations of the current legislation of the Russian Federation;
• possession of features and investigation algorithms;
• operating with new technologies in the field of evidence collection and analysis.

Forensic expert also should be able to conduct investigative experiments and make expert conclusions. The main task of the forensic expert is to help the investigation in the investigation of the crime and choosing from the many versions the only correct one.

In addition, there are many types of examinations with which the forensic scientist must be able to operate:

• fingerprinting (fingerprint examination);
• graphology (handwriting analysis);
• ballistics (examination of firearms);
• trasology (search and study of traces from the crime scene);
• portrait examination;
• phonoscopy (study of speech and sound data).

Recently, in connection with the achievements of science, such a narrow area of ​​expertise as DNA research is becoming popular. It makes it possible to clarify the picture of the incident on the organic traces left (saliva, blood, hair, and so on) and direct the investigation in the area of ​​the search for the criminal into a narrower and more evidence-based course. If the forensic scientist has a medical background, then he can work as a forensic medical expert.

All forensics must know fundamentals of history, economics, psychiatry, anatomy, because the course of the investigation can be unpredictable, which may require knowledge from the most unexpected areas.

There are several options for obtaining the specialty of a forensic expert in Russia. First of all, this is the need for higher legal education. You can start your education by enrolling in a law college, but then you still have to graduate from a university in order to have a university degree in law.

In our country, there are now many higher education institutions where there are law schools. Among them are the following:

• Moscow City University of Management of the Government of Moscow;
• Kolomensk Institute of Moscow State Engineering University;
• Russian Customs Academy;
• St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University (SPbSPU);
• MSTU named after N.E. Bauman;
• SSU named after N. G. Chernyshevsky;
• Perm State National Research University.

So, at the University. N.E. Bauman's training program is 5 years, there is an opportunity to enter budget places, and the cost of paid places will be 260 thousand rubles a year. In the SSU named after N. G. Chernyshevsky, the cost of training is about 100 thousand rubles a year, but there is also a budget department.

Despite a wide selection of universities with a legal orientation, the specialty “Forensic Expertise” can be mastered only in institutions belonging to the Ministry of the Interior. Such universities are in Moscow, Saratov, Penza and other cities. Upon admission to these educational institutions, you will need to not only take state exams, but also get an opinion from the medical commission, as well as a certificate of mental health. And then to work in the bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, you must have a military ID on hand.

For admission to universities it will be necessary to pass exams in the exam format in the following subjects: Russian language, history and social studies. The average exam score for admission to Moscow schools starts at 80 points. Many universities have budget departments, but there is the possibility of training on paid places. The cost per year varies from 80 to 170 thousand rubles (depending on the educational institution). The duration of full-time studies is 4 years at the bachelor's degree and 2 years at the magistracy, after which those who wish can enter graduate school and finish it after 2 years.

Recently, an opportunity has appeared taking courses remotely, for example, at the Russian Institute of Professional Education “IPO”, the International Academy of Expertise and Assessment, or the University of Synergy.

Distance learning not only helps quickly, without leaving home, and is relatively inexpensive to master the desired profession, but also offers internships in investigative bodies, to undergo practice before the end of training. The timing of courses depends on the institution, but to master the full program is basically possible after 6 months.

The forensic expert may also improve your skills in other areas. At universities, retraining or advanced training programs for already held specialists have been organized. You can finish these courses, for example, at MSTU. N. E. Bauman, Academy of Foreign Economic Activity "Sphere", Institute for Advanced Studies in Humanities.

In this profession, not so much theoretical knowledge is important as practice. Only with experience can a person achieve certain heights in this profession, therefore it is important when choosing an educational institution to pay attention to the educational program, where sufficient hours will be devoted to practical training.

The advantage of the profession is a large space for further employment after graduation. A forensic expert can work both in investigative bodies of the police or prosecutors, and in the forensic departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as well as in private laboratories. The average salary of a forensic scientist and forensic expert in the Russian Federation is from 30 to 60 thousand rubles at the initial stage. In the Moscow region, this specialty is one of the highest paid professions.

There is a possibility of career advancement, where in managerial positions salary starts from 70 thousand rubles. For successful investigations, prizes and rewards are expected.

Of the minuses of the profession distinguish:

• irregular work schedule;
• nervous and hard work;
• increased responsibility for decisions;
• difficult conditions: you have to constantly work with evidence, victims, under stress;
• threats or psychological pressure from criminals.

A forensic expert may be required to go to the crime scene on his day off, work in the cold or heat. His activity may be accompanied by unpleasant odors or an unpleasant picture of a perfect malicious act.

The advantages of the profession of a criminalist include:

• high profit payment;
• social package and other benefits;
• work in government agencies (stability and prospect of contributions to the Pension Fund);
• the opportunity to open your own business and become a private entrepreneur;
• prestige and respect (the whole team listens to the expert, expects work results from him);
• an opportunity to master more narrow specialties.

Becoming a forensic expert, Do not forget about the responsibility that lies with the specialist. However, it should be borne in mind that this profession is quite interesting, suggests the possibility of career growth, development, decent wages. All this makes her one of the most promising in the Russian market of modern vacancies.