Forensics is a broad field, encompassing more than just crime scene forensics, as some might conclude. Examples of jobs in this field include forensic accountants, artists, anthropologists, computer investigators, firearm or toolmark examiners, biologists, chemists, document examiners, economists, engineers, nurses, pathologists and psychiatrists, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Therefore, forensic class characteristics will vary depending upon the field of the forensic activity; however, some basics exist in forensic class characteristics regardless of the specific forensic concentration being studied.
All forensic classes have one to two main objectives that characterize a forensic class regardless of the professional field in which training will be employed. Those two objectives consist of 1) training individuals how to properly analyze the evidence they acquire in their particular forensic discipline and/or 2) training individuals how to impart--in as simple terminology as possible--what the evidence analysis means when presenting testimony to a jury or other legal body.
Another common forensic class characteristic (and taught across the discipline or field of forensics as well) pertains to the emphasis placed on evidence collection and handling, since all forensic activity revolves around evidence. In computer crime or white-collar financial crime investigations or a bloody homicide crime scene, students of forensics are taught about the importance and proper methods of retrieving, correctly handling, analyzing, storing, securing and documenting all evidence found, obtained or collected.
Forensic classes are also characterized by their strong emphasis on educating students regarding the potential for mishandling of evidence. And mishandling of evidence, which can consist of improperly obtaining it--or in a worst-case scenario, losing or damaging it--can lose legal cases, enable murderers to walk free and rob a victim of justice.
Forensic analysts, examiners, technicians and scientists are tasked with aiding legal entities like courts and law enforcement with the information needed to successfully prosecute criminals and those who violate professional codes of conduct or laws. Therefore, their ability to maintain confidentiality regarding evidence information is an important characteristic stressed in the classroom and lab settings. Whereas losing or damaging evidence can make or break a case, a lack of confidentiality can do even worse: it can result in legal liability and destruction of public or private trust in those charged with the duty of prosecuting criminal or civil cases.