Rajani Pandit is an Indian private investigator who is regarded as the first woman private investigator in the state of Maharashtra, and sometimes the first in India. She has been the subject of a documentary, written two books, received numerous awards, and is considered one of the famous detectives in India.
Pandit says that when she solved her first “case” in college, the grateful family of the girl that she investigated encouraged her to go into detective work as a profession. She found that “No qualification is required to be a detective. It requires concentration, hard work, struggle, in-depth knowledge and dedication towards the profession.” As a result, Pandit started her agency, Rajani Pandit Detective Services, also known as Rajani Investigation Bureau.
In a 1998 interview, Pandit said her firm had handled “domestic problems, company espionage, missing people and murders” throughout India and abroad, sometimes in disguise. “I’ve played a maidservant, a blind woman, pregnant woman, dumb woman.
What is the Job all about?
Forensic Science is an important tool in Crime Investigations.
It has two broad branches –
a. Specialisation in Medicine and
b. Specialization in Chemical, Physical Sciences, etc.
www.allaboutforensicscience.com
Forensics uses scientific methods in solving crimes. It draws upon various branches of science such as Physical, Chemical, Medical and Biological Sciences. It is multi-disciplinary. Forensic Science investigates problems related to explosives, narcotics, toxicology, ballistics, lie detection, DNA, finger printing, cyber/computer crimes, documents examination, etc. www.csfs.ca.
In Medicine – Doctors specialize in Forensic Medicine after completing the MBBS. In the other branches, some do their Graduation in Forensic Science or Post Graduation Diploma or Degree.
Specialisation in Chemical, Physical Sciences: Ballistic Analyst investigates the type of gun used . The cartridge casings of the bullet and the range the shot was fired from leaves it’s own unique imprint. These imprints help establish where the Gun was purchased –by whom etc
Cyber crime is another big time crime today. In a cyber school you are taught all about how to capture cyber evidence and digital trails i.e. PC’s, mobiles, pen drives etc. Determining evidence from encrypted files, deleted files/e-mails, chats, etc .Frauds in banking transactions, filing tax returns, share trading, credit cards .
Tracing evidence through a wide variety of tell tales i.e. hair, finger prints, foot / shoe prints, fibre, paint, glass, soil, etc are exciting ways to nab the offender. Instruments such as microscopes, spectroscopes etc are used to apprehend the criminal.
These days it is difficult to keep up with the methods used by criminals to evade detection – be it forgery, killing, drugs, terrorism, cyber crime etc. Governments of the world spend billions of dollars through Research Laboratories to help detect crime. It appears that the criminals are always one step ahead of the authorities, but eventually they are caught – thanks to Forensic experts. So, the better we are equipped in terms of the latest Technology, the better we will be in apprehending criminals.
Can you go for it?
In both the medicinal field and non medicinal field, besides basic area of qualification, you must have a strong investigative and curious mind, and a keen desire to help the investigators nail the criminal.
Is there a future in this field?
For a strong Investigative person with proven credentials there is tremendous scope
Medicine
Every MBBS student is taught a bit of Forensic Medicine, so that, in the event of any unnatural death that may come up, he could determine the cause of death. If not, he could be in trouble with the Law under the Criminal Procedure Code. However at the MD level there are specific speciality programs:
1. Forensic Pathology: Helps determine time and cause of death. The Post Mortem covers all investigation leading to death, then the embalming and disposal of dead bodies, identification of unclaimed bodies, viscera examination, DNA examination, etc. Students are sensitized to the time factor, because evidence once lost at this stage is often lost forever.
2. Clinical Forensic Medicine: Students are taught how to lift traces of evidence from victims of crime, and suspects who may have sustained an injury while allegedly committing a crime; from blood, nails, hair, clothing, semen, a vaginal swab, tissue culture, gastric lavage, etc. Also how to document the evidence for the Court purpose.
3. Toxicology: Covers data on maintenance of all kinds of pharmaceutical drugs and poisons, their variants, symptoms, interpreting toxicity levels and effects on the functions of the body. Also, its management, in case of both acute and chronic poisoning.
4. Odontology: Forensic dentists have played very important roles identifying victims of major catastrophes, such as natural disasters, airplane crashes, and terrorist activities. Another vital area of forensic dentistry is bite mark analysis, which is often used in violent crimes, such as assault, rape and homicide. Forensic dentists, in addition to studying bite marks, may also collect trace salivary evidence that is used for DNA profiling and matching. Forensic dentists may also conduct injury analysis on dental injuries as a result of physical neglect in children, adults, and the elderly.
Psychiatrys a sub-speciality of psychiatry and is related to criminology. It encompasses the interface between law and psychiatry. A forensic psychiatrist provides services – such as determination of competency to stand trial – to a court of law to facilitate the adjudicative process and provide treatment like medications and psychotherapy to criminals.
Thus, the practice of forensic psychology, and perhaps the most frequent duty of forensic psychologists, is the psychological assessment of individuals who are involved, in one way or another, with the legal system. Therefore, although it is necessary to have training in law and forensic psychology, the most important skills a forensic psychologist must possess are solid clinical skills. That is, skills like clinical assessment, interviewing, report writing, strong verbal communication skills (especially if an expert witness in court) and case presentation are all very important in setting the foundation of the practice of forensic psychology. With these skills forensic psychologists perform such tasks as threat assessment for schools, child custody evaluations, competency evaluations of criminal defendants and of the elderly, counseling services to victims of crime, death notification procedures, screening and selection of law enforcement applicants, the assessment of post-traumatic stress disorder and the delivery and evaluation of intervention and treatment programs for juvenile and adult offenders. The practice of forensic psychology involves investigations, research studies, assessments, consultation, the design and implementation of treatment programs and expert witness courtroom testimony.
Arguably one of the most interesting assessments for a forensic psychologist is assessment in “mens rea” (insanity) cases. In the U.S., a person cannot be held responsible for a crime if he/she did not possess a “guilty mind” (mens rea) at the time the criminal act was committed. There are several conditions in which the law recognizes that a guilty mind is absent (e.g., self-defense). “Insanity” is not a psychological term but a legal one. The standard for insanity is determined by each state, and there is also a federal standard. A common standard is whether the person knew what he/she was doing was wrong. The forensic psychologist has to determine not how the person is functioning at the present moment, but his/her mental state at the time of the crime. Thus, much of the forensic psychologist’s work is retrospective and must rely on third-party information, collateral contacts and written communications (e.g., statements made at the time of the crime).
Non-Medical Areas:
In our country, we have 4 Central Government Forensic Laboratories, besides the National Lab in Delhi www.cfsl.htm and many State Governments have their own Forensic Laboratories. www.dfs.gov.in
The Forensic Chemical Sciences includes Chemistry, Narcotic Drugs, Explosives, Toxicology, Pharmacology, etc. at Hyderabad.
The Forensics Physical Sciences include Research in Physics, Ballistics, Image Processing, Speech Recognition, Lie Detection, Instrumentation, etc. at Chandigarh.
Forensic Biological Sciences cover Biology, Serology, DNA, Finger Printing, Osteology, Odontology, Anthropology, etc. at Calcutta.
Forensic Documentation Sciences cover Ink Analysis, Paper/Fibre Analysis, Computer/Cyber Forensics, Handwriting Identification, Credit Card frauds, etc. at Hyderabad
If you want to pursue the Law field try the The Asian School of Cyber Law in Pune.
Forensics goes into the following non-medicinal areas:
The Anthropologist would assist in the identification of skeletal remains. They would be called in disasters, to help identify the age, sex, ancestry, stature and unique features of the deceased.
The Chemist would help detect and identify illicit drugs, accelerants used in arson cases, explosives and gunshot residues, trace evidence including paint, polymers and fibres.
The Engineer deals with traffic accidents, fire investigations and a variety of wrongful injury cases. He is also involved in failure analysis, i.e. brake failures in case of motor accidents, accident re-construction, origin and causes of fires or explosions, quality evaluation of construction or manufacturing, etc.
The Linguist would analyze the content of writing or oral communication, to identify the speaker and indicate the speaker’s intent, and can compare and determine whether the two communications are from the same person.
The Photographer must cover every angle from the crime scene, to show clear and specific details, so the investigators can look at specific intent from the point of view of distance, ability, etc.
The Artist or Sculptor draws the sketch/likeness of a person, based solely on eyewitness accounts. Modern techniques of computer animation are then matched with the artist’s impression and a match is sought to be made with the real person.
Where to Begin?
In Goa
Goa Medical College: 3 yrs MD Program in Forensic Science after MBBS
Outside Goa
Gujarat is the main centre for forensic science studies. You can also do your post-graduation programs at the Gujarat Forensic Science University.
The Institute of Forensic Science – Mumbai, https://sites.google.com/site/ifscmumbai and Aurangabad www.gifsa.net is affiliated to the Mumbai University and offers programs as follows:
Sc. in Forensic Science 10 + 2 Science – 3 yrs
PG Diploma in Forensic Science & related Law – 1 Year. Degree in Science essential.
PG Diploma in Digital & Cyber Forensic & Related Law – 1 Year – Degree in IT / Computer Science / Bioinformatics B.Sc. with Maths & Stats, BCA or BE in IT / telecommunications / electronics
The other colleges:
St Xavier’s College Mumbai – Diploma in Forensics (Part Time) – Eligibility 10 + 2 in Science.
Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi – Diploma in Forensic Engg.
Ambedkar University, Agra – M.Sc. Forensic Science.
Sc. course at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan National Institute of Criminology & Forensics Science, based at Rohini in New Delhi.
Department of Criminology – Karnataka University, Dharwad.
Employment avenues
Since both the Central and State Governments have Forensic Laboratories, there are jobs available albeit limited. However, many Private Companies and Agencies employ Investigators, especially in verifying Computer documents, signatures, etc. to ensure that they are safe to proceed with negotiating contracts etc.
Monies
Job Market: Besides jobs in Government run laboratories opportunities at Law Firms, Corporate Offices, Security agencies, Defence Force labs, Drug Laboratories. Government jobs are regulated by fixed salary scales. Forensic Scientists holding a Post Graduate qualification can expect a starting salary of Rs. 20,000/- to Rs. 40,000/- p.m. Private Organizations offer a much higher salary, etc.
Please do not be satisfied with just acquiring a Degree/Diploma – try and enhance your CV by doing online learning programs (with a certificate) of programs relevant to your choice of career. Your chances of employment will be much better than just a plain degree/diploma.
Please check this website under other details for places you can learn online. Also try and develop your confidence by doing a public speaking training program with people like Toast Masters International.
For government jobs: please check : http://www.employment-newspaper.com/