I am researching for possible change in major and was curious about what role genetics would play in crime scene investigations. I am researching for possible change in major and was curious about what role genetics would play in crime scene investigations.

A college level "intro to genetics" will be plenty fine for a CSI. The guys that are actually doing the DNA sequencing and running the machines need much more and more training, but the criminalist just needs a few steps past the basics

What does a computer forensics expert do, their salary and general qualifications? What does a computer forensics expert do, their salary and general qualifications?

A computer forensics expert provides technical assitance to either the prosecution, i.e. the police or D.A., in criminal cases or acts as part of a defense team in the gathering of evidence concerning legal cases. Frequently computer forensics experts have to bypass passwords, use software to decypher encoded materials, discover details concerning computer usage, and things like that. Salaries vary depending on experience, qualifications, and the size of the city you are working in. There are college classes and even entire degree plans in computer forensics. To do this kind of work without a degree in some relevant field of IT, you would have to have a massive amount of experience and keep abreast of current trends in crypto-software, hacking, security, and related topics.

Oh- they also have to be willing to testify in court regarding the cases they have investigated.

I want to become a computer forensics expert, what books can I study? I want to become a computer forensics expert, what books can I study?

Try googling it and try amazon.com and type in computer forensics and related books will come up.

Also, how do they do this if the weapon itself is never found? Also, how do they do this if the weapon itself is never found?

In the civil war all bullets were fired out of a smooth bore rifle. This means that the bullets would go all over the place, bullets do not travel in straight lines all of the time. Durring the civil war, groove's were put into rifles the help spin the bullet as it can out of the gun. This made the guns a lot more accurate. And when todays guns are fired, the grooves leave a mark on the bullet, so they can tell where the bullet came from, and can match it up with a gun that fired it. And even if they don't have the gun they can still say that two bullets are the same or if they are not the same. Also something called left hand twist or right hand twist, as well as the number of groove can help experts figure out what model gun fired the shot.

What kind of educational degree do you have to have to be a Forensic anthropology expert?

How many years of schooling do you have to have also?

Well an M.A. or M.S. will be your minimum. On average this can take between 6 to 8 years (this includes going through your undergraduate work). If you choose to go on for a Ph.D., this can take another 3 to 5 years depending on how much time you devote to finishing. In order to become Board Certified, you'll need the Ph.D. and several years practical experience.

If you you go on be a forensic anthropologist, here are a few suggestions

1) Taking classes outside of your major can be beneficial. Archaeology field schools will teach you about excavation and survey. These are two big skills that should be mastered as they are crucial to the recovery phase. Cultural anthropology and sociology classes, especially those dealing with mortuary practices, can help you learn about how people bury their dead. Statistics will help you to be read and understand the lierature. Anatomy (especially gross anatomy) will help you familarize yourself with the soft tissue. In my experience, it is equally important to know what goes through a foramen (hole) as it is to be able to idenitfy the structure. Other helpful classes: biology, chemistry, geology (this should include soil sciences), zooarchaeology (learn to id animal remains), kinesiology/biomechanics

2)Join the applicable associations. The American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the American Association of Physical Anthropologists have yearly meetings where posters and presentations are given. Presenting at these conferences will help to get your name out there and will allow you to network.

3)Get working in the lab early. Your university will have a physical anthropology lab. Volunteer there. This will help you get to know the other students and allow you to practice your osteology

4)Make friends with the local medical examiner's office. If you prove yourself to be a competent student, they might be able to use your help in body recoveries

5)When you get your M.A. or M.S. apply to be a volunteer at Disaster Relief groups like Kenyon, Forensic Archaeology Recovery (FAR), Physicians for World Peace, and the United Nations. Sometimes you might be given the option to head to places like Iraq, Rwanda, Croatia, Serbia to work on mass graves. As thrilling as these places might be, give it a good long think before you agree. A single body can be traumatic; a mass grave can be devestating.

Anyway, that's my advice. In my opinion, it's a wonderful field. If you work hard at it and diversify you studies, you'll be better off than most.

What an "expert" in forensic pathology does? and what it is that an "expert" does to the "jury."?

This is my assignment and if anyone could help me by providing me with the link would be great. Thanks.

"Forensic pathologist" is synonymous with "medical examiner." A person who has this job performs autopsies on people who have died violent or suspicious/unusual deaths and reports their findings in court.

Being deemed an expert witness in court is kind of a tricky thing. Both the prosecution and the defense can put any witness on the stand and call them an expert, but the jury decides whether they are or not. That is to say, if you're a juror and you don't think the person knows what they're talking about, you're free not to accept them as an expert. And an expert doesn't have to be somebody with lots of education and degrees. I've seen car mechanics testify as experts about car repair and maintenance procedures. There are "experts" out there who take their fee and say whatever the attorneys want them to, but an expert witness who is a professional won't testify beyond their experience because in forensic science, your reputation is everything.
Experts in forensic pathology tend to be ME's with a lot of experience from big cities (high caseload, they've seen lots of unusual stuff).

The job of every expert witness is to explain things that are outside the everyday experience of an average juror. Whether that is how a DNA profile is obtained from a bloodstain or what would cause a car's brakes to fail, the expert witness explains these things to the jury so the jury can use the informaion to reach a verdict in the case.

Where can I find the address of Patrica Cromwell, author and forensic expert, I went to her site couldnt find? Where can I find the address of Patrica Cromwell, author and forensic expert, I went to her site couldnt find?

You might try the site of the publishing house that sells her books. Also if she has moved her site to another page you might just try typing in her name and title.

What is the difference between a ballistics expert and a Forensic firearms examiner? What is the difference between a ballistics expert and a Forensic firearms examiner?

I believe the basic difference is that the ballistics expert can tell you about the travel of bullets at a crime scene and the forensics firearms examiner tells you what weapon fired what bullet and if a firearm is actually capable of firing a bullet (that last part sounds silly, doesn't it?).