General Forensics Blogs

If you want a basic overview of forensics, these blogs can give you a great look at what the world is like when you are a forensic science technician.

1. Forensic Crime Scene: Learn about different aspects of a crime scene, and how you can use forensics to solve a crime.
2. Zeno’s month: Get inside information on the life of a forensic scientist.
3. Forensic Talk: An interesting look at the issues facing those working forensics.
4. All About Forensic Science: An overview of different techniques of interest related to forensics.
5. Forensic Science: The writers at Suite 101 offer helpful insights into forensics.
6. Forensics Wiki: A helpful resource for all things related to forensic science.
7. Forensic News Blog: Learn about the latest news and information in the world of forensics — and how the media presents the science.

Physiology and Anatomy Blogs

A basic understanding of how the human body works can go a long way for a forensic technician, since you might be dealing with answering questions that require some knowledge.

8. Morbid Anatomy: Get a good idea of human anatomy and morbidity. Also includes interesting art related to the subject of death.
9. Human Physiology Mcqs Postgraduate Entrance preparation: Learn about different aspects of human physiology in a way that can help your forensic ability.
10. Medical Eponyms with Explanations: Get an overview of different names you might run into.
11. davidrothman.net: Helpful information about medicine and anatomy.
12. Anatomy and Physiology Blog: This offering from Sacramento State can bring insight into the human body.

Toxicology and Pathology Blogs

You hear about “toxicology reports” quite a bit in forensic science. You may also need to understand pathology. These blogs can help you learn more about how that all works.

13. Accelrys: Explores a number of issues in science research, including toxicology.
14. Digital Pathology Blog: Learn about digital pathology, including tissue pathology.
15. Neuropathology Blog: Learn about the pathology of diseases affecting the neurological system.
16. pathtalk.org: Look at different cases, and learn things that can help you as a forensic science technician.

DNA/Genetics Blogs

Genetic testing and DNA evidence are increasingly important parts of crime investigation, and these blogs can give you a good idea of how it all works.

17. Plain Error: A look at DNA evidence and testing.
18. it is NOT junk: A DNA blog focused genomes, evolution and issues related to the study of our make-up.
19. Think Gene: Keep up with what is happening in the world of genetics.
20. DNA Blog: Get information about DNA and genetic testing from CyGene Direct.
21. Eye on DNA: A look at how DNA is being used in science and technology.

Ballistics and Guns Blogs

Learn about how guns work, and learn how this knowledge can be used to aid your work as a forensic science technician.

22. Ballistic Simulator: Provides helpful examples of how you can use a ballistic simulator to figure out what happens when a gun is shot.
23. Battlefront.com: An interesting weapons ballistics blog.
24. Online Guns Blog: A look at guns, and different aspects of them.
25. Dustin’s Gun Blog: Learn about guns, how they work and different characteristics of different guns.
26. The Firearm Blog: A helpful look at the different properties and aspects of firearms.

X-ray Blogs

It helps to understand how x-rays work, and how to read them, since you might use them in your work.

27. X Ray Technician Blog: Learn a little bit about radiology and x-rays.
28. OptoIQ: News and information about using x-rays and other aspects of optics to solve a number of mysteries.
29. rt-image.com: Interesting posts and articles on imaging and the latest news in radiology.
30. Medical Imaging Talk: Get the latest news in medical imaging and learn useful information for forensic science.

Criminal Justice Blogs

Learn the ins and outs of the criminal justice system.

31. Expert Witness Blog: Many forensic scientists and technicians are used as expert witnesses. Learn what it takes to do this well.
32. Total Criminal Defense: A look at the basics of criminal defense and what goes into it.
33. Criminal Justice Online: Interesting cases, and insight into the way evidence gathering works, and how evidence is used in the criminal justice system.
34. Criminal Justice USA: Insight into improving your career as a criminal justice professional.
35. Dorf on Law: Learn about the legal system from a Cornell professor.

Law Enforcement Blogs

You will have to work closely with cops, so learn about their point of view so that you understand how you can help.

36. Mr. Police Man: Learn about what it’s like to be out there on the front lines.
37. The Chief’s Corner: Police life from the perspective of a police chief.
38. The Plastic Fuzz: An interesting blog about life as a police officer. Also serves as a support community. You will need permission to read this blog.
39. The Johnny Law Chronicles: A real world look at the life of a police officer.
40. Police Inspector Blog: A cool police blog with a U.K. twist.

Crime Psychology Blogs

Learning how the criminal mind works can help you become a better forensic science technician.

41. Deception Blog: This blog is all about the psychology of deception when it comes to crime.
42. In the news by Karen Franklin PhD: This is an interesting blog about crime psychology by a former forensic psychologist.
43. Sociology and Criminology at Keele University: Study criminology and how it relates to society.
44. Centre of Criminology Library Blog: Insight into what is happening in the minds of criminals.

Specialized Forensic Blogs

From computer forensics to forensic accounting to forensic anthropology, there are some different specialized fields related to forensics.

45. Forensic Astrology: That’s right. Some people use the skies to solve forensic mysteries.
46. Forensic Photoshop: Helpful tips and tutorials on using Photoshop with your forensics career.
47. Computer Forensics: Learn about the lives of a team of computer forensic scientists.
48. Computer Forensic Blog: Get the latest happenings in computer forensics.
49. Forensic Medicine Resources: Information and resources related to forensic medicine.
50. Afarensis: A look at forensic anthropology and some of the news issues associated with the science.

Forensics Fields

There are a number of different aspects of forensics, with different fields and opportunities. These courses can give you an idea of general forensics, as well as help you understand the different divisions of forensics.

1. Forensic Biology and Impression Evidence: This course from Kaplan University provides a helpful look at biology issues involved in forensics, as well as impression evidence. There is also a unit on computer forensics.
2. Forensic Engineering: The Open University offers a course in engineering and how forensics can help engineers identify structural defects and other quality issues in large structures.
3. Forensic DNA: An interesting collection of information, training modules and more on forensic DNA from a Boise State University professor.
4. Forensic Accounting: Resources and information on forensic accounting, along with activity ideas and suggested reading.
5. A National Protocol fro Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examinations: This is from American University and provides helpful information on forensic examinations in the cases of sexual assault.
6. Cryptography and Cryptanalysis: Often, forensics involves cracking codes. This class from MIT can help learn more about cryptography and how to analyze codes and find patterns.

The Human Body

Forensics requires a knowledge of the human body. It is important to have a basic understanding of how the body works, what is normal, and what effects different scenarios might have on the body. This is extremely helpful in terms of understanding what you are seeing at a crime scene. The following open courseware classes on the human body can be quite helpful.

7. Anatomy and Physiology: This course from Western Governor’s University provides a helpful look at different parts of the human anatomy and how the human physiology works.
8. Biology (Human Anatomy): This course from the University of California Berkeley is a general look at the human body, how it is set up, and how it functions.
9. Clinical Psychology: This course is another from the University of California Berkeley, and can help you better understand some of the issues related to how the brain functions in terms of mental state. This can help you evaluate evidence with a psychological point of view.
10. The Human Body: Harvard offers an excellent course on the human body, its systems and how they work. Includes helpful visuals and even makes use of flashcards.
11. Modern Biology: Carnegie Mellon University offers a great look at biology and molecular biology and human functioning through its Open Learning Initiative.
12. Principles of Human Disease: This MIT course can help you learn about how disease works in the body, and help you as you ascertain cause of death and look for clues about how someone was injured.

Crime

Understanding crime, and having a background in why crimes are committed can be a big help to a forensic scientist. These open courseware courses can help you learn more about different types of crime, and the motivations behind them.

13. Crime, Heredity and Insanity in American History: This course from Notre Dame provides an interesting look at crime in a historical context, as well as looking at different ways crimes have been solved throughout the years, and the roles of forensics.
14. Criminology: Harvard University provides a number of useful links, course materials, lectures and news related to forensic science and criminology.
15. Cybercime: This is another Harvard open courseware offering. The Cybercrime course focuses on crimes related to the Internet, and shares helpful and insightful case studies.
16. The meaning of crime: This is an interesting look at the causes and motivations behind crime, as well as providing a number of different definitions of crime, from the Open University.
17. Youth delinquency: This is an interesting course on young people and crime. This offering from Wikiversity provides a look at different factors that can influence youth delinquency, as well as a look at what can be done to reduce delinquency.
18. White Collar and Corporate Crime: The University of California Irvine provides an interesting class on the factors behind white collar crime. This is an important aspect of forensics, including forensic accounting, as corporate crime increases.
19. The problem with crime: Another provocative course from the Open University, this class looks at different themes related to crime, including the problem of identifying exactly what crime is.

Law

Having some knowledge of the law is important in forensic science. Understanding the rules and laws under which you will be expected to operate is vital. Here are some courses that can give you a basic understanding of some of the laws you are upholding and following.

20. Trials in History: MIT offers an interesting look at different trials through history, considers systems of evidence used in them and addresses other issues.
21. Ethics and the Law on the Electronic Frontier: An assessment, from MIT, of law and ethics as enforcement moves to the Internet. Especially helpful in terms of computer forensics.
22. iTunes U: Stanford offers a number of interesting podcasts and courses on different aspects of the law. Learn about privacy law, ethics and specific cases related to different trials and investigations.
23. Criminal Justice System: This course from Connexions looks at the criminal justice system, how it works, and considers its effectiveness. A useful primer in how things work.
24. Aims and Limits of the Criminal Law: The University of California Berkeley looks at what the law is meant to accomplish, as well as some of the limits inherent in criminal law.
25. Privacy rights and the law: You may want to investigate a crime, but it is important to understand privacy rights. This course from the Open University examines privacy rights and their place in our society.