If you are watching Dexter, you must have already known that Dexter, the protagonist, is a blood stain pattern a.k.a. blood spatter analyst who works for the Miami Metro Police Department. Even though Dexter fans are actually lining up every drama set just to watch it live, most of them think that this is purely a TV fiction. However, what they actually don’t know is that blood spatter is a real field of study in forensic science.
Blood Spatter Analyst’s Job Description
Just like what is portrayed in Hollywood, a blood spatter analyst’s job is to examine blood stains inside a crime scene. By analyzing the blood stains and spatters and checking it out by using his or her studied techniques, the blood spatter analyst could give deductions or conclusions on how did the crime actually took place. They can also easily identify if the blood stains are caused by stab, bullet wounds, hard objects and much more. And if combined with computer simulations and other types of crime analysis, the whole crime department could re-enact the whole crime itself and, in other cases, point out the identity of the criminal. Most of us will think that this is just a plot of a Sherlock Holmes movie. But the truth is, such case happens most of the time, hence the need of having a blood spatter analyst around the crime scene.
How to Become One of them
In order for you to perfect bloodstain analysis, you must know the entire human body along with the understanding of blood properties. This is due to the fact that human anatomy greatly influences blood behavior before and after it leaves our own body. If you’re somewhat interested, a blood spatter analyst must have a bachelor’s degree in a criminal justice course, especially in forensic science. You can still become a candidate if you have at least an associate’s degree. However, you are also required to have at least two years of experience in a related job. In cases of candidates who only possess a high school diploma, they must at least have four years experience of being a crime scene or homicide investigator.
Those who are included in the bachelor or associate’s degree program candidates must have classes like constitutional law, criminology, statistical analysis, anatomy and biology. Such courses will then progress into classes that allow you to deal with cases such as weapon identification, involved persons’ movements and crime reconstruction. Once hired, the blood spatter analyst must update his or her skills by attending various workshops or classes that are related to his or her job.