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Forensics Blog

Investigate it: Forensics at BCIT

Audio Transcription Specialist Job Opportunity

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Woman doing audio transcription on a computerComp: #01162013
Position: Contract / Temporary
Pay Rate: Contract rate of $60.00 per hour of transcribed audio; rate may be increased for poor quality audio.

Duties
Responsibilities are to produce accurate, verbatim typed transcripts from audio files. The audio files provided will contain explicit details of investigations, including topics that are very sensitive in nature. A variety of equipment & software will be used to transcribe digital audio formats. Related duties may also be assigned.  This position is on a contract/casual basis, and as such hours of work will be flexible.  A work schedule will be defined at a later date with the successful candidate.  The approximate hours per week will vary based on the transcription load. All work must be conducted onsite at Blackstone Forensics’ secure lab located in North Vancouver.

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Happy Holidays!

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A card wishing you a happy, merry holiday seasonJust wanted to wish everyone reading this blog a merry Christmas and happy holidays. Things will be quiet here for the next two weeks until I’m back in the office in January. I’ll be sharing some more exciting job opportunities and news from our programs when I return in the new year.

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Season’s Greetings!

5 Facts About Video Evidence You Probably Didn’t Know…

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Three survellience cameras1) According to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) it is completely within your rights to request recorded video surveillance if it relates to you. If you’re caught on camera, it’s within your rights to request that information regardless of whether it is a civil or criminal matter.

2)If you are in a public space it is completely within your rights to video record or take photographs of whomever or whatever you like.  In many cases, you will find that the general public, and even those within the security profession, are often unsure of this right.  Here’s a great video that outlines this common misconception.

3)Deleted video recordings are not gone; in many cases they are completely recoverable using specialized forensic software, experience, and knowledge of the original recording device.

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Book Review: The Crime Numbers Game

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Cover of the book The Crime Numbers GameCrime analysts have a variety of methods for collecting data, doing analysis and reporting out to line patrol officers, middle and senior management, and also to various organizations. One method, COMPSTAT, was extensively utilized in New York city and has been attributed as key component for data analysis. As with any method there are pros and cons.  This book The Crime Numbers Game: Management by Manipulation explores the relationship between analysis, number crunching, “book cooking” and a variety of other problems associated with crime reduction.

Take a look at this review and think about the challenges you face when considering the data, what you are being asked to do with the data, and how you will present it.

 

Forensics Info Session on January 14th

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Information ButtonFor those of you looking for more information about BCIT Forensic Science and Technology programs, please join us at our information session on January 14, 2013 at the Downtown Campus starting at 5:30pm.

At the info session, each Program Coordinator does a general presentation about their option, giving you tips on how to apply, when to apply, and what the career prospects are in their area. After the presentation, the attendees are divided up according to the option they’re most interested in and then are given more in-depth information from their particular Program Coordinator.  This is also an opportunity for you to ask questions specific to your circumstances and background, to see if your career aspirations line-up with what we have to offer.

All you have to do is visit our info session web page to sign-up. See you on the 14th!

Cyber Attacks Prompt Industrial Cyber Security Curriculum at BCIT

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Magnifying glass highlighting the words "cyber attack" in a bunch of code.A recent news article from The Globe and Mail was passed along to me as an example of the type of security flaws the Canadian government faces and why it’s important that our department is adding curriculum on industrial cyber security to our Computer Crime program at BCIT:

“After foreign hackers launched a cyber attack on Treasury Board and Finance Canada in January 2011, it took officials more than a week to alert a federal office that’s in charge of spreading the word about the latest intelligence on cyber threats.”

As these flaws receive more scrutiny from politicians and the public, expect funding to increase in this area and for more of our students to be hired to combat attacks on critical Canadian infrastructure.

Resources for Crime and Intelligence Analysis Students

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Two female and one male student at computers in soft focus.Did you know that there is a club at BCIT for Crime and Intelligence Analysis Students? The Crime Analysis and Investigations Association (CAIA) at BCIT is a new club where students will work together and take part in projects related to the identification, analysis and reporting of crime related elements and activities in society – primarily within Vancouver, BC. Visit their website to find out more about how you can join.

There are also three other associations that CIA students might consider joining:

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Forensic Nurses Week November 12-16

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Poster for Forensic Nurses WeekWhether they’re collecting fingernail scrapings, documenting ligature marks or gunshot wounds, or swabbing for potential DNA the forensic nurses’ first priority is always the health and safety of their patient:

“Forensic Nurses are essential in providing a healthcare response to patients who have experienced trauma – be it sexual assault, intimate partner violence, elder abuse and neglect, child maltreatment, human trafficking, or other forms of intentional or unintentional injury,” said International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) president, Jenifer Markowitz ND, RN, WHNP-BC.

Studies show a strong link between violence and short- and long-term healthcare issues, with patients who experience violence or abuse accessing the healthcare system at least twice as frequently as those without a history.

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Investigator Job Opportunities at BCLC and WorkSafe

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Businesswoman sitting at desk, glancing over shoulder.Two more recent job opportunities to cross my desk this week:

PlayNow Security Investigator

The objective of the PlayNow Security Investigator role is to primarily conduct specialized investigations to ensure the integrity and security of the PlayNow online gaming business, and to resolve PlayNow customer related complaints and questions. This position also reviews all PlayNow systems and transactions on a regular basis so that trend and data analysis can be completed in order to survey the integrity of the PlayNow business. The PlayNow Security Investigator will also be responsible to collaborate with internal departments to expedite customer issues/resolutions. The investigator must be able to liaise and respond to external governing stakeholders to ensure that regulatory matters are communicated and reported in a timely manner.  The job could also include other forms of lottery investigations.

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