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High School

What high school courses should you take if you're interested in this career? Get your answers from the Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security cluster Law Enforcement Services pathway.

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In the mid-1980s Karen Taylor, a civilian graphic designer with the Texas Department of Public Safety, branched out into forensic art and met a New York detective who shared her passion. The two convinced the International Association for Identification to include forensic artists in their organization.

"The intent was to encourage communication with people operating in isolation," says Taylor. "People were struggling along without standards, guidelines or training."

The FBI launched a course in 1984 for police officers looking for training in this area. Taylor now offers her own training workshops.

"There wasn't a degree program in any university in the U.S.," says Taylor. "People were calling me from all over the country asking how to get into this. I just said that if you're a young guy or gal who wants to be a police officer and likes art, get into a law enforcement position and demonstrate your art skills."

Taylor recommends that people become familiar with all the tools and all the aspects of forensic art.

"If you're going to seriously do forensic art, you should do it all. It will make you a more valuable employee." She also recommends students take college or university courses in not only art, but psychology, criminal justice or criminology.

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