It seems to me that much of that is already being done. For the most part, responses to request for help, guidance, assistance, etc., have been informative and collegial. I'm not sure how much more can be done in a format like this for a couple of reasons.
I think I've failed to convey the concept of mentoring as I see it. I should also have been clearer in stating that I don't envisage it's something which would (or could) be offered through the site, my thinking was that Forensic Focus might simply act as a channel through which those willing to act as mentors could make that known.
First, if the individual seeking guidance is being paid to render a professional opinion, there is a kind of slippery slope where the "mentor" risks liability for the actions of the "pupil". In most real mentoring situations, there is more of a formal relationship that protects all parties.
I'm not sure where the concept of someone being paid to render a professional opinion has come from. This doesn't sound anything like mentoring to me.
Second, I am always reminded of the Peter Steiner New Yorker cartoon of the dog sitting at the workstation connected to the Internet with the caption "On the Internet, no one knows that you are a dog." With all due respect to the members of this forum, there is always the concern that both parties are fully and honestly representing their intentions and abilities, as well as their reasons for asking for help.
These kinds of communications have been subpoenaed as evidence in courts of law including in liability cases. For the most part, they are or should be treated as heresay but there may be situations where they are not and that can be problematic.
I'll clarify again, I don't think mentoring has anything to do with asking for help (in a specific sense), nor do I see mentoring as something which would be offered through this site with communications which could be subpoenaed.
For these and other reasons, I think that the issue of mentoring an individual with whom you have no formal relationship and no direct knowledge or familiarity can be problematic.
Well, yes indeed, but I'm not sure how that situation would ever arise. It's almost axiomatic that mentoring is something which only takes place between two people who do have direct knowledge or familiarity of each other.
I'm (genuinely) not sure why this is such a contentious issue - are there different definitions of mentoring? I'm simply proposing, for example, that experienced practitioners may wish to state publicly that they're happy to act as mentors to (presumably a limited number of) inexperienced practitioners in their local area and that if anyone wants to get in touch they can do. Presumably if that initial contact sounded promising the next step would be to meet in person and arrange something suitable for both parties.
If that sounds unreasonable, what is it that I'm missing?
Jamie
with whom you have no formal relationship and no direct knowledge or familiarity can be problematic.
On this topic it seems that is where the mentee is a rock in a hard place. I stated in another post that everyone gives advice to people without really knowing them. Yet you have no real way of knowing if someone is legitimate or not and what their true intentions are. If you look at it through those glasses then forums like this wouldn’t exist because no one would want to give out any information to others and I guess we wouldn't be here then.
If you look up mentor it’s stated several different ways
“Today mentors provide their expertise to less experienced individuals in order to help them advance their careers, enhance their education, and build their networks”
“A wise and trusted counselor or teacher”, “An influential senior sponsor or supporter”
Therefore there are all types of ways of being able to be a mentor to someone, we aren’t talking a protégé here we are talking about mentoring someone as Jamie stated “inexperienced practitioners” you can decide if the within local area should apply. In the Midwest CF is slowing making its way into the LE and I believe the state Bureau doesn’t even have a CF unit. So when you have limited access to actual forensic people because of those circumstances then you’re left with getting a phone or email mentor unless you’re willing to move to find that mentor.
And again the question remains where does one go to find a mentor in this field especially since there seems to be so many varying degrees of what people think a mentor is.
And again the question remains where does one go to find a mentor in this field especially since there seems to be so many varying degrees of what people think a mentor is.
That's certainly one of the issues. From my perspective it really doesn't have to be (perhaps shouldn't be) more than just someone whose company you enjoy and who you meet once in a while for a drink and a chat. A lot of large companies have mentoring schemes in the workplace which operate along similar lines.
Jamie