Criminal justice. Although I have been working towards studying forensic science for a few years, I now find myself taking an extra pause before answering those two words when someone asks what I want to do. Despite forensics being a relatively less significant current issue with the system, I worry it will be immediately associated with the injustice that characterizes the system and feel the need to justify and explain why I chose the field since it is often misinterpreted. However, listening to the panel talk about the key points of the entire legal path, from initial investigation to conviction to reintegration into society, made me realize how misinformed I actually was about the entire process. I had a rough idea the difference between an arrest record and a conviction record, but I did not know how permanent arrest records were or the cost associated with expunging the record. I assumed there would not be a charge if the person was never convicted, but that is not the case. Additionally, the permanence and disproportionate burden of an arrest record that costs to be removed has long term effects for young offenders, specifically those of low socioeconomic status, who might otherwise have aged out of the system and left their childhood brushes with the law behind them. Since records are so readily available, it makes it even harder to find work with a minor record and increases the recidivism rate. Attending the talk did not dissuade me from pursuing forensics, however it certainly made me more aware of the consequences that my actions, both in the initial stages of an investigation and in the courtroom, could have on an individual. I believe it is important to be informed of the long term effects such as these, and I hope I can manage to use science to help find justice without spreading injustice as a result.