Crime Scene Investigator Career

After earning your degree in criminal justice, forensic science, or crime scene investigation, you will be equipped to begin your journey into the world of CSI. Your crime scene investigator career path may start in one area, but then later branch out into different specializations; there are many roles to be played and specific expertise needed in CSI. If you are a fresh graduate, and you want to explore a CSI career in a law enforcement agency, you can choose from the two most popular entry-level crime scene investigator career paths: the forensic science technician position and the crime scene technician position. Remember, that forensics usually analyzes the collected evidence in labs outside of the crime scene, while crime scene investigators usually work directly on the crime scene.

Crime Scene Technician Career

As a crime scene technician, you will be directly involved in gathering physical evidence at a crime scene. This crime scene investigator career allows you to utilize several techniques used in collecting evidence. As a crime scene technician or evidence technician, you will be tasked in recovering trace evidence, lifting fingerprints and other impressions, collecting blood and other fluids, or photographing the crime scene. For those who want to specialize in the examination of trace evidence, a forensic science degree or a criminalistics degree is recommended. You could also be in charge of preserving the collected pieces of evidence and ensuring that they are transported to the lab untainted. Storing evidence is an important and many-faceted job, depending on the specific evidence being collected and stored for later examination. How many times have we heard of evidence being disallowed in court due to improper collection and transportation?

The Forensic Analyst - Post Crime Scene Work

Being in a more analytical role during post- evidence collection tends to be a more traditional forensic science career, which is sometimes distinct from the CSI responder and often requires a specific forensic science degree. Depending upon the type of crime, there may be a need for individuals who are more forensics oriented to be on the crime scene and conduct analysis on the spot or to help determine what is of highest priority for collection and later analysis. As a forensic science technician, you will be in charge of identifying, classifying, and analyzing evidence. You will be responsible for running different types of tests depending on the nature of evidence collected; for instance, a ballistic test will determine what type of firearm was used in a crime scene, and performing a DNA analysis to fiber, hair, tissue, blood, etc. can link a suspect to a crime. Also, this role makes you a possible candidate to testify in court.

Common Crime Scene Technician Specializations

You can choose from different crime scene technician specializations:

• Fingerprint Specialist - Since a fingerprint is the most common type of evidence found on a crime scene, there is high demand for fingerprint specialists. This crime scene investigator career prepares you to accurately dust, lift, and analyze latent prints. You will also learn to obtain and identify fingerprints and use lab equipment and computer programs to aid you in your tasks.
  
  
• Ballistic Analyst - Bullets and firearms are almost always involved in a crime scene, and this makes ballistic analysis one of the most common CSI specializations. A ballistic analyst concentrates on bullets found on a crime scene as well as a bullet's impact to determine not only the type of firearm used but also the manner it was shot --a very crucial step in solving a crime.

There are many other highly related careers, degree options, and education tracks you can choose from:

• Forensic Science Degree
• Toxicology Training
• Latent Print Examiner Training
• Evidence Technician Training
• Forensic Accounting
• Forensic Psychology Degree
• Digital Forensics - Cyber Security Degree

If you want to assume a supervisory or a managerial position in the field of crime scene investigations, you master's degree in crime scene investigations. Furthermore, there are training programs available for CSI professionals so they can gain additional skills and learn the latest CSI technologies that are needed for the job.

Having a strong background in applied sciences, an eye for detail, and effective communication skills are the usual requirements to become a crime scene investigator; however, these qualifications can be learned when you get a degree in crime scene investigation. Getting a formal education followed by a CSI internship will be the most impactful step you can take to get an entry-level position in a crime scene investigation unit, but if you want to last as a crime scene investigator, you must have the strong desire to help other people through evidence collection and examination and to contribute to justice; if these are among your motivations, then you will flourish in your CSI career.