The Crime Scene Technician Career in the Criminal Justice Field

Are you considering becoming a crime scene technician?

This career calls for someone who is detail-oriented and doesn't mind a little gore. As someone who gathers evidence at crime scenes, you will definitely need to possess the ability to tolerate some gruesome images. However, if you feel this career is for you, then there is no reason why you should hold back.

One fact in particular that you may find especially exciting about becoming a crime scene technician is that your average annual salary will be between 40K and 60K per year. Obviously, it's very possible to live a comfortable lifestyle off of this type of salary. In addition, you may be required to work overtime, especially when evidence is needed as soon as possible, which means more money in your pocket at the end of the week.

To top it off, this job is full of excitement. Some of the required job duties include physical evidence examination and analysis, taking pictures of crime scenes, collecting various forms of evidence, fingerprint analysis, as well as working alongside local and county special agents and police officers. In many ways, a crime scene technician career is very similar to that of a crime scene investigator.

Fortunately, there are quite a few ways that you can train to become a crime scene technician. A lot of schools now offer this program. Another one of the ways you can train is by becoming a police officer. However, in order to become a police officer, you need at very least an associate's in criminal justice. A lot of people are quick to attempt to skip over the required educational requirements only to find that no matter where they turn, they run into the same barrier.

You'll need to understand how to analyze evidence, fingerprints, etc. Obviously, unless you're able to receive training through your job as a police officer, it's highly recommended that you go for your bachelor's degree instead.

Although it generally takes four years to obtain a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, you can always begin work as an intern as you work on completing your associate's. Unfortunately, interns are not paid, but nevertheless are able to snag the highest-paying starting salaries when they are hired.

The majority of crime scene technicians also take certification courses such as evidence collection, fingerprinting, forensic science, as well as numerous other courses to ensure they are prepared for their future career. Regardless as to how you choose to go about working your way into this career, keep in mind that you have more than one option.

According to the US Bureau of Labor, there are over 6,000 new crime scene technician jobs available each year. Fortunately, this number is expected to rise in the future. A lot of people may shy away from this particular career due to the requirements.

However, if you're looking for something exciting, fun, and nevertheless, interesting, this might be the perfect job for you. You can rest assured that if nothing else, everyday will be a new adventure.

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Copywrite Kenneth Echie. Kenneth is a Writer, Expert Author, and Publisher. He currently writes for Criminal Justice Schools. Get free scholarship report and find Crime Scene Technician Schools by visiting.

How To Become A Real Crime Scene Technician

The popularity of those true-crime and crime scene technician programs on television have not only attracted a large audience of loyal fans, but have also inspired thousands of students to enter criminal law, forensic sciences, and law enforcement schools, all in hopes of joining the ranks of forensic lab and field technicians across the country. Because the field is so varied, the training can literally come from a host of different sources, and will continue on past gaining the necessary degrees or certifications, so that they can readily keep up with the ever-changing technology.

The skills you will learn in school to become a crime scene investigator are so needed these days that any certification or degree will easily lead to a career that is much in demand. Law enforcement, legal practices and even the federal government have openings for dedicated forensics professionals from all walks of life, and education.

Where to Begin Your Crime Scene Technician Training

There are so many different ways to begin your training in forensic science. Enrolling in any technical school that offers classes in criminal justice is one way to begin. Attending an accredited college or university program is another. And, these days, you can even begin your job training online, at your own pace, allowing you to take care of your beginning classes, and formal training over whatever period of time you require.

Beginning with criminal justice training is the smartest way, as you will be learning everything that you will need to be part of law enforcement, the largest employers of technician anywhere. This type of background is essential to your formal training to work in the field gathering evidence, securing crime scenes and interviewing potential witnesses as part of your daily job description.

Career Education Requirements

Before you can get into the science of forensic technology itself, you should have a good knowledge of the physical sciences, chemistry, biology, math and anatomy physiology. Along with this course of study, outside of the technology itself, the best school to enter after the general courses are behind you, is the school of criminal justice.

Because most crime scene investigator and technician positions are actually filled within law enforcement, it is essential that any student planning on having this kind of specialized career study the first couple of years as if they were becoming a police officer in the field. In some jurisdictions, the CSI functions as operating police officers in emergency situations, so all of this training will come in handy, even if the television shows may tell you otherwise.

Criminal Justice Training

You can either attend an actual criminal justice school, or complete the necessary criminal justice courses online while you complete the technical and science requirements at a university. However you wish to do so the bulk of your criminal justice training should include as many of the following courses as you can complete for the full spectrum of training available:

Criminal Law

Crime Scene Evidence

Criminal Investigation

Crime Scene Photography

Evidence Collection

Evidence Analysis and Interpretation

The next set of courses only requires that you show a proficiency in, so that you can work with law enforcement agencies, while pursuing your main career:

Shooting

Defensive Tactics

First Aid

Fingerprinting, including applications, techniques and interpretation

Bloodstain Analysis

Forensic Photography

Footwear Identification Proficiency

Employment Outlook and Opportunities

There are a large number of crimes that occur unfortunately on a regular basis that will require the specialized expertise of a crime scene technician. Assaults, burglaries, rapes, kidnappings, suicides, vehicular crimes, and murder will all allow you to utilize every skill you have learned so that you can be an important part of the investigation team.

Job opportunities for professional technicians can be found in law enforcement, fire departments, pathology labs, hospitals, medical examiners offices, and even insurance and detective agencies. This means that the current outlook is very good, and the number of openings is expected to grow over the next few years, as the field expands.

Here's your chance to join the real CSI teams and become a true crime solver! Visit [http://www.theforensicssciencecolleges.com/] and discover the careers in forensic science. Learn how you can get started in these specialized careers.

Career As a Crime Lab Technician

Introduction:

Crime lab technicians, otherwise known as police science technicians or forensic science technicians, are part of the process of solving crimes. They are very much familiar to using scientific laboratory methods to study and analyze the evidences gathered from the crime scenes. Their findings are often used to determine the innocence of falsely accused or the guilt of the criminals. CL technicians work side by side with local and state police officers and with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents in the US or its equivalent in other countries.

Job Description:

CL technicians usually have specializations. Ballistic CL technicians are responsible for examining bullets and matching them to guns. Physical and chemical analysis technicians are responsible for examining a piece of glass from the victim's clothes or a chip of paint from a car. They also examine soil, hair, blood, biological tissues, body fluids, narcotics, and poisons. Some specialize in DNA analysis. Document CL technicians analyze blackmail notes, anonymous letters, and handwriting, as the paper used in writing the letter. Instruments CL technicians are responsible for matching the marks found on the victims to the tools suspected to have been used by the suspect. Fingerprints crime lab technicians are responsible for analyzing fingerprints and footprints, as well as tire thread. Photography CLtechnicians take photos of the crime scenes while polygraph technicians are responsible for giving lie detector tests and interpreting the results.

CL technicians use different equipment including infrared photography, microscopes, x-ray machines, ultraviolet light, and spectrographs. Thus, most crime lab technicians know how to use almost all the tools in the lab.

Educational Requirement:

Many crime laboratories and agencies now require anyone who wishes to have a career as a CL technician to complete a bachelor's degree in crime technology or forensic science, which cover investigative photography, crime detection, criminal investigation and evidence, fingerprint science, court procedures, and criminal law. There are many well-regarded programs in this field; however, the trend is geared to more advanced study courses.

Crime Lab Technician Salaries:

If you are just getting started out on your career as a crime lab technician, you can receive an annual salary of around $30,000 to $40,000. Those with many years of experience in crime lab technician jobs have an average annual salary $65,000, so experience certainly creates a big different in salary for a crime lab technician career.

When Marco Sumayao is not writing about forensic science careers he is researching forensic science degree programs and reviewing online forensic science degree schools at myForensicScienceDegree.com.

Crime Scene Technician - Becoming a Civilian Crime Scene Technician

The Scientific Investigation of the Scenes of Crimes

Over the past few years many law enforcement agencies find themselves in a severe budget crunch. This has led them to enact changes in their daily operations. One such change is to hire and train civilians to serve as crime scene technicians.

This method of filling open crime scene technician (CST) slots produces immediate savings in that those who land these jobs do not have to be "sworn" police officers. The benefits are fewer and of course salaries are lower too. Some agencies, however, consider this as an "entry level" position and may, based upon the effectiveness of the individual, pick up the cost of sending a technician to Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) when funds are available.

In many agencies a crime scene technician or a crime scene investigator are virtually the same. In some cases the technician is a pay and training level grade below an investigator, But most agencies merely use either term to describe those individuals tasked with the responsibility of locating, evaluating and collecting physical evidence from crime scenes.

To get an idea as to the salary ranges being offered to crime scene technicians I suggest you perform an Internet search using the keywords "crime scene technician jobs," or something to that effect..

Educational requirements will vary based on the needs of the local area. Most certainly a high school education is a must, but most agencies are seeking a minimum of an Associate Degree in any of the following disciplines: Forensic Science, Criminalistics, Criminal Justice, Chemistry, Biology, or related field from an accredited community or junior college or technical institute.

Definitions related to the work of the crime scene technician.These evidence procedures and the order in which they are completed may vary from one agency to another-based upon established protocols. The following procedure is offered as a generalized approach to investigating a crime scene.

Physical Evidence: Criminal investigation involves people and/or physical objects--things. Crimes are committed by people, but they use certain physical objects to commit these crimes. It is these things used or touched by criminals that constitute what is referred to as physical or forensic evidence.

Scene Security: The specific duty of the first official to arrive at the scene of a crime is to protect and preserve life and property (offer aid and assistance to those present, apply first aid and summon the necessary medical help); and then ensure the security of the crime scene by erecting barriers (crime scene tape) and posting sentries at all possible entrances and exits.

Conduct a Visual Survey of the Scene: The initial walk-through will include a visual survey of the scene, making note of any potential physical evidence. Preliminary photographs and/or video are taken at this time.

Conduct a Thorough Scene Search: Depending upon the complexity of the scene, more than one technician will be required for the search. Potential physical evidence is located and marked with flags, signs or evidence tents for later close up photos and collection.

Maintain a Written Log: As the search progresses a written log of all findings is kept.

Prepare a Crime Scene Sketch: A rough sketch is begun for both indoor and outdoor crime scenes. The sketch will mark the locations of visible evidence and accurate measurements are taken to detail the exact location of each "thing" noted.

Process the Scene for Latent Fingerprints: Using either latent print powders or chemicals, as the type of evidence requires, any physical object that may have been touched by the perpetrator will be processed.

Perform Preliminary, Presumptive Tests for Physiological Fluids, Narcotics and Drugs: While confirmatory lab testing will also be required, physiological fluids and drugs should be subjected to presumptive, non-destructive field testing methods.

Collect and Package All Physical Evidence. This is one of the most critical functions of the CST. Court cases do not take place after a week or so following the investigation. It may take years before a criminal trial occurs. Evidence must be collected, marked and preserved with this thought in mind. For example: DNA and physiological evidence may degrade and become useless over time if steps are not taken to preserve it. Blood and semen samples can lose their value if packaged in plastic containers-especially if they are collected while still in a liquid state.

As you may plainly see-crime scene investigation is a complex task that must be completed using scientific principles and guidelines. Many criminal cases have been lost in court because forensic evidence was either mishandled, misinterpreted or was completely absent. The CST is a vital link in the chain-of-evidence, and it is a position that requires sincere devotion to the tasks at hand. The purpose and the integrity of the crime scene technician-as is the evidence he/she collects-are both on trial.

For more specific information on the tools and methods used at crime scenes, please visit the CSI TECH BLOG

Numerous agencies throughout the U.S. also recognize the completion of the home study course offered by the American Institute of Applied Science. Visit the AIAS Website for more information.

Crime Scene Technician and How to Get a Crime Scene Technician Job

Many individuals are interested in the position of crime scene technician and how to get a crime scene technician job. This particular law enforcement position is extremely valuable when it comes to evaluating scenes, in which a crime occurred. It involves gathering evidence from that area, collecting and evaluating evidence, and concluding what occurred at a specific time, and any potential motive associated with the scene. This type of position is often referred to as "Forensic Science".

The individuals that perform this job as professionals work in collaboration with many different law enforcement departments, as well as legal professionals, and individuals in the criminal justice system. Here, you will learn about the crime scene technician, and how to get a job in this position.

Education and Training:

There are many different ways in which an individual who is interested in becoming a crime scene technician can acquire the education and training that is necessary to perform their professional duties. Typically, one way in the educational process is attending a criminal justice academy. This type of institution is much the same as that in which law enforcement officers attend. This assists in providing an individual with the basic knowledge of law and the criminal justice system.

Another way is attending a criminal justice school. This can be done online or at a traditional school, like a four year university. Courses that should be taken include the following:

1. Criminal Law

2. Crime Scene Evidence

3. Criminal Investigations

4. Crime Scene Photography

5. Collecting Evidence

6. Evidence Analysis and Interpretation

In addition to the above, the individual who wishes to work in crime scene investigations may also need to provide proof of proficiency in the following law enforcement areas:

a. Shooting

b. Defensive Tactics

c. First Aid

d. Fingerprinting (application, techniques, and interpretation)

e. Bloodstain Analysis

f. Forensic Photography

g. Footwear Proficiency

Employment Outlook:

The employment outlook for individuals who are seeking how to get a crime scene technician job is very positive. Unfortunately, there will always be crime and many do rely heavily on computer technology to interpret results from various pieces of evidence in crime scenes. But, computer technology is not adept enough to offer the same expertise and experience as crime scene technicians have to offer.

There are a large number of crimes that are investigated by technicians who are specialized in crime scenes. Assaults, burglaries, theft, kidnappings, rapes, murders, suicides, vehicular crimes, and more are often researched by individuals in this field of law enforcement.

In addition to the large number of crimes that are researched by those in this field, there are many types of agencies that may call upon these professionals. These include those that work for labs that research crimes, state and national agencies, fire departments, hospitals, medical examiners, and even detective evidence departments.

If you are interested in how to get a crime scene technician job, the information provided here is likely to prove to be extremely beneficial. You may also want to do more research on the internet. You can do this by visiting websites that cover the crime scene technician career in more detail.

Note: You are free to reprint or republish this article. The only condition is that the Resource Box should be included and the links are live links.

Copywrite Kenneth Echie. Kenneth is a writer for Criminal Justice Schools and Degrees. Get free scholarship report and learn to become a Crime Scene Technician by visiting.