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.

White Collar Crimes - Charges and Penalties

White collar crime is a unique type of crime that is considered to be different in many ways from the more traditional, usually violent "blue collar" crimes. The term was coined by Professor Edwin Hardin Sutherland in 1939 to describe crimes committed by professionals in the workplace. "White collar" refers to the white, collared shirts typically worn by people in administrative, business, and managerial positions. These crimes are typically nonviolent and frequently involve an abuse of power to steal money for personal gain.

Types of Crime

These business-related crimes come in many forms. Any individual who gains money through unlawful fraud or another illegal means is guilty of committing a white collar crime. Businesspeople create schemes to "skim off the top" of an asset pool or may steal huge amounts of money from investors or companies to fund a lavish lifestyle. Some of the common schemes that are classified as white collar crimes include:

Bribery
Computer hacking or internet crimes
Credit card theft or identity theft
Embezzlement
Extortion
Forgery
Health care, investment, mortgage, or securities fraud
Insider Trading
Money laundering


Convictions and Penalties

Many critics point out that there is a major disparity between the convictions and penalties for white collar crime suspects versus blue collar crime suspects. They state that, because the crimes are typically nonviolent and involve individuals of a higher class, convicts receive shorter sentences and nicer prison accommodations than their blue collar counterparts. While this may be true for smaller cases, major criminals involved in fraud, Ponzi schemes, and other business-related fraud have recently been aggressively prosecuted. Some have received sentences for life in prison, along with huge court-ordered fines and restitution payments.

While the charge depends on the size of the illegal operation and the degree of involvement for each individual, committing a white collar crime typically results in a felony charge. This may seem steep since no one is physically hurt, but these types of crimes can cause considerable financial damage to hundreds or even thousands of people. Very large cases may even impact the regional or national economy to an extent.

For More Information - To learn more about white collar crime cases and what to do if you are facing criminal charges, please visit the website of the experienced West Palm Beach criminal attorneys of Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A. today.

Joseph Devine

Corporate Crime

Corporate crime? I'm not sure that there is such a thing. If we want to reduce the crimes that are given that lable, we need to quit handing out large punitive fines to corporations. The idea isn't as radical as it sounds.

First of all, when I say that there isn't such a thing as corporate crime, I simply mean that it is always individual people who commit crimes. With that in mind, you can imagine what my better way to reduce this crime is: Go after the criminals!

Who Pays For Corporate Crime?

Exactly who pays when a large corporation is fined for breaking the law? To begin with, the stockholders pay. Many of these are innocent retirees who have money invested with the company and had no idea they were breaking the law. Then the employees pay with the loss of jobs, if the financial situation of the company is damaged by the fines. Who doesn't pay? Just the criminals - the individuals who chose to break the law.

All crimes are committed by PEOPLE, not companies. When a company dumps poisons into the environment, a PERSON made the decision to do that (or several people). When a company steals from a pension fund or violates workers rights, INDIVIDUALS made those decisions. People commit corporate crime, not corporations!

If you want to stop corporate crime, start putting the individuals who are involved in the crime in PRISON. Our current system often has company officers making cost/benefit calculations as to whether the profits from certain crimes are greater than what the occasional fines add up to. Even though laws are broken, they stand little chance of being held personally responsible. Why not hold them responsible?

To fine companies for the actual costs imposed on others by a crime is appropriate. We have to clean up toxic messes, and in other cases compensate those who suffer damages. This also means that shareholders have a reason to be careful in who they elect to the board of directors. However, "punitive" fines are ridiculous unless they are levied against the individual criminals. Make the person who committed the crime pay the fine.

Is this such a radical idea? I don't think so! By the way, which do you think is more likely to deter a corporate officer from committing a crime, a fine that is paid by the company, and doesn't even affect his salary, or ten years in jail? The answer to that gives us the answer to corporate crime.

Steve Gillman has been exploring new ideas for decades. Visit his site for invention ideas, business ideas, story ideas, political and economic theories, deep thoughts, and more. Get a free gift too: New Ideas ( http://www.999ideas.com )

Why People Love Crime Series

It seems that all television offers today is reality TV and crime series, but what is the reason for this? Both are extremely popular and have an incredibly large fan base, but what is the real appeal of these sorts of shows? When it comes to crime series in particular, there are a few different reasons believed to explain their overall popularity.

Why We Love Them

Crime series such as Crime Story and Wiseguy have reached heights of incredible popularity, and there are several reasons thought to be behind this. The most major is that people are interested in general by crime and how crimes are solved, and so shows such as CSI, for instance, which give us a detailed account of the steps that are taken to catch the bad guys really get our interest.

Not only that but they also include the audience as a part of the show, as throughout the duration of the show there are various hints and clues which are given that the audience can attempt to use themselves in order to piece the puzzle together.

Controversy

Although crime series are generally loved by all, there has been some controversy surrounding them, especially recently. For one there has been much debate on whether or not these crime series are playing a role in the increased rate of violence in the real world. It is thought by some experts that because more people are watching violence and crime in these sorts of shows that they are carrying this violence into their own life.

Research on the effects of not only violence in television but in the media in general has been conducted extensively over the past few years in particular, and whether or not exposure to media violence causes increased levels of aggression and violence in young people is really the question of media effects research these days.

Some researchers believe that it is the psychological effects of media violence that end up causing this aggressive type of behavior, while others focus on the ways in which media violence primes or cues pre-existing aggressive thoughts and thus could really not be avoided. There have been various studies and cases conducted on this issue, and yet even with all this controversy surrounding them, crime and other violent programs continue to be incredibly popular worldwide.

This issue is definitely one which should continue to be researched, because if by reducing the violence and crime shown in media we can decrease the amount of violence and crime in the real world, then there is obviously a real goal to work towards here.

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40 Years of Staying Out Successfully! Crime and Prison Does Not Have to Be a Way of Life!

The statistics appear to be overwhelming! Every year state and federal prison officials in this country release more than 600,000 men and women. Less than three years later, about 480,000 of them return to prison.

Each year approximately 200,000 criminals go to prison for the first time. During the past 30 to 35 years, hundreds of nonprofit organizations and ministries have tried to make a dent in these statistics, with minimum success. I do not criticize the efforts of these organizations and ministries, but the facts remain. When you consider recidivism over the long term--25 years or longer--only a few criminals--maybe fewer than 50,000 each year, get out, stay out and become successful citizens.

Frankly, I do not know what percentage of individuals released from prison stay out for 25 years or more and become change conquerors. But whatever the numbers might be, I want to increase them. So in addition to this introductory article, I will write a 12-part series during the next three weeks, designed to open the door of possibilities for men and women who need to make the same arduous trek I have made, from crime to contribution.

I consider this series my gift to the more than two million incarcerated criminals and the more than seven million who are not really free, but are simply existing between prison sentences. I am blessed that no only have I exited the ravages of crime and prison, but I have also achieved tremendous success.

Consider this summary of 60 years of experience with crime and change.

I committed my first crime when I was six years old. I stole five dollars from my aunt's pocketbook. For the next 20 years, I did something criminal every day. Durham (NC) police arrested me for the first time when I was 11-years-old, and six years later when I was 17, a judge sentenced me to 2-5 years in prison. That was my initial prison sentence. Prison officials released me in May 1962 and I continued doing crime. Another judge sent me to prison again in August 1963, this time with a 7-9 year sentence. Prison officials released me on parole in December 1965 in Washington, NC. I thought I was trying to say out of prison, but sure enough in July 1966, because I had attacked my wife at the time, stole a car in my attempt to escape arrest and broke numerous traffic laws in the ensuing chase, a judge sentenced me to prison again. Prison officials at the now defunct Creswell (NC) prison unit released me from incarceration on December 9, 1968. On December 9, 2008, I celebrate my 40th anniversary out of crime and prison. During those 40 years, I have been a successful journalist and professional writer, a college professor, a radio and television program producer, and a network marketer. Today, I operate a successful home-based business, with contracts with several national and international producers of quality products and services.

What happened? What changed? Why was I able to exit crime and prison in 1968 when I had failed so miserably before? I will introduce answers to these and other questions in this 12-part series. Anyone trapped in crime and serving time, along with anyone who loves those individuals should read this series. The topics include the following:

1. Stop! You don't have to do crime!

2. Stop! You don't have to time!

3. Can you see the vision?

4. Will you embrace the mission?

5. Criminal v. Change Activist, part 1

6. Criminal v. Change Activist, part 2

7. Let's gather the FLOC (Families and Loved Ones of Criminals), part 1

8. Let's gather the FLOC, part 2

9. How to plan to stay out!

10. How to plan your work and work your plan!

11. How to mind your business!

12. Welcome to S.U.C.C.E.S.S.

I guarantee that this series will be the most significant collection of useful articles for hundreds of thousands of individuals. We must face facts! Criminals cause crime and therefore, only criminals can reduce crime. It's no mystery why criminals do crime. They believe it's okay to harm others to gain for yourself. How criminals can learn to stop doing crime looms as one of the most important and critical issues confronting our nation today. I know those answers. I will open the door to them this series.

Help me spread the word! Contact any FLOC member you know and recommend this series. I have been learning, experiencing and waiting for four decades to writer this series. I wanted to be certain that I had the knowledge, the insight and the understanding necessary to write this series and additional information that will help anyone who really want to change to move along that continuum and make the trek from crime to to contribution.

See you at the top!

I have spent almost 40 years mastering the principles of how to stay out of crime and prison. I am now an expert and I want to share this expertise with others. For more information, please visit [http://www.miltoncjordansr.com/index.cfm?id=4901&fuseaction=browse&pageid=55]

Tampa Crime Rate Down, Still Dangerously High

In 2008, there were reports of over 37,000 crimes committed in Tampa or about three per household. Tampa, as well as other major cities in Florida, is known for its high crime rate.

The ratio of Tampa crime compared to New York City crime is a surprising discovery when keeping in mind that New York City is one of the nation's most densely populated cities. Tampa has a higher ratio of nearly all major crimes including triple the counts of rape and nearly quadruple the counts of burglary.

The only positive statistics coming from Tampa's crime rate is the consistent annual drop in crime. In the past ten years the average crime rate in Tampa has decreased by more than half. Counts of burglary, murder, aggravated assault, and robbery have all dropped, and should continue to do so.

The crimes committed vary in severity and when individuals are prosecuted can be charged with a felony or a misdemeanor. The punishment for a felony can range from a year in prison to life or possibly even the death penalty. Misdemeanors are typically of a less severe nature and can range from a simple fine to up to a year in jail and a $1000 fine.

Misdemeanors can also come with sanctions such as suspension of a driver's license, use of crimes against oneself in future trials, risk or deportation, or house arrest. Though misdemeanors are seen as lesser crimes they can still hurt an individual if he or she continues to disobey the law, and can possibly prevent certain types of employment.

When facing charges a Tampa criminal lawyer can help explain your options to you. Also, a Clearwater criminal attorney can assist you when facing felonies or misdemeanors.

Introduction to Crime Scene Clean Up

On the arrival at a property where a death has occurred, especially after a vicious death, important tasks are performed by the policemen, firemen and CSI investigators. But as a general statute, these civil servants do not clean up the mess. It is the responsibility of the victim's family to mop up after the violent death of their member. Until recent times, just a few companies offered this kind of service, so, most of the time, the family still ended up doing the work. This is a service that is expensive. Crime Scene clean up service begins at approximately $600 per hour. And, actually, most people are willing to pay more.

The clean-up of a natural death or a suicide is a part of the cleaning industry. This is called the CTS Decon or the Crime and Trauma Decontamination. This type of clean up involves the removal of dangerous objects. A dangerous crime could be one of brutal death that is biologically contaminated or a scene that contains chemical contamination. The cleanup team returns the scene to the state it was in before the incident happened.

Typically, a family does not move out of their house even if the death that occurred in their home was a violent one. It is the job of the scene cleaners to remove the signs of the incident. This removal includes any bio hazards which were the result of the crime. Federal regulations consider all bodily fluids as bio hazards. Bodily fluids also include the tissue or blood because they can be a source of infection.

A blood cleanup specialist must have special knowledge of bio hazardous materials in order to be able to handle them safely. Also, crime scene cleaners are knowledgeable on what to look for to clean in a death scene. This type of cleaning requires more than "just a good spring cleaning". Permits are also needed for anyone who needs to move and dispose the bio hazardous wastes.

Most people who become cleaners typically come from the medical field. Because of their background in medicine, they are prepared to handle viewing a bloody scene. They could be nurses from an emergency rooms or an Emergency Medical Technician [EMT]. Construction workers are another group of workers who make good crime scene cleaners. They are able to remove walls and other structures. Because of the splatter of blood and tissue this is sometimes required in the clean up after a death. Other characteristics required in a strong crime scene cleaner are strong stomach, capacity to emotionally separate from his line of work and sympathetic nature.

Why a sympathetic nature? Because crime scene clean up is a lot different from cleaning up after a hazardous leak in a chemical plant. Many times, the family members of the deceased are still present while the clean-up is occurring. The cleaners must be able to complete their job while being sensitive to the state of the family who has experienced a loss. Therefore, crime scene cleaners must stomach a wide range of messy incidents which each have dangers of its own.

Crime scene cleanup will may help you to avoid from bio-hazard materials and bacteria that cause by a blood. You can know more information about blood cleanup and crime scene cleanup you can check http://www.traumacrimecleanup.com