Attention to detail, Critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills, Ability to remain focused despite the environment. It's important to have background knowledge into the foundations of crime scene investigator's responsibilities. Earning a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice , Bachelor of Science in Computer Science , or a Bachelor of Science in Biology will prepare you with the knowledge you'll need to succeed as a crime scene investigator. Having a bachelor's of science degree in any of these fields will qualify you to either obtain a job or further your education in this field right after graduation.
Real-life work experience will provide you with the intricate know-how employers are looking for when hiring for jobs. Obtaining an internship or a job within the crime scene investigator field or similar will add to your educational background in this area and make you a more desirable candidate. Most employers are looking for 6 months - 2 years of experience in the field, and some may even provide you with this experience when you begin. Collecting evidence, then subsequently processing and analyzing the evidence are all key skills you will gain during this time.
Depending on the state, there are different requirements for state licensure as a crime scene investigator. Through the International Association for Identification IAI , you can complete various certifications to further your career depending on the crime scene investigator specialty you'd like to master.
Some certifications include bloodstain pattern analysis, forensic art, latent print, and forensic photography certifications.
Be aware that this is not the only route to take to become a CSI, just the most common. Lowest Recorded Salary. Highest Recorded Salary. It is important to note that salaries for a crime scene investigator vary greatly based on location and prior experience. In a metropolitan, high-crime area, an experienced and successful CSI may be able to break into a six-figure salary. Here are the median salaries for similar occupations based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics:.
Forensic Technician. Biological Technician. Police and Detectives. While the stress and requirements of this job can be significant, so is the reward: the satisfaction of making the world a safer and fairer place to live. According to Bloomberg , crime rates have been falling in the United States in recent years.
However, the need for competent forensic investigators is not likely to fade any time soon. The U. Bureau of Labor Statistics BLS does not distinguish between police officers and detectives, but the general estimation for this group of professionals is a 5 percent job growth between and Salary rates are similarly tricky to unpack.
The BLS May does have salary and employment data for detectives, but not for those in a lead detective position. Lead detectives, however, are likely to possess higher levels of education and more experience than the average detective, and thus are more likely to earn an above-average salary. A significant factor to consider when looking at salary and employment data is geographic location.
Since forensic investigators typically work for federal, state, and local law enforcement, the largest number of detectives is in the states with the largest populations: Texas, California, Florida, and New York. Large metropolitan areas like New York and Los Angeles, and geographically well-positioned places for the profession—such as Washington DC, home to all federal agencies—have high employment numbers and high average salaries to match. People do not become forensic investigators to make a lot of money, but they can expect to make more than a living wage for their efforts.
Since public sector agencies make up the bulk of employers, lead detectives can also look forward to a robust benefits package. The road to this career, however, can be arduous, and persistence and dedication are necessary.
Criminal justice and forensic investigation are majors that can prepare a graduate for a wide variety of positions. Students who intend to specialize later in their career—for example, in biological sciences, cybercrime, financial crime, or digital forensics—may choose to orient their undergraduate education in that direction. CSIs solve medical mysteries, figure out whodunit, comfort distraught family members and help bring the bad guys to justice.
Though real-life cases are never solved in an hour - as they are on TV - real-life CSIs will likely tell you that their jobs are often more challenging and more interesting than fiction.
Forensics, or forensic science, is the application of scientific principles used for solving crimes. Forensic investigation can help members of law enforcement determine the identity of an unknown suspect; understand how blood spatter patterns occur; and determine the composition and source of evidence, such as trace materials and drugs. Forensic science uses all kinds of sources, including fingerprints; dental records; genetic materials and substances found at a scene.
Evidence refers to information admissible in court for judges and juries to consider when reviewing a case. Evidence is used to identify remains; reconstruct a crime or determine the composition of an unknown substance.
A crime scene investigator CSI , sometimes called a forensic detective or forensic investigator, is responsible for collecting and securing evidence from a crime scene. Forensic investigation typically includes the following:. CSIs need strong powers of observation as well as critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
Having excellent oral and written communication skills are a must. CSIs must be able to think independently and to be able to work well with others, as part of a law enforcement team. CSIs work with a variety of tools and equipment to collect and preserve evidence at the scene. Some items might be found in any household, including permanent markers, nail clippers and resealable plastic bags. Other items are specialized for the job, such as a bloodstain documentation kit, fingerprint kit or biohazard gear.
Forensic science technicians work behind the scenes in laboratories, analyzing the evidence brought to them by crime scene investigators or other law enforcement officials. On television, crime scene investigators and forensic science technicians are often one and the same.
In practice, they're two separate positions. A significant difference between the jobs is that a CSI may be called upon at any time to investigate a crime, and a CSI must travel to the scene. Forensic science technicians generally work in their laboratories Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Regardless of the form of evidence, both physical or digital, Forensic Investigators will establish the evidence based on the Scientific Method: observation will lead to research then to a hypothesis.
This will lead to testing and eventually a report that will be used in litigation, often with the Forensic Investigator testifying in a formal legal setting. Accounting forensics : Tracing the flow of money and discovering financial impropriety. Anthropology forensics : Identifying human remains that are past the decomposition of organic material except bone. Blood forensics : Determining a sequence of events based on blood found at crime scenes.
Chemistry forensics : This is used most often for the classification of narcotics. Computer forensics : Used when software plays a part in a crime. Document forensics : Examination and verification of documents to prove authenticity.
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