CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATOR

Education/Training

 Bachelor's degree in forensic science, forensic anthropology or forensic biology

 Experience as a forensic scientist or field analyst
 Training to preserve and collect evidence
 Interdisciplinary coursework
 Criminal justice
 Molecular Biology
 Biochemistry
 2-year degree in Crime Scene Investigation
 On-the-job training

Skills

 Able to pay attention to detail

 Excellent at communication
 Analytical
 Good at problem-solving
 Organized
 Science aptitude

Colleges

 Kaplan University - $371 per quarter credit hour

 American InterContinental University - $15,290 per year

Responsibilities/Daily Activities

 Collect, preserve, transport physical evidence

 Preserve, collect and record impressions, including toolmarks, footprints, tire marks, bite marks,
and fingerprints
 Collect DNA evidence including blood, semen, hair, skin, blood stain patterns, bodily fluids and
nails
 Collect trace evidence including gunshot residue, fibers, accelerant, paint, glass, etc.
 Collect firearms evidence including weapons, spent casings, bullet fragments, cartridges, and gun
powder patterns
 Document crime scenes using notes, photographs, and sketches

 Work with law enforcement to identify, isolate and secure the crime scene
 Work with law enforcement to establish a restricted perimeter around the crime scene as to not
compromise evidence
 Work with law enforcement to define a clear set of restrictions regarding nonessential personnel and
investigative personnel

Be aware of and ensure

 All laws are followed

 The crime scene and all collected evidence are properly documented
 Evidence is processed in an expeditious manner
 Evidence is processed without compromising it
 Proper methods and techniques for evidence recovery are followed
 All equipment and resources are properly used
 All evidence is properly handled, packaged and transported
  All physical evidence is recovered
 Safety precautions are followed

Career Outlook and Income

Career Outlook

 Increase by 27%

Income

 $62,598 - $115,905 per year

Sources

Crime Scene Investigator Education Requirements and Career Info. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://study.com/crime_scene_investigator.html

Crime Scene Investigator Job Description. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.crimesceneinvestigatoredu.org/job-description/

Self-Reflection

This job seems like it would be very interesting with a lot to take into consideration while at the crime scene. I
think I would be pretty good at it because I am extremely organized, but I am not very interested in it because
of the environments I would constantly be dealing with. I get scared easily in certain situations, and I think that
in a crime scene I would get nervous due to what I would be seeing. I would potentially be seeing a dead body
and the thought that someone dangerous would have just been there would worry me.