Forensic Science Technician Job Description

Forensic Science at a Crime Scene

Crime scene investigators visit the scene of a crime to look for evidence, while forensic technicians work in the lab. Although the responding officers often note key pieces of evidence, they may miss clues that crime scene investigators notice right away because of their training. The scene is searched for evidence that could be a murder weapon or cause of death.

They may be able to find clues from bullet fragments, hair or stray fibers. Many forensic science technicians work in a lab to test evidence for fingerprints, blood or other key pieces of information. Some technicians specialize in analyzing bodily fluids for signs of diseases that could have contributed to a victim's death, or testing blood or urine samples for drugs.

Other technicians use fingerprints to identify a suspect or compare fingerprints from a crime scene to a suspect's. Chemical traces found on a victim's clothing are known as trace evidence. Bullet fragments are examined to determine what kind of gun they are from and if they match the bullets used in a crime to that of a suspect's gun.

Forensic Science Technician: A General Definition

Criminalists and forensic science technicians are both used in the same way, as a term for those who work in the field of forensic science. Chemical and laboratory equipment are used by forensic science technicians when analyzing evidence. They use computer databases to look for fingerprints, DNA, and other evidence that have already been identified in order to match them to people and things that have already been identified.

Most forensic science technicians perform evidence analysis that involves the use of DNA or other types of evidence. A lab technician can look at photographs of blood splatter patterns and conduct tests on bullets found at the crime scene to determine the direction of a shot. The forensic science technicians prepare reports that detail their findings.

They must be able to explain their reports to their superiors. They may be called to testify in court about their findings. Since crimes can happen anywhere, forensic science technicians travel to different locations.

Forensic Science Technician Jobs in the 21-Century Era

A bachelor's degree in a natural science is required forensic science technicians. Both those who work in labs and those who investigate crime scenes need on-the-job training. Over the next decade, there are about 2,500 openings forensic science technicians.

Many openings are expected to be caused by the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or retire. A forensic science technician may be a generalist who performs many or all of the duties listed above or they may specialize in certain techniques and sciences. Criminalists or forensic science technicians are used to collect evidence at the scene of a crime and perform scientific and technical analysis in laboratories or offices.

Digital forensics analysts specialize in computer-based crimes. They collect and analyze data to uncover and prosecute electronic fraud. Digital data helps solve crimes in the physical world.

Legal cases depend on the integrity of evidence and computer forensics technicians must follow the same standards as general forensic science. The forensic science technicians prepare reports that detail their findings. They must be able to explain their reports to their superiors.

In addition, forensic science technicians may be called to testify in court. In all weather, forensic science technicians may have to work outside, spend a lot of time in laboratories and offices, or both. They work with law enforcement personnel.

Forensic Science Technician Testified in Court

Law enforcement and forensic science technicians work together to investigate crimes. They work with crime scene investigators who provide them with evidence that needs analysis in a laboratory setting. The evidence gathered from crime scenes may include fingerprints, blood, hair, bullet fragments, photographs, and more.

While forensic science technicians should have a working knowledge of law enforcement, their background is usually in biology, chemistry, and other scientific fields. The majority of the time, forensic science technicians work in a laboratory setting. Police and crime scene investigators gather evidence to be analyzed.

Because of the nature of the work, forensic science technicians need to be detail oriented and organized, making sure evidence is not mishandled or tainted, which can raise questions about its validity. Sometimes forensic science technicians need to testify in court in order to explain their findings to a judge or jury. They may have to defend their conclusions.

forensic science technicians work in a lab analyzing evidence A good relationship is needed with crime scene investigators and other law enforcement officers. It's not uncommon forensic science technicians to testify in criminal cases in order to explain their findings.

The Forensic Science Technician'S Role in a Gruesome Crime Scene

The forensic science technicians must have a complete understanding of the law. The collection of evidence in a forensic science lab is important to the prosecution of many crimes. They must understand the state's regulations for transferring evidence so that all of the paperwork is handled correctly.

When collecting evidence, forensic science technicians must be careful. Each piece of evidence must be identified and documented at the crime scene. They take pictures of the scene.

They must look for evidence that is hidden under furniture or in a wall, such as finger prints, bodily fluids and bullets. Even when confronted with gruesome crime scenes, technicians must keep their composure. The forensic science technicians must be skilled in using equipment.

They use microscopes to look at evidence such as hair and bullets. They use lab equipment to extract the blood's genetic material. The technicians must be skilled at using computers to input data and to use databases to compare their data.

Many pieces of evidence, including photographs of blood, fingerprints, footprints, and shell casings, can be found when forensic science technicians leave a crime scene. The technicians at the lab must combine all of the data from the individual pieces of evidence to form a picture of what happened at the crime scene. They answer questions about where the attacker was standing and how the criminal entered the building.

Forensic Science Technician Jobs in the United States

The Holland Code framework states that forensic science technicians have an interest in the Building, Thinking and Organizing areas. The focus of the Building interest area is on working with tools and machines. The thinking interest area focuses on researching, investigating and increasing the understanding of natural laws.

The focus of the organizing interest area is to keep things orderly. If you don't know if you have a Building or Thinking organizing interest that would fit with a career as a forensic science technician, you can take a career test to see if you have what it takes. The median annual wage forensic science technicians was over $60,000 in May.

Half of the workers in an occupation earn more than the median wage, and half earn less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $35,620, and the highest 10 percent earned more than 97,350. The employment of forensic science technicians is projected to grow more quickly than the average for all occupations.

Fast growth will result in only 2,400 new jobs over the next 10 years because it is a small occupation. State and local governments are expected to hire forensic science technicians. Scientific and technological advances are expected to increase the reliability and usefulness of objective forensic information used in trials.

Forensic Science: Career Opportunities in the Field

People who are interested in science and law enforcement may want to pursue a career in forensics. The forensic science field provides a valuable service to society by using scientific principles to help solve crimes. They use a combination of scientific knowledge and observational analysis to pursue criminal justice.

A forensic science technician is a person who collects and analyzes evidence from crime scenes in order to understand how events occurred and who was involved. They help law enforcement interpret data so they can make arrests and convict criminals. The criminal justice system depends on forensic science technicians.

The responsibilities of forensic science technicians have expanded with the advancement of forensic research. Sometimes forensic science technicians are asked to testify in court. They may be asked to speak more about their knowledge of forensics, or discuss a particular sample they analyzed.

People who are experts in certain areas such as blood spatter, fingerprints, and forensic anthropology are more likely to be called upon in court. forensic science technicians are often in the field to collect and document evidence. They can take pictures, make sketches, collect samples of substances or discuss the crime with law enforcement.

When a crime scene is being investigated, forensic science technicians must work with a team to make sure the evidence is preserved for future study. Some forensic science technicians work in a laboratory environment to study samples that have been sent in. They can run tests, determine how to classify substances, and explain the meaning of different patterns.

Forensic Science Technician Training

Police officers and other law enforcement officers who become forensic science technicians first become police officers or other law enforcement officers who have completed police academy training. New forensic science technicians will usually help seasoned technicians during on-the-job training. The ability to use mathematics to solve problems, communicate effectively and find solutions to complex problems are what forensic science technicians should have.

Knowledge of laboratory equipment and safety procedures is helpful if you are working in forensic science. Techs must have the ability to think. They must be able to handle stress while working for themselves and as a team.

They must be able to communicate their findings in a way that is easy to understand. The BLS says that it will be easier for people with a master's degree in forensic science to find a job as a technician than it will be for people with a bachelor's degree. Techs who work in a laboratory may be called to the lab outside of business hours if a case needs immediate attention.

Forensic Science Technician Certification

forensic science technicians are important in crime scene investigations. Some forensic science technicians work for the police department while others work for the civilian department. Most forensic science technicians work in laboratories.

At the crime scene, forensic science technicians perform a number of duties, including taking photos, recording the location of evidence, dusting for fingerprints, and cataloging and transporting evidence to the lab. The crime lab technicians process evidence using various methods. A forensic computer examiners who specialize in digital crimes may be a type of forensic science technician.

They may work with experts who specialize in firearms and writing, such as handwriting experts. Others specialize in areas like fingerprints or trace evidence, which can confirm contact between the victim and the perpetrators. Most forensic science jobs require a bachelor's degree.

Bachelor's students majoring in forensic science, biology, or chemistry are more likely to go into a career in forensic science. Concentrations in subjects like toxicology, DNA, or pathology are offered in many forensic science degrees. A bachelor's degree is the most common requirement forensic science technicians.

A bachelor's degree in forensic science is available at many four-year universities. Students can major in biology or chemistry. A bachelor's degree takes four years of full-time study to complete.