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What They Do
About This Career
Collects, identifies, classifies, and analyzes physical evidence related to criminal investigations. Performs tests on weapons or substances, such as fiber, hair, and tissue to determine significance to investigation. May testify as expert witnesses on evidence or crime laboratory techniques. May serve as specialists in area of expertise, such as ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, or biochemistry.
This career is part of the Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security cluster Law Enforcement Services pathway.
A person in this career:
- Collects evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity.
- Keeps records and prepares reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques.
- Uses photographic or video equipment to document evidence or crime scenes.
- Testifies in court about investigative or analytical methods or findings.
- Uses chemicals or other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence and compares developed prints to those of known persons in databases.
- Measures and sketches crime scenes to document evidence.
- Visits morgues, examines scenes of crimes, or contacts other sources to obtain evidence or information to be used in investigations.
- Trains new technicians or other personnel on forensic science techniques.
- Operates and maintains laboratory equipment and apparatus.
- Collects impressions of dust from surfaces to obtain and identify fingerprints.
Working Conditions and Physical Demands
People who do this job report that:
- You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
- Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
- Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
- Lighting is either extremely bright or inadequate
- Conditions are very hot (above 90 F) or very cold (under 32 F)
- Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
- Work in this occupation requires being outside most of the time
Working in this career involves (physical activities):
- Identifying color and seeing differences in color, including shades and brightness
- Seeing clearly at a distance
- Seeing clearly up close
- Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
- Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
Work Hours and Travel
- Irregular hours
- Overtime work
- Weekend work
Specialty and Similar Careers
Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:
- Crime Lab Analyst (Crime Laboratory Analyst)
- Crime Scene Analyst (CSA)
- Crime Scene Technician (Crime Scene Tech)
- CSI (Crime Scene Investigator)
- Evidence Technician (Evidence Tech) — Responsible for collecting, receipting, storing, and control of physical evidence/property in the custody of a law enforcement agency.
- Forensic Science Examiner
- Forensic Scientist
- Forensic Specialist
- Criminalist
- Latent Print Examiner
Every year the U.S. Department of Labor conducts national surveys of wage data by occupation in every state and in all industry divisions. These surveys are conducted through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program.
The statistics collected for one year are published the next fall. For example, 2013 wage information was published in the fall of 2014.
There are over 800 occupations in the surveys, and these occupations cover the entire U.S. labor market. The surveys ask for reports in a scale of ranges for both hourly wages and annual wages.
In many cases, these occupations are broad enough to cover many more detailed specialties of an occupation. A specific occupation may be included in a broader occupational category for which labor market data is available. When you look at the statistics for a broad category, be aware that the salary data for a specific career may differ.
For more details about how wage information is collected and calculated by the U.S. Department of Labor, visit their website at http://www.bls.gov/bls/blswage.htm.
Every year the U.S. Department of Labor conducts a national survey of over 400,000
employers in every state and in all industry divisions. This survey is conducted
through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program. Every other year the
department publishes outlook information based on these surveys.
Each outlook period covers 10 years. For example, in 2003 the outlook information
was published for 2004-2014. Employers are asked to report the number of employees
in about 770 different occupations that cover the entire U.S. labor market.
From this information, staffing patterns for different industries are established.
Industry growth is projected into the future based on past trends and current economic
conditions. Industry staffing patterns are then applied to the industry projections
to obtain occupational projections.
In many cases, these occupations are broad enough to cover many more detailed specialties
of an occupation. A specific occupation may be included in a broader occupational
category for which labor market data is available. When you look at the statistics
for a broad category, be aware that the employment data for a specific field may
differ.
For more details about how employment information is collected and calculated by
the U.S. Department of Labor, visit their website at http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/ocwage.tn.htm.
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