Forensics

[CoBoY]

Just wondering if anybody is into foresics here. I have always been really interested in this side of LE...does anyone know what kind of training you need to do this? Is it a given that you have to be a PO and move your way up into investigations, or can you start that way (say with a college degree)..and for that matter, is there any investigation type jobs that are basically civillian jobs, working WITH and not IN Law Enforcement?


Any help you can give you be mucho appreciated....

[nsedet]

Yes, there are civilian jobs that handle forensics, crime scene investigations, and related fields. Really, it depends on the agency. Some have entirely sworn forensics departments, some have entirely civilian, and some are a mix of the two. There are a whole bunch of fields involved in forensics, and they require varying degress of education and/or experience in the field.

You may want to take a look at some federal web sites, like the FBI (www.fbi.gov) and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (www.ncis.navy.mil), both of which have their own forensics divisions staffed primarily by civilian (non-sworn) personnel. If I get the chance, I will try to locate some additional information for you, although the best bet would be for you to directly contact some of the agencies in your area to get some guidance. Most states have a state crime lab that would be a good place for you to contact for info.

[Badge11]

I am an LEO and also a CSI for my dept. Our entire CSI Unit is made up of Patrol Officers. Other metro area depts have Crime Scene Units made up of civilians supervised by a LEO. I guess it depends on the size and budget of the dept. Usually civillian positions in CSUs require a college degree in a related field or experience. Some of the areas of responsibilities for CSI's is evidence collection/preservation, developing/collecting latent prints, photographs, view/document autopsies, etc. You'll also get a bunch of neat toys to play with as part of the job. I too have always been interested in the forensics side of LE and visit this site frequently http://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/

I very much enjoy doing CSI work and it also opens the door for advanced CSI training and other advanced specialty areas.

[CoBoY]

Thanks for the info, guys! I will check out the sites!

I was wondering, CopDog11, where you are at in Colorado. I am in the Lakewood area, and I would love to do a "ride-along" type thing to see the CSI thing up close and personal. Do you think there's any chance I could hook up with you and get a better look at the whole thing? Let me know! Thanks!

[Badge11]

CoBoy- Check your pms.

[HK_precop]

I have a friend who graduated with a degree in Biology (working on masters) from Harvey Mudd (Part of Claremont college in CA) which is a pretty darn good university. He got a fulltime crime scene "assistant" job for LA county sheriff. At least I think that's the official name for his job, he goes to crime scenes with the primary investigators etc.. and helps handles evidence/samples things of that nature. He never got "sworn" I believe like a police officer but he did have to go through a fairly extensive background check.

[jaybird]

In regards to the Alabama Dept of Forensics, I can tell you what I know about them.
They have chemists that work on trace evidence and drug identification. As far as I know most of these guys all got degrees in chemisty, got a masters degree and a PHd. They are called Forensic Chemists. This job comes in Levels.
There are also Medical Examiners that perform autopsies. Of course, this job requires the PHd.
There are also Forensic Investigators. I checked into this because I am interested in this field also. They do mainly death investigation and crime scene investigations for police departments that dont' have the man power and facilities to handle this level of an investigation. I know with them, they wanted a college degree, preferably in the criminal justice area, plus an internship, or, a degree with job experience. I'm not sure that this is exactly accurate, but this is pretty close.

Goodluck,
Jay

[CoBoY]

Thanks for all the great info guys....right now I am looking at more of just a CSI than any kind of actual medical degree kind of thing...I am about to start school for a Criminal Justice Degree, and just wanted to make sure that it would help me in that field....I think finding an intern job while I'm there might really help...guess it's time now to calla few local Dept's and find out what they think...

Thanks again for the advice!

Oh, and CopDog, thanks, you have a reply!

[jaybird]

DEFINATELY do internships.
I did three and it helped me better aim my mark when I made my career goals and decided who I wanted to work for.
I did one in juvenile probation and found out that while I could probably do the job, that field really wasn't for me. I would have been up the creek with a terd for a paddle if I hadn't known what was going on and gotten a job doing that.
I also did internships in narcotics and homicide. I came to find out that I, as so many other people, really dig seeing narcotics in action and now want to work in that field one day.
The homicide investigation internship was interesting too.
Either way, I met a lot of people that I now work with and doing the internships really helped me decide which way to go.

Goodluck in school.
Jay