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How to Become a Crime Scene Investigator

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How to Become a Crime Scene Investigator
How to become a Crime Scene Investigator
Dale Langston
March 25 2010

How to become a Crime Scene Investigator

Police and detective work can be dangerous and stressful. Competition should remain keen for higher paying jobs with State and Federal agencies and police departments in affluent areas. Opportunities will be better in local and special police departments that offer relatively low salaries or in urban communities where the crime rate is relatively high. Applicants with college training in police science or military police experience should have the best opportunities. Because Law enforcement is a demanding field you must be prepared to work long hours, be physically fit and have a clean criminal record.

How to become a Crime Scene Investigator

Crime scene investigators are responsible for carrying out complex crime scene investigations. They are accountable for the initial evaluation of the scene, and use various types of equipment to cultivate, secure, and package any physical evidence found at the scene, which will later be used for scientific comparison and evaluation. Crime scene investigators write up and organize detailed reports on the activities being carried out at the scene and the observations made. These reports are then given to the law enforcement agency in charge of investigating the crime. Crime scene investigators may also be asked to testify in court in regards to their findings and the processing methods that were used at the scene

Crime scene investigators oversee a myriad of complex crime scenes such as home invasions, sexual assaults, burglaries and other property crimes, homicides, and armed robberies. Assessing and processing the crime scene, packaging and transferring evidence, viewing and photographing autopsies, participating in conferences and briefings with police agencies, (Douglas, J. E. 2005) takes up an estimated 70% of an investigators work day. The rest of their time is spent maintaining equipment,



References: Douglas, J. E. (2005). John Douglas 's guide to landing a career in law enforcement. New York, McGraw-Hill: xxii, 325 p. Justice Research Association. (2000). Your criminal justice career : a guidebook. Upper Saddle River, N.J., Prentice Hall. Lambert, S. E. & Regan, D. (2001). Great jobs for criminal justice majors. Great jobs for. Chicago, VGM Career Books: xv, 271 p.

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