- The use of scientific discovery in criminal investigations dates back centuries, but, in recent years, the discipline of criminalistics has become considerably specialized and yet all-inclusive at the same time. Criminalists must be able to read and understand the significance of tire tracks, footprints, fingerprints, saliva, semen and DNA evidence as well as such scientific evidence as toxicology (poisons or drugs in the body of a victim), pathology (understanding medical science to determine cause of death), odontology (study of teeth and dental records), along with other specialities that involve video analysis, psychology and more.
- Regardless of the size of a law enforcement agency, whether it's the FBI or the local police force, forensic scientists or criminalists will be needed to help detectives solve crimes, according to the American Board of Criminalistics. In many cases, it is the work done in a crime lab that helps determine whether a suspect is charged and ultimately convicted of a crime. Likewise, with advances in DNA evidence analysis, criminalogists can play important roles in freeing innocent men and women who have been wrongly accused and/or convicted of crimes.
- While crime scene investigators on TV may start looking for evidence with perfectly styled hair and manicured nails, the reality is that most such work is done with specialized clothes that reduce the odds of a stray hair or fingerprint contaminating the crime scene. You'll likely wear hair nets or protective headgear, rubber or latex gloves and sterile clothes over your street clothes. And, unlike the crime scene investigators on TV, who solve cases in short periods of time, a forensic scientists can spend weeks, months or years on a case seeking to match DNA evidence or evaluate newly discovered evidence.
- In recent years, much of the focus in criminalistics involves the use of DNA evidence to identify suspects and place them either at the scene of the crime or within contact of the victim. Because of this, you would be well advised to study chemistry and biology in school to prepare for the microscope-based study that will come from future crime scene investigations.
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A criminalist needs a strong background in science. Often a criminalist will specialize in biology, chemistry or the science of criminalistics. Some may prefer the medical science associated with DNA study, while others may be more interested or more adept at identifying telltale marks on firearms and other weapons.
Florida State University's School of Criminology identifies six career paths in this field: medical examiner, crime scene examiner, crime laboratory analyst, forensic engineer, criminal profiler and technical assistant, such as computer analyst, composite artist and polygraph operator.
