Requirements for Crime Scene Investigation
The requirements of crime scene technicians vary depending on the duties, the position, the geographic area and the department. There may be additional requirements for those who choose to specialize. Growth of the field is expected to be good, especially in positions with local and state governments.
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Duties
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Crime scene technicians are responsible for gathering and analyzing evidence from crime scenes. Those who gathered the evidence or other technicians perform tests on the evidence. Technicians may be asked to testify in court. Some technicians are specialists in areas such as photography or handwriting. The duties of a specific position vary between departments and geographic areas. Some technicians work in crime laboratories and some work in the field.
Employers
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Most crime scene technicians work for local or state governments. Other employers include mental hospitals, private security companies and medical laboratories. These employers hire far fewer technicians than governments do.
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Requirements
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To be a criminalist, or forensic scientist, you should have a bachelor's degree in one of the natural sciences. To be a crime scene technician, or forensic science technician, you may only need a high school diploma, a certificate or an associate's degree, depending on the requirements of the employer. Some positions also may require experience with photography. All applicants must pass background checks.
Growth
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects higher than average growth of this field because of the increasing use of forensic science in crime investigation. This growth is highest in state and county crime laboratories. The BLS expects opportunities to be better for those with bachelor's degrees rather than associate's degrees.
Salary
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Crime scene technicians with private security companies make the most money, an average of $58,400 per year, as of May 2008. The second-highest salary is with local governments, averaging $53,300 per year. The average salary of all crime scene technicians is $52,900 per year.
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