How to Be a Crime Scene Investigator
Crime scene investigators are highly skilled technicians who collect evidence, process and store it, and translate it into information useful to solving crimes. They must also complete reports, testify in court, clean and calibrate laboratory equipment and, in some cases, perform parts of investigations. This is just a wide overview of job duties--your actual workload will vary depending on the agency you work for and the level of expertise you possess.
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Instructions
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Chose your area of specialization. Crime scene investigation is not one specific job, but an umbrella term referring to many jobs within the same discipline. As a member of the CSI team, you could be an evidence technician, crime scene technician, forensic pathologist, forensic photographer, detective, fingerprint technician or work in the medical examiner's office, processing the remains of the deceased for evidence.
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Contact the type of agency you'd like to work for and ask what the minimum education and experience requirements are for your desired position. Because crime scene investigation is a relatively new field based on relatively new science, the requirements differ from agency to agency, state to state, job to job. A fingerprint technician may only require an associate's degree and experience in one state, and a master's degree in another.
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Begin your studies. Your educational background will differ depending on what area of crime scene investigation you chose to study, but you will likely need courses in criminal justice, criminal law and sociology. You will also need a curriculum heavy in science, especially biology, chemistry and physics. Obtain the necessary certifications and titles needed for your position.
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Complete an internship. Aim for the agency you would ideally like to work for when you graduate. If that agency does not offer internships, work for a similar agency, but ask if you can become a volunteer at your preferred site. Your on-site experiences will be invaluable to your training and you will make important contacts within the organization.
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Attend the police academy. Many crime scene investigators, especially detectives, are police officers. Many lab technicians also perform investigative duties. If you'd like that to be your role as a CSI, complete police training. You may even go on to complete more advanced training, such as the FBI training program.
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Apply to your desired position. You will gain an advantage over your competitors if you have a thorough knowledge of the agency, the community it serves and what your role in the agency would be. If you did not have a chance to intern or volunteer for the agency to which you are applying, do some research. Have a well-crafted, error-free resume, and be sure to follow up after your interview.
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