Careers in Police Forensics

Information left at a crime scene may include fingerprints.

Police forensics is the process of collecting and analyzing crime scene and accident data to help investigators identify suspects, develop accident reconstructions and reach a conclusion on cause of death. Career prospects for forensic scientists are expected to increase by 20 percent through the year 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, because of an increase in available technologies and demand for data analysis. Choosing a career in police forensics leads to a rewarding position within law enforcement.

Crime Scene Forensics

Crime scene technicians and examiners visit crime scenes and collect data for analysis in a laboratory. They are responsible for maintaining the integrity of crime scene evidence during collection and properly recording key information pertaining to the collection site. Hours vary, as crimes occur during all hours of the day, during holidays and on weekends. Crime scene technicians typically earn a degree in one of the natural sciences, such as chemistry, while taking classes in criminal justice and law enforcement.

Laboratory Forensics

A crime laboratory analyst studies the crime scene evidence collected by crime scene technicians. The work involves analyzing tissue, hair, glass and body fluid samples through sophisticated testing and careful observation and developing hypotheses about the evidence. Technicians may specialize in specific fields, including firearms examination, and work alongside investigative units, including rape and homicide detectives. Crime laboratory analysts also develop reports on the conclusions reached from evidence analysis.

Other Options

Other careers related to police forensics include medical examiner positions. Medical examiners, who have a medical degree, determine the cause of death in the case of crimes and accidents. They use the evidence collected and analyzed by crime scene and laboratory analysts to reach a conclusion. Other options include positions as forensic odontologists, psychological profilers and forensic engineers, who reconstruct traffic accident scenes. These positions require additional education specific to dentistry, psychology and engineering.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Science Technicians
• Florida State University: School of Criminology & Criminal Justice: Advice About a Career in Forensic Science
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Private Detectives and Investigators