Are you inquisitive and curious by nature? Are you also detail-oriented, organized, and analytical? You may be interested in a career as a forensic scientist!
Also known as a forensic science technician, a forensic scientist helps investigate crimes by collecting and analyzing physical evidence. Most technicians specialize in either crime scene investigation or laboratory analysis.
Forensic science technician is a blanket term for those who work in the forensic science field, such as crime scene investigators, who gather and document evidence at a crime scene, and criminalists, who are scientists who mainly work in a lab analyzing evidence.
Forensic science technicians reconstruct crime scenes by studying information given to them by investigators and by conducting scientific tests on physical evidence. At a crime scene, a forensic science technician will typically do the following:
In laboratories, a forensic science technician will typically do the following:
Forensic science technicians who work in laboratories use chemicals and laboratory equipment such as microscopes when analyzing evidence. They also use computer databases to examine fingerprints, DNA, and other evidence collected at crime scenes in order to match them to people and things that have already been identified.
Most forensic science technicians who perform laboratory analysis specialize in a specific type of evidence analysis, such as DNA or ballistics. For example, a lab technician may look at photographs of blood splatter patterns and conduct ballistics tests on bullets found at the crime scene to determine the direction from which a shot was fired.
All forensic science technicians prepare written reports that detail their findings and investigative methods. They must be able to explain their reports to lawyers, detectives, and other law enforcement officials. In addition, they may be called to testify in court about their findings and methods.
Forensic science technicians travel to different locations around a city or region since crimes can occur anywhere. They work staggered day, evening, or night shifts and may have to work overtime because they must always be available to collect evidence.
Crime scene investigation can be distressing and unpleasant because investigators sometimes see disturbing sights.
A person working in Science and Technical Services in Kenya typically earns around KSH197,000 per month. Salaries range from KSH71,000 (lowest average) to KSH328,000 (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
State and local governments are expected to hire additional forensic science technicians to process their high case loads. Additionally, scientific and technological advances are expected to increase the availability, reliability, and usefulness of objective forensic information used as evidence in trials. As a result, forensic science technicians will be able to provide even greater value than before, and more forensic science technicians will be needed to provide timely forensics information to law enforcement agencies and courts.
The educational requirements for a crime scene investigator vary by employer, however, a Bachelor’s Degree in Forensic Science is needed in order to work in crime labs. Extensive on-the-job training is required for both those who investigate crime scenes and those who work in labs.
Newly hired forensic science technicians serve as apprentices to more experienced investigators. The length of this training varies by specialty. Most DNA-analysis training programs last six to twelve months, but firearms-analysis training may last up to three years.
