About This Career

Collects, identifies, classifies, and analyzes physical evidence related to criminal investigations. Performs tests on weapons or substances, such as fiber, hair, and tissue to determine significance to investigation. May testify as expert witnesses on evidence or crime laboratory techniques. May serve as specialists in area of expertise, such as ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, or biochemistry.

This career is part of the Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security cluster Law Enforcement Services pathway.

A person in this career:

• Collects evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity.
• Keeps records and prepares reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques.
• Uses photographic or video equipment to document evidence or crime scenes.
• Testifies in court about investigative or analytical methods or findings.
• Uses chemicals or other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence and compares developed prints to those of known persons in databases.
• Measures and sketches crime scenes to document evidence.
• Visits morgues, examines scenes of crimes, or contacts other sources to obtain evidence or information to be used in investigations.
• Trains new technicians or other personnel on forensic science techniques.
• Operates and maintains laboratory equipment and apparatus.
• Collects impressions of dust from surfaces to obtain and identify fingerprints.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
• Lighting is either extremely bright or inadequate
• Conditions are very hot (above 90 F) or very cold (under 32 F)
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Work in this occupation requires being outside most of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Identifying color and seeing differences in color, including shades and brightness
• Seeing clearly at a distance
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Irregular hours
• Overtime work
• Weekend work