Police - Crime Scene Analyst
Police - Crime Scene Analyst
Career Overview
Crime scene analysts examine crime scenes, document evidence, and collect fingerprints, DNA, photographs, and other clues that can help investigators understand what happened. They use forensic science, digital tools, and careful analysis to preserve evidence for investigations and court proceedings.
Education
Education requirements vary by employer. A college or university program in forensic science, criminal justice, biology, chemistry, or a related field can be a pathway into this career. Some crime scene roles within policing also require police training and specialized forensic training.
Work Environment
Crime scene analysts may work at crime scenes, police facilities, forensic laboratories, and offices. The work can involve irregular hours, outdoor conditions, travel, and exposure to difficult scenes. Technology such as digital imaging, DNA analysis, and specialized evidence-management systems is an important part of the job.
Future Outlook
Forensic science continues to evolve as advances in DNA analysis, digital evidence, imaging, and other technologies improve how investigators collect and analyze evidence. Demand should remain steady, with opportunities supported by ongoing investigations, advances in forensic technology, and the need to replace experienced workers.
Recommended High School Courses
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Computer Science
- English
- Mathematics
- Law
- Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
- Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
- Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
- Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
- Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
- Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
- Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
- Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
- Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
- Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
- Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
- Perceptual Speed - The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
- Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
- Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
- Speed of Closure - The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
- Visual Color Discrimination - The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
- Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
- Analyze forensic evidence to solve crimes.
- Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
- Record research or operational data.
- Interpret research or operational data.
- Testify at legal or legislative proceedings.
- Document events or evidence, using photographic or audiovisual equipment.
- Maintain laboratory or technical equipment.
- Operate laboratory or field equipment.
- Collaborate on research activities with scientists or technical specialists.
- Prepare compounds or solutions for products or testing.
- Train personnel in technical or scientific procedures.
Schools
Alabama State University
Alfred State College
Alvernia University
American Intercontinental...
American University
Anna Maria College
Appalachian State Univers...
Arcadia University
Barry University
Bethany College- Lindsbor...
Bluefield College
Bluefield State College-...
Boston University
Bowling Green State Unive...
Bryan College
California University- Pe...
Cuny John Jay College Of...
Desales University
East Central University -...
East Tennessee State Univ...
Eastern New Mexico Univer...
Emporia State University
Evangel University
Fairmont State University
Fayetteville State Univer...
Florida Gulf Coast Univer...
Florida International Uni...
George Washington Univers...
Georgetown College
Hamline University
Indiana Institute Of Tech...
Jacksonville State Univer...
King University
Letourneau University
Loyola University- New Or...
Missouri Baptist Universi...
Mount Mercy University
Mount Vernon Nazarene Uni...
Oakland City University
Pace University- Nyc Camp...
Pennsylvania State Univer...
Roberts Wesleyan College
Sam Houston State Univers...
Southern Arkansas Univers...
Suny Buffalo State Colleg...
Towson University
Trine University
University Of Houston- Do...
University Of Illinois- C...
University Of Maryland- S...
University Of Pittsburgh-...
University Of Tennessee-...
University Of West Alabam...
York College Of Pennsylva...
British Columbia Insti...
Coast Mountain College...
Lakehead University- O...
Ontario Tech Universit...
Professional Career De...
Saint Mary's Universit...
Trent University- Pete...
University Of Alberta
University Of Toronto-...
University Of Windsor-...
Approx Salary Expectation
Low End:
$48,000.00 /yr
Avg/Med:
$72,000.00 /yr
High End:
$117,000.00 /yr
Related Careers
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.