Crime Scene Technician

INTRODUCTION

While the Crime Scene Technician certificate is a stand-alone program open to all students, this certificate also enhances employment opportunities for students earning the LAW-AA and/or LAW-AS degree. Entities employing persons with IAI Certification include, but are not limited to, local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, State Attorneys’ Offices, Public Defenders’ Offices, Medical Examiners’ Offices, law firms and insurance firms.

Crime Scene Investigators are charged with collection, inventory, and documenting evidence found at a crime scene. It is their job to testify in court as to its probative value and link to the defendant or defendants. Anyone with a criminal record would not be hired by any agency based on their liability as a witness, so completing the program is not recommended for anyone with a criminal record:

IS THIS FOR YOU

The purpose of the Crime Scene Technician certificate program is to prepare students for future careers with law enforcement in the crime scene field. The program is specifically designed for a hands-on realistic approach in each of the areas required by law enforcement. Upon successful completion of the program the student will receive a “certificate” that can be used when applying for prospective positions in their field. The program is a two (2) semester program broken down into four (4) mini semesters (Session “B” and Session “D”). The program will start each August in the Fall Semester and end each May in the Spring Semester. There are no prerequisites but the courses MUST be taken in consecutive order. Each class of students will begin together and end together. All classes are held after 5:00 PM on a Monday thru Thursday schedule at the Pensacola main campus. There are no fingerprinting or background checks required by the college but students should be aware they will be applying to law enforcement agencies upon completion of the program who will be conducting their own background investigations on prospective employees.

People entering this career need to have good eyesight and the ability to lift as much as 50 pounds. They are good at problem solving and critical thinking, in searching for facts. They also are good with practical, hands-on problems and solutions. Employment prospects for persons with a criminal record are unlikely

BEYOND GRADUATION

The purpose of the Crime Scene Technician certificate program is to prepare students for future careers with law enforcement in the crime scene field. The program is specifically designed for a hands-on realistic approach in each of the areas required by law enforcement. Upon successful completion of the program the student will receive a “certificate” that can be used when applying for prospective positions in their field.

RELATED CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Primary Employers

Graduates from the Crime Scene Technician program will seek employment with state, county, city or private law enforcement systems. Anyone with a criminal record would not likely be hired by any agency based on their liability as a witness; therefore, completing this program is not recommended for individuals with a criminal record.

Occupations

Crime Scene Technicians

Collect, identify, classify, and analyze physical evidence related to criminal investigations. They examine crime scenes to obtain clues and evidence, such as weapons, documents, clothing and fibers. They perform tests on weapons or substances such as fiber, hair, and tissue to determine their significance to an investigation. Technicians collect impressions of dust from surfaces to obtain and identify fingerprints, use chemicals and other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence, and compare developed prints to those of known persons in databases. They work both indoors and outdoors.

Crime Scene Investigators

Charged with collection, inventory and documentation of evidence found at a crime scene and may testify in court as to its probative value and link to the defendant or defendants.

Other Occupations