Becoming a Crime Scene Technician Essay

Ever since I was a little girl I always thought about what I wanted to do when I was older. I wanted to be a doctor or a veterinarian just like most children wanted to be. As I grew up and matured I started thinking about what occupations really interested me. At first I thought about something regarding sports or possibly something involving mental health. I was all over the place until senior year. I finally decided I wanted to work on crime scenes and specifically a forensic science technician. However, before I decided that this is what I wanted to do, I needed to know information regarding being a forensic science technician. I need to know exactly what a forensic science technician does on and off the clock and the requirements such as school and special training. After plenty of research I am aware of the pros and cons of becoming a forensic science technician and it is an occupation I am extremely interested in. I plan to take the appropriate classes o pursue this as my career. A forensic science technician plays a very important role at crime scenes and laboratories. Forensic science technicians that work at crime scenes, better known as crime scene investigators are responsible for assisting in investigating crime scenes by collecting and analyzing physical evidence. They walk though the scene and determine what evidence should be gathered. They also take photographs of the evidence and different parts of the crime scene. They make sketches of the crime scene, take notes of their findings, collect all physical evidence and preserve and catalog evidence before it is transferred to the laboratory. Forensic science technicians that work in the lab also play a crucial role regarding crime scenes. They typically classify and identify evidence, explore links between suspects using the results of the physical and chemical analyses. Also, they work with experts regarding the case to study and examine their findings. Then they reconstruct crime scenes bases on their findings. Being a crime scene technician requires a lot of patients and availability because they have to work a regular day shift and must be available at all hours of the day. They could be called to investigate a crime scene so they must be available to travel to many different locations depending on where the crime scene is located. Crime scene technicians must also be aware of disturbing and unpleasant sights at certain crime scenes. This requires a lot of important qualities. Critical thinking and problem solving skills are extremely important. Technicians must use their best judgment to match physical evidence to suspects. Also, this would help assist law enforcement officials with solving crimes. Writing and speaking skills are very important as well. Technician may need to prepare written reports to provide in court as well as demonstrating their findings to the police and other law enforcement employees. Last but not least, technicians must control composure when working on crime scenes. Certain crime scenes may be extremely violent and gruesome and technicians must maintain professionalism when working on the scene. The first thing to do in order to become a crime scene technician is finish all of the essential requirements. First of all, in order to investigate crime scenes and work in the laboratory, a bachelors degree in most departments are required and an extensive amount of on-the-job training. For example, newly hired crime scene technicians are trained by more experienced technicians and they teach them the methods and procedures for collecting and documenting evidence. They are also trained in many other things as well. This includes firearm-analysis training which typically lasts up to 1-3 years and DNA-analysis training that last 6-7 months. Then technicians must pass a proficiency exam before they are allowed to perform independent case work or have the ability to testify in court. Many crime scene technicians have met the requirements for the police academy as well. However, some larger law enforcement agencies are obligated to have a bachelor’s degree in natural or forensic science. Technicians who work in the laboratory typically have a bachelor’s degree in natural forensic science as well. Students who want to become a forensic science technician are required to take extensive coarse work in biology, chemistry and mathematics. Knowing all of the requirements and what forensic science technicians must encounter on a daily basis definitely motivates me to work extremely hard. There are a lot of pros and cons regarding being a technician and I am determined to endure all of the challenges in becoming one. I am fascinated with forensics and working on crime scenes which is why I think becoming a crime scene technician is a good fit for me. My goal is to return to Western Illinois University in the fall and continue my education. Western is an excellent law enforcement school and it would provide education resources to help me follow my dream of becoming a crime scene technician.