• Crime Scene Technician Certificate
• Crime Scene Technician Career
• Crime Scene Technician Profile
• IAI

Crime Scene Tech Career Profile

Jared L. is a crime scene technician with a Level 2-Crime Scene Analyst certification through the International Association for Identification (IAI). Jared attended a four-year university and earned his criminal justice degree in 1996. After graduation he put in applications to a number of the police departments in his local area. He attended the police academy and began his career as a patrol officer upon graduation. Three years into his police officer career he realized he had a nack for crime scene analysis, as well as really enjoying the challenge of the work, and decided to pursue a crime scene technician certificate. He also took some photography, chemistry and biology courses at a local community college to develop some of the skills departments look for when hiring a crime scene tech. Upon completion of his certification, the community college courses and further hands on training under a CST mentor in his department, Jared took a position in another department as a crime scene technician. Jared completed all the requirements to become internationally certified through the IAI, first as a level 1 - certified crime scene investigator then as a level 2 - certified crime scene analyst. Jared pursues the required continuing education to keep his certifications current and is working toward a senior level certification.

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"Education and continuing education has been pivotal to get where I am today. A bachelor's degree is a required by my department and most others for someone looking to be in my position. ." Jared has many hours of actual experience in the field of crime scene analysis which he boasts is just as critical to the job as is the classroom education. "This is not a career for someone who does not like the classroom or working in a continuous learning environment."

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Crime Scene Tech Duties

We asked Jared to review what his duties are when called to the scene of an investigation as well as what the whole evidence collection, evaluation and utilization looks like. Here is what he said:

"When I respond to a crime scene my first step is to begin photographing and collecting evidence, such as latent prints, DNA and other such physical evidence. I then will take evidence back to the lab and depending on what I have, will perform laboaratory examinations which will be either physical, chemical, digital or optical based. I am also involved in interviewing and profiling of suspects and the collection of bodily fluids from those suspects as well as the family, friends and corpses involved. I also attend post-mortem autopsy of the victim to collect evidence. Many times I will develop digital renderings for the crime scene investigation. A large part of my job is to create detailed reports covering every intricate part of my investigation that in many cases will be used in the prosecution of a criminal. I will also give testimony during trial about my forensic investigation and the laboratory techniques used for evaluation of the collected evidence. In a nutshell, that is what I do."

Jared offered up another skill that is often overlooked but is critical to success as a crime scene technician and that is people skills. Whether it's dealing with the first officer on the scene or the special agent in charge to interviewing a suspect, Jared strongly encourages the use of observational techniques and people skills to set the mood and gather the information needed. People skills will also help maintain the team environment within a department as well as between agencies working on the same crime scene investigation

Online Crime Scene Technician and Related Programs

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University of Phoenix Online:

Associate's Degree - Criminal Justice
Bachelor's Degree - Criminal Justice
Master's Degree - Justice Administration

Walden University Online: Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association. The Higher Learning Commission is one of six regional accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

BS in Criminal Justice - Homeland Security
BS in Criminal Justice - Management & Administration
BS in Criminal Justice - Computer Info Syst & Security
BS in Criminal Justice - Crime & Criminals
BS in Criminal Justice - Human Services for CJ
MPA - Homeland Security and Policy Coordination, Law and Public Policy
M.S. in Psychology - Terrorism and Security, Crisis Management and Response

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Florida Tech University Online:

AA in Criminal Justice
BA in Criminal Justice

Bryant & Stratton College : Bryant & Stratton College Online is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, one of the six regional accreditation agencies recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation.

Associate's in Criminal Justice
Bachelor's in Criminal Justice

Capella University:

BS in Criminal Justice
BS Public Safety - Emergency Management, Homeland Security
MS in Criminal Justice
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MS in Public Safety Leadership
PhD Programs - Criminal Justice, Emergency Management, Public Safety Leadership

Virginia College:

AA in Criminal Justice
Bachelor's in Criminal Justice
Master's in Criminal Justice
Master's in Cybersecurity

Lincoln College Online:

BS in Criminal Justice and The Study of the Criminal Mind

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American InterContinental University Online: The BSCJ in Special Populations is an accelerated Bachelor's Degree program that will prepare you for careers in federal government, such as an Air Marshal.

Associate's Criminal Justice Administration
BSCJ - Law Enforcement
BSCJ - Forensic Science
BSCJ - Special Populations

Herzing University:

AS in Criminal Justice
BS in Criminal Justice
BS in Criminal Justice - Homeland Security
BS in Homeland Security

Kaplan University:

Bachelor's in Crime Scene Investigation
BSCJ - Crime Analysis
Crime Scene Technician Certificate
AAS in Criminal Justice
BS in Criminal Justice

University of the Rockies:

Master of Arts in Psychology - Criminology and Justice Studies
Doctor of Psychology - Criminology and Justice Studies

Everest College Online:

Criminal Justice Associate's Degree
Criminal Justice Bachelor of Arts Degree
Criminal Investigations Associate's Degree

Keiser University Online :

AA in Criminal Justice
Associate's in Homeland Security
Bachelor's in Criminal Justice
Bachelor's in Homeland Security
Master's in Criminal Justice

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Rasmussen College Online:

Associate's in Crime Science Evidence
Associate's in Financial Investigation

Utica College Online:

Certificate in Financial Crimes Investigation
Bachelor's - Cybercrime Investigations and Security
Bachelor's - Cybersecurity - Information Assurance
Bachelor's - Economic Crime Investigation
MBA in Economic Crime and Fraud Management

Crime Scene and Related Programs by State

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Arizona

Everest College:

Programs Offered: Associate's, Bachelor's | Criminal Investigations, Criminal Justice

Click a Location to Request Program Information => Mesa, Phoenix

Florida

Everest University:

Programs Offered: Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's | Criminal Investigations, Homeland Security, Criminal Justice

Click a Location to Request Program Information =>
Tampa, Brandon, Jacksonville, Pinellas, Lakeland, Melbourne, Pompano Beach, Orange Park, Orlando North, and South Orlando

Keiser University:

Programs Offered: Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's | Crime Scene Tech, Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, Legal Studies, Paralegal Studies

Click a Location to Request Program Information =>
Daytona Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Orlando, Sarasota, and Tampa

Rasmussen College:

Programs Offered: Associate's, Bachelor's | Crime Scene Evidence, Investigation/Law Enforcement, Client Services/Corrections, Criminal Justice, Criminal Offenders, Homeland Security, Legal/Criminal Justice, Paralegal

Click a Location to Request Program Information =>
Ocala, Pasco County

Illinois

Rasmussen College:

Programs Offered: Associate's, Bachelor's | Crime Scene Evidence, Investigation/Law Enforcement, Client Services/Corrections, Criminal Justice, Criminal Offenders, Homeland Security

Click a Location to Request Program Information => Rockford

Missouri

Colorado Technical University:

Programs Offered: Associate's, Bachelor's | Cybercrime Investigation, Forensic Investigation, Criminal Justice

Click a Location to Request Program Information => North Kansas City

North Dakota

Rasmussen College: Click a Location to Request Program Information => Fargo and Bismacrk

Programs Offered: Associate's, Bachelor's | Crime Scene Evidence, Investigation/Law Enforcement, Client Services/Corrections, Criminal Justice, Criminal Offenders, Homeland Security, Legal/Criminal Justice, Office Mgmt

Virginia

George Washington University:

Programs Offered: Master's | Forensic Sciences, High Technology Crime Investigation, Security Management

Click a Location to Request Program Information => Arlington