A criminalist works with physical evidence collected from crime scenes in a crime laboratory. He or she interprets and analyzes evidence in order to determine which pieces are relevant to the case, and then writes reports detailing the findings. Criminalists may also be called to testify as expert witnesses in court.
A forensic criminalist’s job entails analyzing deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), controlled substances, firearms, and chemical products, among other things. Trace amounts of evidence, such as soil, fibers, hair, and glass fragments, will be examined by a criminalist. He or she also performs blood tests and analyzes other bodily fluids and products. Some jobs entail forensics, which includes photography, computers, anthropology, and even toxicology or voice analysis. A criminalist must be able to work with extreme precision and adhere to extremely strict protocols, such as maintaining evidence’s chain of custody.
Being a criminalist can be a fascinating job for many people. The work focuses on using a variety of instruments, such as microscopes, cameras, and spectroscopes, to examine evidence from crime scenes. Criminalists examine and report on a wide range of physical evidence while utilizing advanced technology to determine its significance at the crime scene. This career path may be a good fit for people who are detail-oriented and dedicated.
Within this field of work, there is a lot of room for advancement. Those who gain more knowledge and experience will be able to work on more difficult cases and gain more authority. There is fierce competition for criminalist jobs, but opportunities in this field are expected to grow.
There is no such thing as a criminalist degree. A bachelor’s degree in one of the sciences, usually forensic, biological, or physical science, is required to enter the field. Candidates should also have completed at least 24 semester hours of math, chemistry, or biology. To improve their chances of being hired, some potential candidates for these jobs pursue master’s degrees in forensic science.
These jobs necessitate exceptional organizational, interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving abilities. Physical evidence is evaluated and methodical tests are performed to determine the evidence’s relevance to a crime scene. Because the job requires the ability to conduct complex laboratory analyses on multiple pieces of evidence, criminalists must be detail-oriented and persistent. Because most criminalists work in groups, strong collaboration and communication skills are essential.