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Crime Scene Investigator vs. Crime Scene Technician vs. Forensic Science Technician

What are the difference between these three careers? They are pretty similar and I wanted to know what the clear differences between them are? #criminal-justice #forensic

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Min-Lee’s Answer

As has been mentioned these titles are not that strict. I would add, however, that their meaning can vary depending on the State in which you're seeking employment.

In general, a CSI or CS tech actually visit a crime scene. They're the one's collecting (and submitting) evidence, and (typically) work at or very closely with a police or sheriff's office. While a forensic tech stays in a lab and actually tests the submitted evidence (in a sterile lab environment) according to their training.

This is where the State-by-State cases emerge. Some states train their Forensic Scientists to be a jack of all trades, they don't specialize in any one field and have some experience in numerous fields. Meanwhile some States separate their forensic scientists by specializations (Firearms, DNA, toxicology, Document Analysis, etc.) In these States CSI is just another specialization that falls under the umbrella of "forensic science."

Such States normally advertise the specialty with the position, however, such that you may see a sheriff's office advertising for a "Crime Scene Tech - Latent Prints." (Someone to go out to crime scenes and collect evidence/check for fingerprints.) Or a State Law Enforcement Agency asking for a "Forensic Tech - DNA Analysis." (Someone to stay in a lab and retrieve DNA from samples submitted to them.)
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Daniel’s Answer

In my experience, these are just labels and they vary quite a bit.

I have worked as a police officer who focused on crime scene investigations. So I was a police officer but I would stop to handle major crime scenes, as my agency did not have a civilian crime scene technician.

A crime scene technician is often a civilian who responds to crime scenes. A crime scene technician takes photographs, collects evidence, and produces crime scene sketches.

A forensic science technician typically works in a laboratory focusing on a highly scientific field, such as chemistry or biology.

Again, these job titles are not strict!
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