What is the difference between forensic science technician and crime scene photography
what to know What is the differences between forensic science technician and crime scene photography #photography #criminal-justice #forensic
2 answers
Ian’s Answer
I'm glad to hear that you're interested in the field of forensic science. This is a field where I feel like there are a great number of misconceptions, but I'd be more than happy to shed some light on this for you. Forensic science as a discipline is vast and can include a wide range of sciences, so long as they help to solve a crime. Forensic Anthropology assists in finding a cause of death for decomposing bodies or bones. Forensic Entomology studies insects and their various life cycles as they consume human remains. Forensic science itself is something you might choose to major in if you would like to work as a crime scene technician, become a researcher while continuing your education, or pursue work in a laboratory setting.
A crime scene investigator or technician is a job description that can vary depending on the police department that you work for and the community that it serves. Many larger metropolitan areas will hire for these positions, looking primarily for individuals with a bachelor's degree in forensic science or a microbiology related field. Some community colleges offer certification courses that you can use to supplement a microbiology degree as well. It should be noted that a degree in criminology or criminal justice will not likely serve you in pursuing work as a crime scene technician without further experience or education as positions are becoming more competitive.
Depending on the size of the department responsibilities in crime scene documentation are divvied out in different ways. Smaller agencies may ask more of their responding officers when it comes to dissecting a crime scene. Larger agencies which see a significantly greater amount of violent crimes with higher liability involved are more likely to have an entire department dedicated to Crime Scene Investigation. A crime scene technician will likely be trained in any number of essential functions of the job including preservation of evidence and crime scene photography. I'm sure in some very large departments there are individuals whose job it is specifically to photograph the crime scene but in my experience this responsibility could fall on anyone within that team. Basic crime scene preservation and investigation techniques were taught during my police academy and I can assure you it's a very complicated process with a great deal of measuring, and accurate photography is an essential piece to that puzzle. I would think of photography skills as something that could potentially boost the resume of an already qualified crime scene technician but not necessarily something to major in to pursue a career as a crime scene investigator.
Best of luck to you and keep asking those questions to figure out what you would like to do with your future.
Ian Z. Burgos
Paul’s Answer
Hello Kayla,
A forensic science technician may specialize in several, or just one, scientific field. Fore example, they may be a bullet expert, scene re-creation expert, tool-mark expert, bug expert, etc. The list really is very long. They may also sit in labs and rarely, if ever, travel to a crime scene. Depending on the circumstances, they may even be tasked with crime scene photography if. However; it has been my experience that often the investigator takes the photographs at the crime scene.
I have found a really good resource to be the Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook. They do list and profile the outlook for a Forensic Science Technician as well as provide other information. It is a very in-demand job.
Here are the links in case the hyperlinks do not work:
DOL Handbook (many jobs profiled): https://www.bls.gov/ooh/a-z-index.htm#A
Technician: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/forensic-science-technicians.htm