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What is a typical day in the life of a crime scene investigator?

I watch a lot of crime related shows and movie on the tv, but i would imagine it's way less dramatic and thrilling as it is on these shows and movies.

criminal-justice crime-scene-investigation crimesceneinvestigator crimescenework
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Frank’s Answer

What you see on TV and in the Movies are nowhere near as dramatic and thrilling for the most part. There are many times when it is dramatic and thrilling, but you have to remember that a typical investigation takes time and there is a lot of homework to be done on most cases. The media has to speed up any conflicts or drama to keep your interest and have a show come to its conclusion in an hour or less. A typical example is that they often show the end result of a surveillance on the bad guys, what they don't show are the countless hours, days or sometimes weeks a law enforcement agent is sitting and watching a location or person and waiting for something to develop. Don't get me wrong, there are times when an arrest or crime happens and there is immediate response, this is more so for the everyday police officer. I was a Federal Law Enforcement agent my entire career and a majority of cases I was involved in took time and patience. Crime scene investigations often rely on forensic analysis and evidence sent to labs and analyzed. It often takes a while for the results to come back and often that is just one step in the process of investigating a crime.
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Robert’s Answer

It depends on your field. Most large agencies have different bureaus such as financial crimes, vice, robbery/homicide, etc. Your department head will assign you cases to work. Everybody that watches TV thinks homicide is the pinnacle of police work until they're stuck in a house (Like I unfortunately was my first time) that has been closed up during a hot summer with a bloated, mggot-ridden body that had been knawed on by cats for a week. Back in those days, we took many cigar breaks outside to dull the smell of death. It didn't matter as the smell imparted itself into our clothes. If you ever find yourself in this position Vicks vapor rub on your top lip just under your nose is your friend.

Robert recommends the following next steps:

First thing to do is get hired and then do your time (Mandetory) as a street cop. Eventually if your sharp you'll be chosen to be assigned to the detective beureau.
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