Mediaboss Marketing

Crime scene investigators are specialized law enforcement personnel, who apply their forensic science knowledge to the documentation of a crime scene. They collect and analyze evidence such as tire tracks, footprints, blood splatters, and many other elements of a crime scene to piece together theories about what occurred, the sequence of events, and how long ago they transpired.

Law enforcement agencies often lump together all sorts of personnel under the title of crime scene investigator, but for the purposes of this article, a crime scene investigator is a sworn peace officer with expertise in collecting and analyzing evidence gathered from crime scenes. An evidence technician is someone who gathers and processes crime scene evidence but is not necessarily a peace officer and is not involved in other aspects of investigating crimes.

Forensic science dramas on television have increased the popularity of crime scene investigation as a career. Those shows may also have affected the publics expectations of what crime scene investigators can bring to criminal prosecution. Many law enforcement personnel and prosecutors believe that such television programs have made jurors less likely to convict criminals when the prosecution does not present significant amounts of high-quality forensic evidence. Academic research has yet to prove the so-called CSI effect.

Crime scene investigators assist detectives in solving crimes by sorting through evidence and details to assist prosecutors in building a case. Their tasks include:

Crime scene investigators assist with collecting evidence and providing expert analysis of that evidence. They are often called as witnesses in criminal cases to explain their theories about what happened at a crime scene.

In a case, the crime scene investigator is called to the crime scene once law enforcement has already discovered or been called to the scene. The investigator assists in blocking off the scene from outside contamination, which could include helping uniformed officers set up barricades and caution tape and protecting evidence from damaging weather such as rain, sleet, hail, wind, sun, and snow.

The crime scene investigator identifies, collects, and inventories evidence at the crime scene. They take photographs of the scene and of individual pieces of evidence, while also ensuring that the methods used to collect and process the evidence will stand up to scrutiny by defense attorneys. A judge can disallow improperly processed evidence.

The investigator works with outside crime labs to analyze evidence that is beyond the departments capability to analyze. For example, a large police department might send bullet fragments to a state ballistics lab if the department does not have a ballistics experton staff.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics includes crime scene investigators under the category forensic science technicians. The salary for this career is as follows:

Payscale.com does provide the salary for crime scene investigators as follows:

Source: Payscale.com, 2019

Because crime scene investigators are sworn police officers, those wishing to become a crime scene investigator should research the requirements for becoming a police officer in local and surrounding jurisdictions, as these requirements may vary among jurisdictions. Generally, the following education, experience, and certifications are required:

To learn about the specific requirements for employment in your area, contact your local police department, the sheriff's department, and the state police to inquire about crime scene investigator qualifications at their facility.

Crime scene investigator positions are not entry-level jobs. They require the following skills:

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017, the job outlook for crime scene investigators, included under the classification for forensic science technicians, is expected to grow 17% up to 2026.

Jobs are found in large police departments and state police organizations. Smaller departments do not have the manpower to devote a position solely to crime scene investigation.

This work requires traveling to areas that may be challenging to navigate due to difficult terrain, bad weather, or debris. In addition, crime scenes may be emotionally upsetting, gory, and difficult to view.

Crime scene investigators may work staggered day, evening, or night shifts and may have to work overtime because they must always be available to collect or analyze evidence.

People interested in crime scene investigation work should also consider the following similar career paths (along with median annual salary):

Visit link:
Crime Scene Investigator Job Description: Salary, Skills ...

The job title Crime Scene Investigator is one of many that describe individuals who discover, document, and preserve all pieces of evidence at the scene of a crime. This article will give an idea ofhow to become a CSI, as well as an overview of the professional career of a crime scene investigator. It will include everything about how to become a criminal investigator including education requirements and paths to the CSI profession to job duties and crime scene investigator salary information.

A Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) is in charge of extracting every possible piece of evidence from a particular crime scene. More often than not, they are employed by state or federal law enforcement, but civilians with a background in science may also be qualified for this position. These observational experts are also indispensable during trials, due to the importance of their professional testimony in the courtroom.

A CSI is a thorough crime scene examiner that can turn a chaotic crime scene into hard evidence. Their findings will point law enforcement officers in the right direction, and eventually, help solidify the state prosecutors case in court.

The very start of a crime scene investigators work is what differentiates this occupation from other jobs in the field of forensics. Their data collection is not done in a laboratory; it is done primarily out in the field. They must travel to a crime scene to conduct their research. Crime Scene Investigators are basically highly trained forensic scientists on call. That being said, most CSIs work a standard forty-hour work week with standard hours, with only some variation due to specific cases.

To convert a crime scene into practical evidence that law enforcement can use, a crime scene investigator must first preserve the scene, sealing it off to make sure it is not contaminated or tampered with. If the crime scene is contaminated by a civilian or a law enforcement officer, all of the collected evidence could be considered null and void by a judge during the trial.

Then, a crime scene investigator will make precise measurements and take exhaustive photographs of any possible piece of evidence for a detailed diagram of the scene. Scales are always included photographs so that the exact size of every piece of evidence is known, no matter how minuscule or seemingly unimportant. Labels are also included in photographs to easily refer to each piece of evidence. This is all imperative for crime scene recreation and diagram drawing, which may also fall under the responsibilities of a CSI or their close counterpart, the Forensic Technician.

When everything is thoroughly documented, a crime scene investigator is tasked with packaging and preserving all pieces of physical evidence. Investigators must take extraordinary care in all facets of the job, but it may be most important here. Extremely careful collection of evidence with completely sterile equipment is imperative when it comes to the bigger picture. Everything the investigator finds is further analyzed in a forensics lab to provide further information on the role of these objects in the crime and their meaning to the prosecutors case. If these pieces of physical evidence are not packaged and documented correctly, they could be removed from consideration during the trial. If the pieces of evidence themselves are removed from consideration, the forensic analysis of them may be removed, as well.

Every CSI must be able to testify in court about the evidence collected at a crime scene. While on the stand, they have to ensure that the evidence found has not been contaminated or tampered with and they must ensure that the evidence was collected and documented correctly. It is also important for a CSI to be able to convey complicated findings clearly and succinctly in the courtroom so that all participants understand the meaning of each piece of evidence. If they are not able to do this, an important piece of evidence may be misunderstood by the judge or jury.

One of the most important pieces of this occupation is that a CSI must look at a crime scene objectively and analytically, without allowing the disturbing environment distract him or her from collecting helpful evidence. The gore that an investigator will almost definitely come across cannot keep them from thoroughly carrying out their duties.

What does a CSI do? Here are some of the specific job duties that a crime scene investigator will come across frequently in his or her professional career:

Becoming a CSI includes specific work experience and educational requirements are expected of crime scene investigator candidates.

Education

Bachelors Degree, Higher degrees could advance your forensic career

Recommended Fields

Criminal Justice, Computer Science, Forensic Science, or Biology

Preferred Experience

Law Enforcement

Expected Skills

Attention to detail, Critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills, Ability to remain focused despite the environment

It's important to have background knowledge into the foundations of crime scene investigator's responsibilities. Earning a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, or a Bachelor of Science in Biology will prepare you with the knowledge you'll need to succeed as a crime scene investigator. Having a bachelor's of science degree in any of these fields will qualify you to either obtain a job or further your education in this field right after graduation.

Real-life work experience will provide you with the intricate know-how employers are looking for when hiring for jobs. Obtaining an internship or a job within the crime scene investigator field or similar will add to your educational background in this area and make you a more desirable candidate. Most employers are looking for 6 months - 2 years of experience in the field, and some may even provide you with this experience when you begin. Collecting evidence, then subsequently processing and analyzing the evidence are all key skills you will gain during this time.

Depending on the state, there are different requirements for state licensure as a crime scene investigator. Through the International Association for Identification (IAI), you can complete various certifications to further your career depending on the crime scene investigator specialty you'd like to master. Some certifications include bloodstain pattern analysis, forensic art, latent print, and forensic photography certifications.

Be aware that this is not the only route to take to become a CSI, just the most common. Some become crime scene investigators directly through the police force, without earning their Bachelors degree and only using their experience in the field. Having a bachelor's degree within this field and/or relevant certifications could assist you further down the road if you are looking to advance your field or specialize in a specific area of crime scene investigation.

According to PayScale, a large database on salary information, the most up to date information for the median Crime Scene Investigator salary in 2018 is $43,860 per year.

Lowest Recorded Salary

$29,817 per year

Median Salary

$43,860 per year

Highest Recorded Salary

$73,034 per year

It is important to note that salaries for a crime scene investigator vary greatly based on location and prior experience. In a metropolitan, high-crime area, an experienced and successful CSI may be able to break into a six-figure salary.

Here are the median salaries for similar occupations based on 2017 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Forensic Technician

$57,850 per year

Biological Technician

$43,800 per year

Police and Detectives

$62,960 per year

In regard to career growth, crime scene investigator is a very interesting occupation. A CSI who is a member of law enforcement can be promoted in the traditional way, through the police ranks (Captain, Lieutenant, etc.). That promotional route results in higher salary, higher rank, and it usually allows the employee to continue working with their original team.

There is also some opportunity for upward mobility when it comes to a CSIs employer. With enough experience and success someone working for local law enforcement, an investigator could pivot into working for a government agency like the FBI. That kind of employment would generally garner a raise in salary.

Another unique thing about career opportunities for a Crime Scene Investigator is that many of them have already completed Police Academy training. This gives them the ability to transfer into different departments within the police force. If a CSI decided their skills would be more helpful somewhere else, they could transfer fairly easily between departments because of their completed Police Academy experience.

Here at Gwynedd Mercy University, we offer a variety of programs that will help kickstart your journey with a crime scene investigator education. Through our three Bachelor of Science Degree programs, you will become highly trained by professors with experience in the CSI field. Find out more about what we offer below!

Source: Bureau of Labor StatisticsSource: Payscale.comSource: CrimeSceneInvestigatorEDU.org

Read this article:
How to Become a Crime Scene Investigator (CSI): Education ...

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation was a popular television drama series that ran for 15 years on CBS. The show centered on using physical evidence to solve murders.

Parkers Chapel alum Lauren (OPry) McDonald said those shows, while entertaining, arent always realistic. McDonald is a Chief Forensic Chemist of the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory in Little Rock.

These shows have shaped the expectation of the public. Theres always a fingerprint, DNA, or something there. Sometimes prints are there but are not of sufficient value to be usable to identify a person, McDonald said. Even though DNA is present, sometimes an association to a specific person cannot be made, whether it is due to complexity of the sample matrix or lack of a known source of DNA for comparison. We as forensic scientists do not leave the laboratory and question suspects. Our area of expertise is science. We leave the investigations to law enforcement. These television shows depict laboratory analysts getting results within an hour or two of the submission to the laboratory. This is rarely the reality, as forensic testing takes longer than a few hours and each case must undergo peer review to ensure we have followed proper procedures and reached an appropriate conclusion based on the results of testing.

So, while Abby Sciuto on the TV series NCIS might be a quirky, loveable forensic scientist, she's also very much a fictional character.

McDonald, who graduated from Parkers Chapel in 1998, has worked for the crime lab for 15 years. She started as a forensic chemist and progressed to Assistant Chief Forensic Chemist in 2016 and then to Chief Forensic Chemist in 2018.

As a Chief Forensic Chemist, I manage a team of Forensic Drug Chemists and work closely with the other Chief Forensic Chemist. Drug Chemistrys size necessitates two managers. When fully staffed, we have a total of 30 analysts across three locations. We have satellite laboratories in Hope (Drug Chemistry) and Lowell (Drug Chemistry and Toxicology), said McDonald.

The routine duties of the Chief Forensic Chemist include: case work management, policy and procedure writing and review, instruction to analysts on difficult casework samples, ensuring quality and safety policies are followed, communication with attorneys and law enforcement, education of law enforcement and the public, and working with administration in many ways to grow the agency.

McDonald said she also still works as a forensic chemist when time permits. That role uses multiple testing schemes to analyze evidence submitted to the agency to determine of it contains controlled substances. An official report of the findings is produced and testimony may be called into court.

Whats it like having a job that half of the network television schedule imitates?

Getting to say you work at a crime lab definitely brings the cool factor, but Id say the biggest pro for me is knowing my work is essential in the criminal justice process and contributes to society as a whole, said McDonald. As a manager my favorite part of the job is seeing individual analysts grow in their careers. Forensic scientist jobs are typically stable government jobs with normal Monday-Friday daytime hours, good benefits, and paid time off. Probably everyone in forensics will give you the same con, dont go into this field looking to get rich. You are paid fairly, but most government positions do not have the same leeway for raises and salary increases that private companies do.

See the article here:
Working in a crime lab not the way it looks on television - El Dorado News-Times

He was a school teacher who didnt want to be a cop. He was a cop who never wanted to be sheriff.

But Mike Hawley turned out to be the right person for both jobs. Before retiring last week, he spent 32 years in law enforcement on Whidbey Island, including 10 years as the political head of the Island County Sheriffs Office during a time of personnel crises and transformations in law enforcement.

Mike Hawleys list of accomplishments is near legendary. He put up with politics and bureaucratic mindsets, brought community policing into country neighborhoods, and helped establish the local Juvenile Justice Center, said Jan Smith, who was chief administrative deputy and de facto undersheriff when Hawley was in office.

Then he gave up running for the elected position, went back on the road as a lieutenant and dedicated more of his time to helping his wife MLiss, who passed away last year, with her international career as a quilt and fabric designer, entrepreneur and author.

WHIDBEY ISLAND law enforcement will undoubtedly miss Hawleys knowledge of the web of relationships among the people on the island and his ability to find people.

Mike never lost the curiosity that is essential to top quality investigative work, Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks said. He never stopped asking, What, exactly, went on here? Whether it was a minor criminal trespass case, or a complicated white collar crime, Mike would dig in and get us what we needed as prosecutors.

Over the years, Hawley has also found the time to write police detective novels that were published by Penguin and is working on another in the series.

Hawley grew up in Seattle and taught high school history here. His father-in-law had encouraged him to consider law enforcement, but he wasnt all that interested until he was laid off from the school. He chose to work as a deputy on Whidbey Island.

His years as a patrol deputy informed his calm, respectful manner of law enforcement where deescalation comes naturally.

It was not unusual to work the entire island by yourself, he said. You learn to use communication skills effectively.

HAWLEY WORKED just about every commissioned position in the department, including detective, lieutenant and undersheriff. He was named as jail commander and manager of emergency dispatch, which was an outdated system located in the jail; each agency on the island at the time had its own dispatchers.

Hawley was charged with helping to create a new, coordinated dispatch system for the county and ICOM was the result.

Its still considered state of the art, he said of the facility. The way we set up the board of directors, every agency has an equal say.

But at around that time, the sheriffs office was imploding. A series of sexual harassment lawsuits, counter lawsuits and countless allegations led Sheriff Owen Burt to resign.

Hawley said he and Edd Proft were the only people in administrative positions in the office who were untouched by the scandal. Burt took them into a room and asked if either one of them wanted to be appointed sheriff. They both quickly declined. Burt insisted that one of them had to fill the role, so the two men ended up flipping a quarter.

Hawley lost.

He was appointed Nov. 1, 1996 to complete Burts term and subsequently ran two more times.

HAWLEY FOCUSED on upgrading and modernizing the office to keep up with a world in which law enforcement was becoming computerized and digitized, crime scene investigation was being revolutionized by DNA testing and other techniques, and rules were changing about sex offenses and domestic violence. He was part of the process of building a new Law and Justice building and the Juvenile Justice Center. He started the precincts.

Mike has made tremendous contributions to the modernization and professionalism of the Island County Sheriffs Office, current Sheriff Rick Felici said. He has also supported and encouraged me personally throughout my career. I will miss his counsel.

Hawley found ways to put more deputies on the roads instead of administrators in offices. As Smith said, he ran a lean department.

Hawley said he also focused on bridging the gap between the community and police.

We held at least 500 community meetings during my time in office, he said. At least one each week.

AFTER 10 years as sheriff, his wifes business, MLisss Quilting World, was skyrocketing. She had spent so much time supporting his career, Hawley felt it was only fair for him to reciprocate. Plus, the business proved to be very profitable and involved travel around the world.

I got to tag along and carry her luggage, he joked.

But in fact, Hawley learned to design fabric and is continuing the business. MLiss Design fabric is still selling in Hobby Lobby.

Tragically, MLiss was diagnosed with a rare heart disease. Hawley was her caregiver for five years.

It was the most difficult thing I will ever have to do, he said, and the most gratifying.

Hawley said he was thankful for the support he received from his friends in the department and the county.

He said he loved going to work nearly every day, but it is a job that comes with violence and tragedy. Over the years, Hawley was involved with more than 20 murder cases.

Some stick with you, he said. Some I am still processing.

ONE OF the most difficult and tragic cases was the murder of Marjie Monnett, a well-known housing advocate, and her daughter Holly Swartz in an act of domestic violence in 2002. Swartzs boyfriend killed them both with a shotgun in a quiet Freeland neighborhood, injured two other people, shot 20 to 30 rounds into neighbors houses and then killed himself.

Hawley was sheriff at the time but lived nearby and was the second officer at the scene at around 2 a.m.

I had no idea what had happened, he said. There were three blown-apart bodies right in front of me. He didnt leave the scene for the next 42 hours as law enforcement, crime scene investigators and media from across the region came and went.

HAWLEY WAS known for his ability to find people. He said he earned his 20 minutes of world fame when he rather nonchalantly caught the Cascade Mall shooter in Oak Harbor in 2016.

Hawley explained that his son Alex, a detective in King County, called him after hearing the news about the shooting and asked his father if he thought the shooter could be from Whidbey. He said he doubted it. Not long afterward, Hawley learned the shooter was Arcan Cetin and realized that he knew him from a previous gun-related call. He called his son back to tell him.

Then Hawley got a call that the shooters car was found parked in Oak Harbor. Hawley and the other deputies drove to the area. As Hawley was driving down Oak Harbor Road, he saw Cetin and locked eyes with him. He took him into custody without a problem.

No big deal, he said.

Hawley called his son back.

Guess what? he said. I got him.

Cetin committed suicide in Snohomish County jail before trial.

Not so long after that, Hawley was at the Sunnyside Cemetery in Oak Harbor, where his family members own a series of plots. He looked at his own and realized that Cetin is buried next to it.

That literally freaked me out, he said. I have an appointment for a spot right next to him.

But before that day, Hawley will be enjoying retirement. He said he plans to continue running the fabric business, writing more crime fiction and doing a lot of traveling, especially now that his daughter Adrienne and her wife have moved to Ireland.

He will be missed, Animal Control Officer Carol Barnes said. Whether or not you have a badge, everyone likes Mike Hawley.

Link:
Ex-sheriff is cruising into retirement after 32 years - South Whidbey Record

BRICK, NJ A Brick Township woman who has been charged with the murder of her wife has been extradited to New Jersey to face the charges against her, authorities said Tuesday.

Mayra Gavilanez-Alectus, 48, of Brick, has been returned to Ocean County from Houston, Texas, where she was apprehended May 20 by FBI officers, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Houston Police Department, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Brick Township Police Chief James Riccio announced.

She was charged May 18 with the murder of her wife, Rebecca Gavilanez-Alectus, 32, who was found dead May 16 in an upstairs bedroom of their Creek Road home, authorities said. She had been beaten to death with a wine chiller, the prosecutor's office said. Read more: Brick Woman Sought In Killing Of Her Wife: Prosecutor

"The defendant was processed this afternoon at the Brick Township Police Department and is currently lodged in the Ocean County Jail," Billhimer said. She had traveled to Houston from New York City by bus, he said when Mayra Gavilanez-Alectus was arrested.

The warrant for Mayra Gavilanez-Alectus's arrest was issued after an investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Major Crime Unit, Brick Township Police Department Detective Bureau, and Ocean County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit determined that she was responsible for the death of Rebecca Gavilanez-Alectus.

Investigators found Rebecca Gavilanez-Alectus had injuries consistent with a cylinder, and found she had been killed with a cylindrical container used for chilling wine, the prosecutor's office said. Further investigation ultimately determined Mayra Gavilanez-Alectus caused Rebecca Gavilanez-Alectus's death.

In addition to the murder charge, Mayra Gavilanez-Alectus is charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, the proscutor's office said.

Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com Follow Brick Patch on Facebook.

Link:
Brick Woman Extradited To Face Murder Charge In Wifes Death - Brick, NJ Patch