Canton Evidence Specialist

City of Canton, Ohio; Canton (OH); On-site; USD 49,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid vacations

Paid holidays

Retirement plan

Sick time

Job summary

City of Canton, Ohio is hiring for a Crime Laboratory support role. The incumbent will handle clerical and technical duties, maintain chain of custody for physical evidence, and support lab data management under supervision of the Crime Laboratory Director.

Responsibilities include data entry, documentation, and preparation of confidential information; candidate must meet Notary Public commission requirements in Ohio and have the ability to testify in court if needed.

Qualifications

• Two years of experience in a forensic laboratory or law enforcement setting in a technical/support role.
• Associate degree in forensic science, criminal justice, or related field may substitute for required experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide clerical, technical, and lab support to the Crime Laboratory.
• Maintain chain of custody and secure storage for evidence.
• Prepare reports, operate LAB information systems, and assist with evidence handling.

Skills

Forensic lab experience

Data entry

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Education

Associate degree in forensic science or criminal justice

Tools

LIMS

Job description

Wage Information

Salary Range $48,951 - $71,879 (+$10 - $20/hour in benefits)

Employment with the City of Canton comes with a full array of benefits. We offer comprehensive health insurance, paid vacations, paid holidays, a retirement plan, and sick time.

Applicants MUST submit a copy of a valid driver's license or other photo ID along with their application and any other pertinent documentation.

This is an open examination. To be eligible for this position, applicants must be a U.S. Citizen or have a permanent resident card. Applicants must also have a valid driver's license with a satisfactory driving record, and have the ability to obtain and maintain a Notary Public Commission in the State of Ohio.

Job Description

General Statement of Duties:

An employee in this position provides clerical, scientific, and technical support to the Crime Laboratory. Responsibilities include typing, data entry, laboratory record keeping, preparation of confidential information, operation of laboratory information management systems, as well as being responsible for the receiving and security of physical evidence submitted to the Crime Laboratory. The incumbent ensures the proper receiving, handling, documentation, secure storage, transport, and disposition of physical evidence submitted to the Crime Laboratory. This role maintains the integrity and chain of custody of all evidence, collaborates with internal staff and external agencies, ensures the security of confidential information, and may be required to testify in court regarding these duties. These functions are provided under the supervision of the Crime Laboratory Director.

Minimum Qualifications

Two (2) years of experience in a forensic laboratory or law enforcement agency in a technical or similar support capacity sufficient to gain a basic familiarity with law enforcement functions and operations; and/or an associate degree in forensic science, criminal justice, or a closely related field may substitute for the required experience.

Unique Requirements/Physical Requirements

This position requires a combination of both clerical and technical skills involved in the preparation and/or filing of confidential reports/correspondence, operating computer-based information systems, National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) acquisition, and mobile device acquisition.

Required

The employee must demonstrate the ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and consistently produce accurate results. Required knowledge, skills, and abilities include:

• Basic knowledge of forensic science principles and biohazard safety practices
• Ability to properly identify, collect, preserve, and process physical evidence in accordance with Laboratory policies and procedures
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Proficiency in computer systems and relevant software applications as well as operate Laboratory issued communication devices and other electronic equipment necessary to perform assigned duties.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work under stressful situations involving time constraints
• Professional interaction with law enforcement agencies, courts, and the public

Additional Requirements Include

• Valid Driver’s License with a satisfactory driving record
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Notary Public commission in the State of Ohio

Description Of Work

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position

The employee is responsible for receiving, packaging, transfer, storing, and disposing of physical evidence in accordance with laboratory protocols, ensuring that all associated records are accurately maintained within the laboratory information management system and that the chain of custody is preserved at all times.

Employee is responsible for monitoring and responding to evidence-related communications from internal personnel and submitting agencies, accepts evidence and examination requests, and coordinates those requests with laboratory staff. This employee will prepare technical laboratory documents, distribute reports to participating law enforcement agencies, and securely handle confidential files and records.

This position requires conducting physical inventories, audits, inspections, and assists with evidence storage relocations. The employee may be required to ship or physically transport evidence to external laboratories or agencies, ensuring all transfers are properly logged and tracked.

This individual will handle all evidence in a safe and controlled manner to prevent damage, loss, or contamination.

This individual must be prepared to testify in court regarding physical evidence, chain of custody, and related findings.

Additional responsibilities include maintaining data for statistical reports, receiving and directing phone calls, and notarizing reports. The employee will participate in periodic training to remain current with evolving technologies.

This position may also enter spent cartridge cases into the NIBIN database, review resulting images for potential associations, and forward candidate matches to a Criminalist for confirmation.

Other Job Duties As Needed.

Testing Information

SHOULD TEN OR FEWER QUALIFIED APPLICATION BE RECEIVED NAMES WILL BE PLACED ON AN ELIGIBILITY LIST IN ACCORADANCE WITH THEIR APPLICATION FILING DATE. SHOULD MORE THAN TEN QUALIFIED APPLICANTS REGISTER FOR THIS EXAMINATION THOSE APPLICANTS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE FORMAT, LOCATION, DATE, AND TIME OF THE EXAMINATION.

RATING

Your name will be placed on a list of eligible candidates upon receiving a passing score. Once the list has been established, your name will remain on the list for a period of one (1) year.

Additional Information

• DISCLAIMER* All applicants should receive an email from [e-mail] confirming that their application was received. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please contact Civil Service at [e-mail] to confirm that your application went through.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO VETERANS

As provided in ORC 124.23C, any person who has completed service in the uniformed services, who have been honorably discharged from the uniformed services or transferred to the reserve with evidence of satisfactory service, and who is an Ohio resident and any member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including the Ohio National Guard, who has completed more than 180 days of active duty service pursuant to an executive order of the President of the United States or an act of Congress of the United States may file with the director a certificate of service or honorable discharge (DD-214 – Long version), and upon this filing, the person shall receive an additional credit of twenty percent (20%) of the person’s total grade given in the examination in which the person receives a passing grade.

A member in good standing of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including the Ohio National Guard, who successfully completes the member’s initial entry-level training shall receive a credit of fifteen percent (15%) of the person’s total grade given in the examination in which the person receives a passing grade.

NOTICE OF DRUG TESTING REQUIREMENT

Pursuant to Civil Service Rules applicants are hereby advised that the position of employment being examined for MAY be subject to a drug test. The results of the drug test may affect the hiring status of any candidate in consideration.

NOTICE OF BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

Be advised that candidates MAY be subjected to a confidential background investigation, including, but not limited to, a criminal record check and driving record check.

ADA COMPLIANCE

Reasonable accommodation in accordance with ADA Compliance will be made available upon request to those qualified applicants in need of it, in order to achieve the essential job functions as described above.