Crime Scene Technician

Government of the Virgin Islands; Cruz Bay (United States Virgin Islands); On-site; USD 42,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

Government of the Virgin Islands is seeking a civilian Forensic Technician to collect and analyze evidence from crime scenes and laboratories. You will photograph, sketch, collect latent prints, and secure evidence while ensuring chain of custody. You will prepare reports and provide testimony in court as required.

The role requires shift work, including weekends and holidays, and involves field and lab duties across diverse crime types.

Qualifications

• Formal degree requirements in a relevant science or criminal justice field.
• Alternate pathways may include an associate degree with related work experience.

Responsibilities

• Responds to and processes crime scenes including photographing, sketching, and collecting evidence.
• Collects and tags evidence while maintaining chain of custody.
• Performs presumptive chemical identification on substances.
• Analyzes photographic and digital media, including devices and video.
• Prepares detailed crime scene reports and related documents.
• Maintains communication with officers, detectives, and supervisors.
• Uses AFIS for fingerprint bookings and identifications.
• Creates and maintains filing systems for courtroom retrieval.
• Trains staff on forensic protocols and evidence submissions.
• Provides expert court testimony and participates in depositions.
• Attends staff meetings and autopsies as required.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Skills

Evidence collection

Photography methods

Courtroom testimony

Department rules

Lab safety procedures

Basic computer skills

Impression casting

Written English

Evidence identification

24/7 support

Education

Bachelor's degree in biology/chemistry/forensic science/criminal justice or related field

Associate's degree in biology/chemistry/forensic science/criminal justice or related field with 2 years experience

Equivalent combo of education/certification/experience to 4 years

Tools

AFIS

Job description

Job Overview

This is a civilian position where the employee is thoroughly trained in the procedures for gathering data from crime scenes to be used as evidence in criminal proceedings. Work is performed both in the field—including crime scenes and autopsies—and in the laboratory. Types of crime scenes include personal crimes (such as homicides, sexual assaults, and robberies), property crimes, and traffic accidents. Evidence collected includes fingerprints, firearms, drugs, tire prints, shoe prints, tool mark impressions, and biological samples. Incumbent analyzes, photographs, and records crime scenes, showing the correlation between evidence and the scene, and performs various chemical and photographic processes in the field or laboratory to analyze, develop, and preserve evidence. Work is reviewed and evaluated by a supervisor based on results, observations, and oral and written reports. Shift, weekend, and holiday work is required.

Responsibilities

• Responds to and processes crime scenes, including photographing the scene, sketching, collecting latent prints, gathering biological and non-biological evidence, casting impressions, obtaining surveillance video, assisting with search warrants and drug collection, and processing evidence for the forensic lab.


• Collects, processes, handles, and tags evidence and perishable specimens while maintaining chain of custody and scene integrity, in accordance with department policies and procedures.


• Performs presumptive chemical identification on various substances, including but not limited to blood and narcotics.


• Analyzes photographic and digital media, to include computers, cell phones or other storage devices, video recordings, video surveillance footage, and utilizing image enhancement.


• Prepares detailed crime scene reports and other reports as required.


• Maintains communication with police officers, detectives, and supervisors regarding evidence processing and submission for investigative aid.


• Conducts bookings for criminal offences using the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS).


• Creates and maintains a filing system for retrieval of information for use in courtroom testimony. Maintains the filing system for mug shots, fingerprints, and other related documents.


• Assists and/or trains officers/detectives/interns with general forensic protocols and evidence submissions.


• Provides expert court testimony, to include depositions, trial hearings, case trials and preparing court exhibits.


• Attends administrative staff meetings as directed.


• Attends autopsies to photograph injuries, fingerprint the deceased for identification, and collect potential physical evidence.


• Performs other related work as required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in biology, chemistry, forensic science, criminal justice, or a related field.


• OR Associate’s degree from an accredited college or university in biology, chemistry, forensic science, criminal justice, or a related field with two (2) years of work experience in crime scene processing or a related forensic discipline.


• OR Any combination of education, certification, or experience equivalent to four (4) years providing the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the work.

Factor 1- KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE POSITION

• Knowledge of evidence collection and processing using various technical equipment, materials, and methods.


• Knowledge of photographic methods and equipment related to crime scene investigations and laboratory processing.


• Knowledge of proper courtroom demeanor and effective testifying techniques.


• Knowledge of departmental rules and regulations.


• Knowledge of laboratory safety procedures and precautions.


• Knowledge of basic computer skills, word processing, and file management.


• Knowledge of impression and plaster casting techniques, including mixing ingredients, preparing impressions, and clearing casts.


• Ability to produce written documents in the English with clear organization, proper sentence construction, punctuation, and grammar.


• Ability to identify various types and forms of evidence at a crime scene.


• Ability to utilize information obtained from gunshot wounds to determine the weapon used.


• Ability to provide 24/7 support and service as needed, including on-call and standby assignments.


• Ability to apply sound judgment and interpretation based on acquired knowledge in situations with limited standardization.


• Ability to read and interpret various technical materials, ranging from moderate to complex terminology, related to job functions.

Factor 2- SUPERVISORY CONTROLS

• Work is performed under the guidance of the supervisor of the Forensic Unit.


• Occasionally, the employee may be under the supervision of the assigned detective, most particularly in the absence of the Forensic Supervisor.


• Routine work is performed independently.


• Completed work is reviewed to determine all pertinent information has been obtained.

Factor 3- GUIDELINES

• Guidelines include national standard of the Crime Scene Technicians and laws, rules and regulations set by the Judicial System and the V.I. Police Department, and federal and local standards related to the work.

Factor 4- COMPLEXITY

• Work is highly technical and involves procedures for covering crime scenes, collecting evidence, fingerprinting, conducting investigations, and ballistic identification.

Factor 5- SCOPE AND EFFECT

• The purpose of the work is to gather data from crime scenes to be used as evidence in criminal proceedings.

Factor 6- PERSONAL CONTACTS

• Contacts are made with police officers, suspects, criminals, courtroom personnel, attorneys, the public and corpses of various homicides or suicides.

Factor 7- PURPOSE OF CONTACTS

• Contacts are made to gather evidence and provide report in criminal cases.

Factor 8- PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Work is performed indoors and outdoors, depending on the location of the crime scene; some walking may be required, bending, stopping and lifting bodies or objects to gather evidence.

Factor 9- WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Work is performed in an office setting and in a field environment. Some disagreeable conditions may be present.