If you’re interested in a career as a crime scene investigator, you should be the type of person that can handle many different types of gruesome situations. Crime scenes involve burglaries, homicides, armed robbery and assault cases. Some of these incidents involve violent and gruesome acts. As a crime scene investigator, you are required to stay professional, calm and respectful.
Crime Scene Details
If you decide that the path leading to becoming a crime scene investigator is the right one for you, you should know that you are entering a career that is not a 9 to 5 job. Crimes occur during all hours of the day. You will be expected to work whenever a crime scene needs investigating.
Your Responsibilities
When you first come onto a crime scene, one of your first responsibilities is to observe the area, collect evidence and make sure that it is preserved so it can be used in the future if needed. You may also want to take photographs of the crime scene or have other individuals do this job. You will need to have victims, potential evidence and the entire crime scene recorded with images or video. You will also be responsible to make drawings that depict the crime scene and create notes that relate to the drawings that you create.
Salary For A Crime Scene Investigator
On average, crime scene investigators make between $50,000-$90,000 per year. This is dependent on their location and experience. You can expect to make more money if you are a crime scene investigator in a large city where the budget is higher for this type of job. In addition, if you work for an agency like the FBI, you will probably earn more than you would if you work as a crime scene investigator in a small city.
Crime Scene Investigator Job Requirements
To work as a crime scene investigator, you’ll need to pass a background check, a physical, take a polygraph exam and pass a psychological evaluation. These are given during the hiring process. Also, it will help your chance of getting a job if you have a bachelors degree. Majors in chemistry, forensics, criminal justice, biology or crime scene investigation will help your chances of becoming a crime scene investigator. Once you are hired as a new investigator, you will work under the guidance of an experienced investigator who can help you understand what your new job entails.
Jim Treebold is a North Carolina based writer. He lives by the mantra of “Learn 1 new thing each day”! Jim loves to write, read, pedal around on his electric bike and dream of big things. Drop him a line if you like his writing, he loves hearing from his readers!