CSI COURSE
What does a CSI do?
First and foremost, and before a CSI even gets to the I part, step number one for the crime scene investigator is to secure the crime scene and protect any evidence that may be around. Evidence can be destroyed or contaminated by incorrect handling, weather conditions, or other people on scene leaving DNA of their own – thus, it is essential that this is done at the very beginning of any crime scene investigation. This can be done by:
- Roping off the scene
- Identifying safety hazards
- Protecting evidence from the elements (without damaging or moving it, of course)
- Ensuring that no unnecessary or untrained people are roaming around the scene
- Making sure that protective gear is worn at all times.
Once the crime scene has been secured, evidence has been protected and stragglers have been cleared, the fun part starts – finding, securing, collecting, packaging and transporting evidence on the crime scene.
Every single form of contact a person has with the scene leaves a trace, whether this is a footprint, a droplet of blood from a scratched finger, or bite out of a sandwich in the fridge. The CSI needs to be meticulous about finding, and saving, anything and everything that may be of forensic use. This is a situation where “less is more” does not apply – any and all forensic evidence is of utmost importance. Nobody knows what may end up being the clue that makes or breaks the case!
Evidence can come in many shapes and forms, and includes, but is not limited to:
- Trace Evidence: Small but measurable, such as hair, fibers, glass or paint chips.
- Biological Evidence: Bodily fluids and tissues, such as blood, saliva or skin cells.
- Comparative Evidence: Fingerprints, shoe prints, tyre tracks and tool marks.
As evidence is located, part of the CSI’s job may be to take any necessary measurements of the evidence, photograph it (which provides documentation of collection), record the evidence in written form and finally, collect and package the evidence correctly, taking care not to damage or contaminate it in the process.
When the on-scene work has been done (which can take days, in some cases), the CSI’s job is not over. Evidence needs to be handed over to the correct people, autopsies need to be attended, and of course … paperwork needs to be filled out. This is the very unsexy part of any job, however, the detailed cataloging of the evidence you collect will help immensely if you are called upon to testify in court, which is a frequent occurrence in the life of CSI.
Analysis of evidence and reconstructing of crime scenes is another off-scene part of the job, although the frequency with which a CSI does this depends on the organisation they work for. In some cases, CSIs work exclusively on scene, and forensic technicians do the analysis of evidence in the laboratory. It is also possible for CSIs to specialise in particular areas of analysis, such as firearms, or chemicals.
SOME SOUTH AFRICA CRIME STATS (2016/2017)
Murder
Rape
House Robbery
Car Hijacking
crime scene investigator
Crime scene investigators are in high demand with crime statistics like those below. A Crime scene investigators employment opportunities include the following.
- Governement – Police
- Business as a private investigator
- Forensic laboratories
- Private investigation firm
The average length of time people spend in the job is 20 years. There is plenty of scope for moving into more senior positions, such as management, and it also provides an extremely good grounding for branching into other related areas, such as law enforcement or the medical field.
The average salary for a CSI in South Africa is around R220 000 a year, and this depends on your level of experience and specialisation.
is this career right for me?
In reality, though … Things happen a little differently. As a Crime Scene Investigator, you will be faced with situations that may be hard to handle. You need to be a particular type of person in order to thrive in this job – and even then, there will be times that you wonder why you chose to do this.
If you are serious about becoming a crime scene investigator, you may need to ask yourself some tough questions before committing to it as a career.
If you can deal with:
- Being on call at all hours of the day and night
- Working longer shifts than usual
- Working in potentially unsafe locations
- Carrying heavy equipment
- Sitting / standing / kneeling in strange positions for extended periods of time
- Working in heat, rain, and snow
- Wearing protective gear
- Offensive smells
- Body parts and body fluids
- Creepy crawlies
- Handling and examining victims of crime
- Family members of victims
- Multi-tasking and working on several cases at once
- Filling out paperwork accurately
- Keeping up to date with the latest technology
- Sitting through court cases on a regular basis
- Working in high pressure situations
- Not always knowing the outcomes of your cases
… Then this may be the job for you.
This may sound like a bit of a downer, but it is super important to understand the good and the bad of any particular career, and to prepare yourself accordingly for what may lie ahead. Being a CSI can be an extremely rewarding career, but also comes with a certain amount of risk, and juggling bits and pieces of your life around to accommodate everything.
That being said – if it is important to you to do work that makes a difference, and you are able to create that balance between your job, your family life, your health and your passions, then you could very well be cut out to start a career as a Crime Scene Investigator.
Where Do I Start?
Most organisations who hire Crime Scene Investigators will require you to have a qualification from a legitimate educational institution. Often, a Bachelor’s degree in Forensic Sciences is the minimum requirement, but it is important to do your own research before making any decisions, as this does vary depending on who you work for. Some background knowledge in criminal justice, biology or chemistry is usually helpful too.
It is worthwhile to speak face to face to someone in the industry, if you are able to. This may be as simple as going to your local police station and asking some questions, or if this isn’t an option for you, Google can usually provide some contact details for relevant people nearby. Be aware though, that when searching online for information, it is extremely important to make sure that you are finding information that pertains to your local area – requirements can vary vastly from place to place.
In some areas, beginning a job as a police officer may be a stepping stone towards becoming a CSI. Again, it is important to find out as much as you can without assuming – and if this is a possibility, it is also good to be aware that it may take a little longer to go this route, as a few years’ working experience may be needed before making the transition.
What Can I Expect Once I Get Hired as a CSI?
Much like driving, cooking and just generally adulting, the proper, practical learning really begins once you’ve left the comfort of your home / mother’s cooking / university, and are thrown into the real, raw, unpredictable world.
You will most likely to be paired with a seasoned CSI, who will teach and mentor you, case by case. Depending on which organisation you are hired by, you may be taught different things on the job. On top of your basic crime scene processing, you may receive more specialised training in skills such as photographing crime scenes, fingerprint processing, blood spatter analysis, and using specialised equipment or chemicals when processing scenes.
It is also imperative to know what NOT to expect on the job – if you are looking forward to perks such as driving a fancy car (with flashing lights, ooh …), interrogating suspects, interviewing witnesses, rugby tackling escaping perpetrators, and being inundated with hot dates once people find out what you do … Then perhaps this job is not the perfect fit for you.
TIPS TO GET AHEAD
The crime scene investigation industry is constantly growing, evolving and improving, and with crime shows at the height of popularity right now, the industry has seen an influx of interest. This means that, while there is a steady flow of people interested in coming into the industry, competition for the jobs available is fierce.
As with all careers, the more knowledge you have, the more valuable you are to an employer, and the better you will be at your job. If you’ve decided that crime scene investigation is for you, here are some things you can do to edge ahead of the competition and prove yourself to potential employers.
Get your science on. Chemistry in particular is an essential part of the job as a CSI, so make sure to take classes, do courses, and get used to the ins and outs of chemistry.
Take any relevant online courses that you are able to. While you may think free or cheap online courses can’t offer much value, if you go into an interview with a degree and 27 certificates that are relevant to your field, you’re immediately going to be head and shoulders above the guy or girl with just a degree.
Ask questions. Have you heard the saying “Knowledge is power”? Find out as much as you can about the industry, the studies, the job and the people who do it.
Keep a clean criminal record. This should go without saying – you will struggle immensely to find a job in any sort of criminal justice field if you have a criminal record.
Get fit. Investigating crime scenes requires you to be in places and positions you may not be able to imagine right now, and also to be on your feet for hours on end. Trust me – this is something you’ll be thankful for later.