Forensic Science Technicians (CSI)

Forensics is a public discussion or debate which applies to courts and the judicial system and the science is the meaning of the scientific methods and process of solving crime(crimesceneinvestgatoredu.org). Forensic science Technician also known as Crime scene investigator are used around the world to resolve civil disputes, to justly enforce criminal laws and government regulations, and to protect public health.ifwedonthave forensic scientist in the world the world would be grieving for their love ones without any answers to their questions. When comes to being a crime scene investigator it comes with braveness, patience, and intelligence.

Forensic scientists may be involved anytime an objective, scientific analysis is needed to find the truth and to seek justice in a legal proceeding. There are many different kinds of forensic science fields that can be a profession pathology, anthropology ,accountant , Odontology, and Toxicology, CSI(crime scene investigator) etc. Crime scene investigator is an person that analyzes, compare, identify, and interprets physical evidence, then reports results for use in the justice system. The main role of a CSI is to observe the crime scene for any useful physical evidence to determined suspects and victims. Physical evidence may be anything, a whiff of a flammable gas at an arson scene or as obvious as a pool of blood at a homicide scene or fingerprints on a bottle of a crime scene. Good CSIs know that the past is not a space that anyone can completely understand. No matter how many resources we bring to bear on studying it, our comprehension of the past--even of very recent events--will always be imperfect (Brass 2011).

CSIs part of our modern world because human beings are relentlessly interested in the world around them (Brass 2011).CSIs is the head of the case or crime mainly the person responsible for the evidence, they make reports and package evidence to be tested for results and testifies in court of the findings and observation and speaks apon what they found with their description of methods of finding the evidence. CSI specialize in detecting with many different kinds of crimes it could be homicide, armed robberies, sexual assaults and so on.when it comes to collecting evidence there are different types of evidence. Mike byrd started with the Crime Scene Investigations Bureau in 1987, he played an active part in the forensic science of CSI community by establishing new techniques of gathering and distributing evidence on a crime scene. He states that the first type of evidence is testimonial evidence, which is the answers CSIs questioning suspects and witnesses are given. Physical evidence, which is the other type of evidence, is any type of three-dimensional evidence collected at a crime scene (Byrd).

Forensic science have been around for 900 years but the During the 16th century in europe, medical practitioners for the army began to gather information based on the cause and manner of death and two italian surgeons laid the foundation of a pathology in the late 18 century(crimesceneinvestgtoredu.org). James March was the first apply the new art of forensics, He was called to examine evidence during a case of a defendant who killed their grandfather with arsenic-laced coffee(crimemuseum.org). According to Colin Evans, a veteran writer specializing in forensics who published many books under the field of forensic scientist states that Before there was CSI, there was one man who saw beyond the crimes name Bernard Spilsbury, he single-handedly brought criminal investigations into the modern age. He uncovered evidence others missed, stood above his peers in the field of crime reconstruction, relentlessly exposed discrepancies between witness testimony and factual evidence, and most importantly, convicted dozens of murderers with hard-nosed, scientific proof (Evan 2006).

When approaching to an crime scene as a CSI, there are basic steps that everyone in the criminal justice and forensic science field must follow. They are approaching the scene, secure and protect the scene, initiate preliminary survey,evaluate physical evidence possibilities, taking a picture of the scene, sketching the scene, then the CSI would come into play of collecting and recording the evidence then release the scene. Don Penven whom work in the law enforcement for 35 years and now is currently serves as a technical support representative and technical writer for Sirchie Finger Print Labs, states a fact on collecting evidence in a crime scene. Crime scene evidence is useless unless it is properly marked and packaged and a Chain of Evidence is begun from the time it is picked up. Use the proper type of containers for all evidence collected. Never package objects wet with blood or other physiological fluids in plastic bags, as this will accelerate decomposition. Label and identify all evidence collected, including the notes taken by the investigator (Penven).The first thing that CSIs do is to define the physical space in which they are interested and then cordon this area off. This is no trivial exercise (Charles Brass).

When it comes to being an CSI agent, one have to have a bit of braveness. There can be crime scenes that can be quite disturbing and unmanageable. CSI agent work in many different condition and settings.for instance, some scenes may be indoor or outdoor or even at the police station. If one live in michigan one have witness the bad weather of snow storms, blizzards,thunderstorming, and tornados, no matter the weather condition an CSI agent are to arrive at the scene. When visiting these crime scenes there can be homicides, where CSI's witness dead bodies. Witnessing the aftermath of brutal crimes is an occupational hazard unavoidable in forensic science. Forensic scientists sometimes visit the crime scene, where they might examine a victim's body or study blood spatter(Eille Williams 2017). These bodies may be covered in blood, deformed,or decomposed causing a horrifying smell. When a CSI agent views these dead bodies it can cause distraught and can be glued in their mind for a while. One may see homicides of children which one of the main causes of CSI's going to therapy and can cause them to have depression.

If one looking forward to being an CSI, one has to face education, training, and experience requirements before officially being a CSI. most of the forensic science fields require a bachelor's degree in either biology, criminal justice, microbiology, forensic or natural science. It also requires a lot of english classes because a CSI need very honed written and oral communication capabilities to write detailed reports and testify physical evidence in court. Although education is an important component for achieving a career as a crime scene investigator, on-the-job training is, perhaps, just as important, as it provides individuals with real scenarios and settings. When it comes to training many who are newly hire would follow along an senior CSI for a long period of time.

CSI can expect to earn around $40,000 after graduating. It has nothing to do with your and skills, and everything to do with where you work and who you work for. The highest paying employer was the federal government, with averages at $108,240 per year, or $45.79 per hour. The local government average salary $62,710, or $30.15 per hour, and insurance carriers, showing averages of $60,830 per year, or $29.25 per hour(crimesceneinvestgatoredu.org). Experienced, full-time CSI who work for places such as law enforcement organizations can also be compensated in the form of benefits packages, which include holidays and vacations, overtime pay, health insurance and retirement packages. There are different salaries in different states, for example, in Alabama I can make approximately 56,500 per year, but in Kansas I can make approximately 79,000 per year (crimesceneinvestgatoredu.org). what it takes to become a CSI from education to training and breaking down how much one can possibly make per year, it shows on what have to take on to became this career work.

Every profession has there downs to it, there's no profession that is perfect. An CSI has a minimum of downs they are mostly positive. The things that are negative of being an CSI are bearable and can be solved. The negatives of an CSI is that it can be stressful, hazardous material, and the testimonies. Being CSI may become stressful because they are on call 24 hours of the day and repeatedly witnessing horrifying crime scenes. CSI involves a lot of patience. It can take months to find possible suspects in the crime and also it might take months to years to solve the crime. depending on how much evidence is found. While being on call for 24 hours of the day, it can take time away from an CSI family time because they have to report ot the scene and collect evidence as soon as possible. As a CSI repeatedly witness horrifying crime scenes, they have to be able to handle their emotions. Without the lack of this skilled one may suffer from mental effects or require counseling to handle the stress associated with the job (Ellie williams 2017).

CSI are responsible for collecting important evidence. When it comes to collecting the evidence it can be hazardous and harmful if not handle properly. For instance, if an CSI is not careful with an human tissue and blood it can contact an disease. The testimonies can be nerve racking if an CSI didn't gather or interpreted the right evidence. These experts can face the risk of retaliatory action from individuals related to the defendants against whom they are testifying. They also face danger if people against whom they have testified are released from jail or convictions are not secured( Brandon Garrett 2009).

Michael Howard, a forensic scientist that's specialized in (CSI) who been in this field for 29 years was giving an interview about being in a CSI and what to expect when being in this field. He stated when ask about how he begin his career, he announced that I got into the forensic field by accident. I was working in the toxicology lab at the medical school in Portland.When they got a grant to expand the lab, I decided I'd just as soon not be a medical tech the rest of my life.After that it was on-the-job training. I went to the FBI academy for training in hairs and fibers, instrumental analysis for paint chips”all that trace evidence(Michael Howard 2002). The most satisfying about forensic science to Michael was problem solving. You look at the evidence to see what it's telling you. How can you use the experts, scientific tests, and your own knowledge to answer questions and solve problem (Michael Howard 2002). The most challenging of an CSI to him is that to go back and look at the photos, look at the write-ups, the lab notes, and decide if they actually collected all the evidence they needed. Michael was lastly asked how he deals with the stress. He states that A lot of it is talking with the people you deal with every day. In forensics we often develop a warped sense of humor; we find humor in grotesque things. Forensic folks together will laugh about stuff that would horrify people outside the field. You build your own defenses, and vent it at work(Michael Howard 2002). Even though this a job that involves a lot it can be quite interesting and exciting to learn about and enjoy.

Now that professional as giving their opinion about the forensic science field, it's helpful to know how individuals that's not studying forensic feel about the field also. When surveying 5 individuals on how do they feel about forensic scientist, the first question ask do you trust that forensic scientists know what they are doing? 3 out of 5 said Yes while 2 out of 5 said No because they can wrongly convicted individuals. Do you believe that forensic science is a valid way to find criminals guilty? 5 out of 5 agreed that its a valid way to find criminal guilty. Do you believe that forensic evidence is reliable enough to send a person to an death penalty 4 out of 5 said sometimes because it could possibly be inaccurate. This analysis proves that many trust and believe in the work of forensic scientist.

Many people have watch the popular tv shows on television like law & order, CSI, Forensic Files and so on. When in reality that's not how things work in the field of forensic science. The media portrays a much simplest way to view an CSI than what it is in reality. The major difference between fiction vs. reality of being an CSI is that it can be tedious and very time consuming. CSI work is much slower and there's less availability of technology because of the budgets.

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