Crime Scene Technical Investigator

State of Oklahoma•Oklahoma City, OK

2d•$50,000•Onsite

About The Position

This position is located within the Crime Scene Unit in the Investigative Services Division. Positions within this job family perform and/or manage forensic analysis of physical evidence from criminal cases and/or convicted offender DNA samples. The functions performed in this job family will vary by level, unit and organization, but may include the following: Strictly adheres to validated and internationally accepted scientific principles, methods, and quality assurance/quality control; follows safety and health procedures; examines and analyzes various types of forensic evidence from criminal cases and/or convicted offender DNA samples and accurately interprets the results; generates complete, accurate documentation and files of all forensic analysis performed; prepares laboratory examination reports for use by law enforcement entities and criminal justice members; enters/searches evidence profiles/patterns in forensic databases such as CODIS, AFIS, PDQ, and NIBIN. Processes and interprets crime scenes in the field routinely being exposed to biohazardous and chemical dangers; recognizes, documents, collects, packages, and transports physical evidence to a forensic laboratory for analysis, ensuring the integrity of the evidence is protected. Fingerprints deceased persons for the medical examiner’s office to aid in identifications and investigations, occasionally retrieving body parts to process them in a sterile lab environment; receives medical examiner’s evidence to submit to an OSBI laboratory. Complies with subpoenas, discovery orders, and other orders of the court; testifies as an expert in court and/or administrative hearings concerning the results of forensic examinations of physical evidence and crime scenes; prepares court exhibits as necessary. Actively reviews and assesses publications and directives being introduced at the federal level to determine impacts on state and local laboratories and practices; seeks membership on federal boards and organizations to influence direction of forensics; researches scientific/technical literature and forensic methods; attends training to maintain current knowledge and skills; develops/validates new or improved techniques/instrumentation for use in the forensic analysis of physical evidence; writes, reviews, and updates technical protocols, quality assurance policy/procedures, safety and health policies, and operational policies/procedures. Identifies grant programs that can provide needed funding to the laboratory; actively participates in writing grant applications and producing regularly scheduled grant reports to federal and state grant administrators to prove compliance with stringent grant program requirements; develops and closely monitors grant budgets when grants have been awarded. Provides training to criminalists, agents, crime scene technicians, student interns, law enforcement officers, forensic scientists, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges; represents the laboratory at committees, meetings, boards, and professional organizations; makes presentations to civic, educational, professional, law enforcement and other interested groups; and occasionally gives media interviews. Monitors proposed legislation to evaluate its impact on the forensic community; writes new legislation or modifies existing legislation when needed to improve the field of forensics in Oklahoma; educates law makers about proposed legislation and occasionally testifies before legislative bodies to explain legislative changes that are needed. Performs administrative and/or technical review of forensic work; performs internal quality audits/inspections of units, regions, disciplines, and laboratory functions; ensures technical compliance, quality, and uniformity; understands and complies with standards required for the laboratory to maintain international accreditation and federal standards regulating the analysis of DNA evidence and DNA database profiles. Develops and maintains effective professional communications and working relationships with peers, co-workers, supervisors, administrators, law enforcement officers, medical examiners, forensic professionals, prosecutors, defense attorneys, educators, and professional organizations; advises, educates and assists investigators and prosecutors in furthering criminal investigations and in preparing cases for trial by providing guidance on appropriate laboratory testing, and on the meaning, significance and applicability of the results of forensic analysis.

Requirements

Minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Knowledge of the assigned field of work (chemistry, biology, forensic science, criminalistics, criminal justice, latent print development, print identification, firearms and toolmarks, digital evidence, or document examination).
Knowledge of basic scientific principles.
Knowledge of methods used in forensic analysis.
Knowledge of grammar, punctuation, English usage, and spelling.
Knowledge of math.
Knowledge of criminal investigative procedures relating to laboratory criminalistics.
Knowledge of statutory criminal law.
Knowledge of laboratory techniques.
Knowledge of Laboratory Quality Assurance/Quality Control standards.
Knowledge of laboratory safety policies and practices.
Ability to prepare evidence and exhibits for court.
Ability to effectively testify in court or administrative hearings.
Ability to organize and present facts and opinions clearly.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
Ability to use laboratory equipment and instrumentation efficiently.
Ability to conduct crime scene investigations.
Ability to provide leadership and direction to lower level employees.
Ability to make public presentations and speeches.
Ability to conduct scientific research.
Must possess, or be eligible for a valid Oklahoma driver’s license.
Must be able to meet the requirements for peace officer certification if required by the agency.
Must possess the physical and mental stamina to perform the work and accept the inherent physical, chemical, and biological hazards.
Need accurate vision with or without corrective lens, and need to accurately distinguish between colors.
Must be able to successfully complete any necessary training and certification required by the agency.
Must be able to be called back to work at irregular times.
Must be willing and able to work overtime when required.
Must be willing and able to travel frequently and be in travel status for extended periods of time.
Must be willing to transfer where and when needed and to accept assignments anywhere in the state.
Must pass a thorough character and background investigation.
Must successfully pass a polygraph examination, drug screen and, if required by the agency, a psychological evaluation.
Subsequent to an offer of employment, applicants may be required by the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System to satisfy psychological testing, medical examination and/or physical agility testing standards or requirements.
Educational and/or experience selective qualifications may apply for specific disciplines, levels, or positions.
Some positions may require certification by the International Association of Computer Investigative Specialist (IACIS) as a Certified Forensic Computer Examiner.
Commissioned applicants must be able to satisfy the limitations contained in the federal law regarding misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence.
Successful applicants must be willing to submit to a drug screen, polygraph examination, psychological evaluation (commissioned positions only), and a thorough background investigation.
Certain events automatically disqualify an applicant, such as, felony conviction; admission of an undetected crime that, if known, would have been a felony charge; failure to pay federal or state income tax; positive confirmed drug urine test; illegal use of a controlled substance within certain time frames.

Nice To Haves

Incumbents do not have supervisory, research and development, or training responsibilities at the entry level.
At this level, incumbents may accompany senior analysts to crime scenes and perform tasks under direct supervision.

Responsibilities

Assist crime scene agents in processing crime scene, collection and identification of evidence, log items into evidence vault, transport and submit evidence to the OSBI laboratory, return evidence to requestors.
Complete training alignment with OSBI crime scene agent duties.
Strictly adheres to validated and internationally accepted scientific principles, methods, and quality assurance/quality control; follows safety and health procedures.
Examines and analyzes various types of forensic evidence from criminal cases and/or convicted offender DNA samples and accurately interprets the results.
Generates complete, accurate documentation and files of all forensic analysis performed.
Prepares laboratory examination reports for use by law enforcement entities and criminal justice members.
Enters/searches evidence profiles/patterns in forensic databases such as CODIS, AFIS, PDQ, and NIBIN.
Processes and interprets crime scenes in the field routinely being exposed to biohazardous and chemical dangers.
Recognizes, documents, collects, packages, and transports physical evidence to a forensic laboratory for analysis, ensuring the integrity of the evidence is protected.
Fingerprints deceased persons for the medical examiner’s office to aid in identifications and investigations, occasionally retrieving body parts to process them in a sterile lab environment.
Receives medical examiner’s evidence to submit to an OSBI laboratory.
Complies with subpoenas, discovery orders, and other orders of the court.
Testifies as an expert in court and/or administrative hearings concerning the results of forensic examinations of physical evidence and crime scenes.
Prepares court exhibits as necessary.
Actively reviews and assesses publications and directives being introduced at the federal level to determine impacts on state and local laboratories and practices.
Seeks membership on federal boards and organizations to influence direction of forensics.
Researches scientific/technical literature and forensic methods.
Attends training to maintain current knowledge and skills.
Develops/validates new or improved techniques/instrumentation for use in the forensic analysis of physical evidence.
Writes, reviews, and updates technical protocols, quality assurance policy/procedures, safety and health policies, and operational policies/procedures.
Identifies grant programs that can provide needed funding to the laboratory.
Actively participates in writing grant applications and producing regularly scheduled grant reports to federal and state grant administrators to prove compliance with stringent grant program requirements.
Develops and closely monitors grant budgets when grants have been awarded.
Provides training to criminalists, agents, crime scene technicians, student interns, law enforcement officers, forensic scientists, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges.
Represents the laboratory at committees, meetings, boards, and professional organizations.
Makes presentations to civic, educational, professional, law enforcement and other interested groups.
Occasionally gives media interviews.
Monitors proposed legislation to evaluate its impact on the forensic community.
Writes new legislation or modifies existing legislation when needed to improve the field of forensics in Oklahoma.
Educates law makers about proposed legislation and occasionally testifies before legislative bodies to explain legislative changes that are needed.
Performs administrative and/or technical review of forensic work.
Performs internal quality audits/inspections of units, regions, disciplines, and laboratory functions.
Ensures technical compliance, quality, and uniformity.
Understands and complies with standards required for the laboratory to maintain international accreditation and federal standards regulating the analysis of DNA evidence and DNA database profiles.
Develops and maintains effective professional communications and working relationships with peers, co-workers, supervisors, administrators, law enforcement officers, medical examiners, forensic professionals, prosecutors, defense attorneys, educators, and professional organizations.
Advises, educates and assists investigators and prosecutors in furthering criminal investigations and in preparing cases for trial by providing guidance on appropriate laboratory testing, and on the meaning, significance and applicability of the results of forensic analysis.