Criminalist

State of Oklahoma•Edmond, OK

7d•$68,123 - $93,587•Onsite

About The Position

Positions within this job family perform and/or manage forensic analysis of physical evidence from criminal cases and/or convicted offender DNA samples. This position is located in the Trace Evidence Unit within the Criminalistics Services Division at the Forensic Science Center in Edmond, OK.

Requirements

Minimum of a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university in Chemistry, Biology, Forensic Science or a closely related natural science.
Candidates must have successfully completed (grade of a C or better) General Chemistry I, General Chemistry II, Organic Chemistry I, and Organic Chemistry II.
One year of experience working full-time as a forensic laboratory criminalist in the OSBI’s forensic chemistry-based disciplines (Controlled Substances, Forensic Toxicology or Trace Evidence Units) or one year in a position with another agency in which the applicant performed forensic analysis full-time in forensic chemistry/trace evidence (for Level II).
Two years of experience working full-time as a forensic laboratory criminalist in the OSBI’s forensic chemistry-based disciplines (Controlled Substances, Forensic Toxicology or Trace Evidence Units) or two years of experience with another agency in which the applicant performed forensic analysis full-time in forensic chemistry/trace evidence (for Level III).
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.
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.
Knowledge of criminal investigative procedures relating to laboratory criminalistics (for Level II and III).
Knowledge of statutory criminal law (for Level II and III).
Knowledge of laboratory techniques (for Level II and III).
Knowledge of Laboratory Quality Assurance/Quality Control standards (for Level II and III).
Knowledge of laboratory safety policies and practices (for Level II and III).
Ability to use laboratory equipment and instrumentation efficiently (for Level II and III).
Ability to conduct crime scene investigations (for Level II and III).
Ability to provide leadership and direction to lower-level employees (for Level III).
Ability to make public presentations and speeches (for Level III).
Ability to conduct scientific research (for Level III).

Nice To Haves

May collect evidence from crime scenes/morgue responses, as applicable.
May assist in training others in basic work (Level II).
May perform limited technical and administrative reviews (Level II).
May perform limited supervised research and development (Level II).
May assist in crime scene work (Level II).
May train other criminalists (Level III).
May function as lead worker by assigning/reviewing work of others (Level III).
May assist in writing technical protocols and laboratory procedures (Level III).
May serve as unit or regional supervisor in the absence of the supervisor (Level III).
May independently process crime scenes (Level III).
Certification by the International Association of Computer Investigative Specialist (IACIS) as a Certified Forensic Computer Examiner may be required for some positions.

Responsibilities

Performs scientific analysis on items of evidence submitted for forensic testing, including but not limited to chemical and physical analysis of trace evidence, issues report on their findings, and testifies in court.
Performs all activities in accordance with the OSBI quality system, OSBI policies, protocols, accreditation standards, federal/state statutes, etc.
Manages evidence according to policy and accreditation standards and maintains proper chain of custody. May collect evidence from crime scenes/morgue responses, as applicable, handles evidence in casework, and returns or retains evidence as appropriate.
Stays current with proficiency tests, up-to-date with literature reviews and/or other continuing education, and conducts other duties as assigned, including but not limited to quality control, research/validation, and performing verifications and review of other analysts’ casework.
Responds to crime scenes and morgue requests as needed.
Trains other analysts, law enforcement officers, attorneys, and others as requested/assigned.
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.