Day in the Life of a Crime Scene Investigator

By: Kasey Brodwater

Crime is all around us. Crimes can be easy to solve, or they can be more involved. No matter the case, crime should be stopped, and thats what I plan to do when my career falls into place. To be honest, the more complicated crimes interest me, and cause me to be more driven and determined to solve the case. Along with crime itself, science has always been an interest in mine. I knew that when I pursued a career, science would definitely be involved. The job I would like to pursue is a Crime Scene Investigator (CSI), and it is a strong balance between criminal investigation, and forensic science. To help research more information about this career, I asked probation/parole officer, Kristen Young to answer a few questions and describe what her life is like, and how she got where she is now. Crime scene investigators help investigate crimes by collecting and analyzing physical evidence. They evaluate the crime scene, in which most can be quite complex, and use various types of equipment to do so. The also prepare detailed reports on the observations and activities at the scene, and testify in court regarding the findings at the scene. So, this career choice is definitely involved, and you have to be willing, and resolved to succeed in a solution. Crime Scene Investigators are also known as Forensic Science Technicians. Forensic science is the scientific method of gathering and examining information about the past, and is especially important in law enforcement where forensics is used in relation to crime and law. So, what would a day in the life of a crime scene investigator be like? An average day in the life of a CSI usually begins with a call from another police officer at the scene of the crime. Once arrived at the scene, they make sure nothing has been moved or touched from the scene, and take many photographs of the whole scene, and small details. If a deceased body is present at the scene, the CSI will typically use that as a base, or starting point for collecting evidence. Evidence to look for might include defense wounds, or multiple different

patterned wounds, to maybe indicate if someone or something attempted to kill the victim more than once. Also, the CSI will take the temperature of the body to estimate the time of death, take fingerprints from the body, and then it is transported to the morgue. After inspecting the body and details around it, the CSI will then focus on the more obvious evidence, such as broken glass, weapons, or signs of forced entry. Already piecing together a theory from events, the CSI will comb through the crime scene for fingerprints, bullets, drugs, hair, fibers, bodily fluids, etc. Each piece of evidence is preserved, tagged and documented by the CSI. The Crime Scene Investigator will typically write a report on the scene after all evidence is collected. To find out more about criminal justice and law enforcement, I interviewed probation/parole officer Kristen Young. What Kristen does as a probation/parole officer is basically supervise, or monitor around 60 adults on probation or parole each day. This is to ensure that they are doing what they are supposed to, and enforce the law. Probation is when you are right out of court, so you may be sentenced to around 12-24 months of certain services. Whereas, parole can be sentenced for years, and if you fail the requirements jail time is expected. Kristen received a 4-year degree, and also had required training for her career. She went through 5 weeks of training, most occurred in a classroom style, while little was spent training with firearms to use a handgun. Out of curiosity and to help benefit me in the near future, I asked Kristen what characteristics she thought were important to have when working in her field. The first one that came to her immediately was patience. When working with adults that may not be as educated, or aware as she is, it can be very frustrating, but patience is key. The second characteristic was to not be judgmental. As she said, the adults may not be as intelligent or respectful to her or others, but she tries to respect them, and to not assume things about someone, or make a false judgment. Lastly, being open-minded was an important characteristic to have. To just be aware of the situation that you are in, and that others around you are in will help and benefit you throughout your career. To wrap up the interview, I asked Kristen how I could possibly prepare for working in criminal justice/law enforcement. The first tip she had was to be good with the public. Be friendly and respectful to others, while

also being confident in public and earning trust. The second tip was to be personable. To be personable is to have a pleasant appearance and manner. Respect others, and try youre hardest to help others, and you will gain trust from others. The last tip was to deal with people well. Always treat others how you would like to be treated. Even if someone is treating you poorly, treating them the same will only provoke them. Be smart about your decisions, and you will light a path to your career. Kristen Young gave me some great advice and tips about my career into criminal justice/law enforcement, and I feel more prepared and educated about my field. In conclusion, my career is going to be a big step ahead, and I am ready to prepare now. I value my life, and everyday choices I make. The decisions I make involving my high school, college, and career plan will be more important, and I want to do the best of my abilities to ensure I enjoy the life ahead of me, and I succeed. I want to pursue a career as a Crime Scene Investigator, not only because of my best interests, but also what I exceed at in everyday life. Each day, in every situation, I tend to notice the details, or the little things in the big picture. I observe the things that may not seem important, but will add up to a solution, like solving a crime. Also, science has always been my favorite subject, and a strong interest of mine. I knew that I would pursue in a career related to science, and this occupation has an excellent balance. Finally, I would succeed at this job because I am highly driven, and determined. Whether its solving a math problem, getting an answer, or solving a crime, I will not stop, or give up until I get a clear answer, which will lead me to success in an investigative career. That is why I would like to pursue in the career of a Crime Scene Investigator. I know that I would succeed at my job, but at the end of the day, the most important thing is to ensure your happiness, and enjoyment. I feel like this is something I would not only enjoy, but love, and that is by far the most important factor in deciding your career.