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Forensic Science Technicians

Collect, identify, classify, and analyze physical evidence related to criminal investigations. Perform tests on weapons or substances, such as fiber, hair, and tissue to determine significance to investigation. May testify as expert witnesses on evidence or crime laboratory techniques. May serve as specialists in area of expertise, such as ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, or biochemistry.

Tasks
24 tasks15 core, 9 supplemental
Family
Life, Physical & Social ScienceOne of its 66 occupations
Code
19-4092.00SOC 2018: 19-4092

Read the 24 tasks Download this record as JSON

What the work is made of

15 core tasks and 9 supplemental, each quoted as published, with the survey it came from.

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Core: central to the jobSupplemental: done by some, not all

  1. Task 1. Collect evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity.Core taskTask 1577Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2023
  2. Task 2. Keep records and prepare reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques.Core taskTask 18478Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2023
  3. Task 3. Use photographic or video equipment to document evidence or crime scenes.Core taskTask 20399Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2023
  4. Task 4. Testify in court about investigative or analytical methods or findings.Core taskTask 1571Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2023
  5. Task 5. Use chemicals or other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence and compare developed prints to those of known persons in databases.Core taskTask 18479Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2023
  6. Task 6. Measure and sketch crime scenes to document evidence.Core taskTask 23965Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2023
  7. Task 7. Visit morgues, examine scenes of crimes, or contact other sources to obtain evidence or information to be used in investigations.Core taskTask 1584Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2023
  8. Task 8. Train new technicians or other personnel on forensic science techniques.Core taskTask 18481Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2023
  9. Task 9. Operate and maintain laboratory equipment and apparatus.Core taskTask 1574Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2023
  10. Task 10. Collect impressions of dust from surfaces to obtain and identify fingerprints.Core taskTask 1582Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2023
  11. Task 11. Examine and analyze blood stain patterns at crime scenes.Core taskTask 18482Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2023
  12. Task 12. Analyze gunshot residue and bullet paths to determine how shootings occurred.Core taskTask 1583Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2023
  13. Task 13. Confer with ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, documents, electronics, medical, chemical, or metallurgical experts concerning evidence and its interpretation.Core taskTask 1589Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2023
  14. Task 14. Prepare solutions, reagents, or sample formulations needed for laboratory work.Core taskTask 1575Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2023
  15. Task 15. Examine footwear, tire tracks, or other types of impressions.Core taskTask 23966Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2023
  16. Task 16. Examine physical evidence, such as hair, biological fluids, fiber, wood, or soil residues to obtain information about its source and composition.Supplemental taskTask 23967Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2023
  17. Task 17. Reconstruct crime scenes to determine relationships among pieces of evidence.Supplemental taskTask 1580Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2023
  18. Task 18. Determine types of bullets and specific weapons used in shootings.Supplemental taskTask 20401Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2023
  19. Task 19. Review forensic analysts' reports for technical merit.Supplemental taskTask 20400Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2023
  20. Task 20. Interpret laboratory findings or test results to identify and classify substances, materials, or other evidence collected at crime scenes.Supplemental taskTask 1573Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2023
  21. Task 21. Compare objects, such as tools, with impression marks to determine whether a specific object is responsible for a specific mark.Supplemental taskTask 1590Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2023
  22. Task 22. Identify and quantify drugs or poisons found in biological fluids or tissues, in foods, or at crime scenes.Supplemental taskTask 1578Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2023
  23. Task 23. Examine firearms to determine mechanical condition and legal status, performing restoration work on damaged firearms to obtain information, such as serial numbers.Supplemental taskTask 1587Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2023
  24. Task 24. Analyze data from computers or other digital media sources for evidence related to criminal activity.Supplemental taskTask 23969Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2023

Where this comes from

Quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor, and credited. Nothing on this page is written by us.

How we copy and credit sources
  1. Published by
    O*NET 29.0, U.S. Department of LaborEmployment and Training Administration
  2. Classification
    Standard Occupational Classification 2018, 19-4092
  3. License
    CC BY 4.0Free to copy and reuse, with credit
  4. Changed by us
    Nothing.

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