The tremendous popularity of the CSI television series and similar programs has led to a huge number of students interested in pursing a career as a crime scene officer. But very few of the 18,000 police agencies in the U.S. actually employ a full time crime scene officer. In those agencies, an officer wears several hats: patrolman, crime scene officer, and evidence officer. And because requirements vary from agency to agency, becoming a crime scene officer is also more complicated than many people realize. So how can you successfully enter this field? As we’ll see, understanding the demands of the job and planning ahead are the keys to putting yourself in the best position to succeed.

To begin with, you need to consider what it really means to be a crime scene officer. First, crime scene officers must be self-motivated. If you have to rely on other people to tell you what to do, you won’t get anywhere in this field. You also need a wide variety of skills and training. While the specific responsibilities of the job vary from department to department, crime scene officers generally need expertise in scene and evidence processing, photography, collecting physical evidence and documenting a crime scene, writing reports, and presenting testimony in court. Finally, television shows tend to make the job look glamorous. Being a crime scene investigator can be fascinating and rewarding, but I wouldn’t call it glamorous. It takes a special kind of person to handle things like blood and gore, autopsies, and what I call the “smell-o-rama” present at foul crime scenes.

Those interested in a career in crime scene investigation can begin exploring their options as early as high school. Many high schools now offer forensics classes. Additionally, students can actively practice their skills by participating in programs such as the SkillsUSA Championship Competitions. SkillsUSA is a national organization which provides a fun yet challenging way to learn about the field and put your skills to use. You can find more information about the program at their website (http://www.skillsusa.org/).

Before beginning a formal educational program in crime scene investigation, it’s important to look at the different paths one can take to get there. First of all, a crime scene investigator may be either a sworn police officer or a civilian crime scene officer. Deciding which path is right for you is crucial, so take a look at the differences between the two.

Sworn police officers typically receive training at their agency’s local law enforcement training center to become a certified officer and must meet annual training requirements to maintain their certification. Civilian officers, on the other hand, do not have the same training, do not carry a weapon, and do not have arrest powers. Civilian officers must instead rely on their educational training to get them into the job and then continue to get training to keep up with current technology.