What Is the Importance of Criminalists?
Criminalists use a range of scientific techniques to help law-enforcement agencies solve crimes. They operate in various roles, from gathering evidence at crime scenes to analyzing and evaluating this evidence in labs. They give guidance to agencies as they work on cases, provide proof of guilt or innocence, and may testify in court as expert witnesses. These roles have grown in importance over the last few decades as forensic science techniques have advanced.
Criminalists work with law-enforcement agencies on criminal cases and spend much of their time managing physical evidence. They may, for example, find and collect evidence at a crime scene, take it back to a lab and then analyze and interpret it using scientific techniques and practical experience. Or, they may be solely lab-based. Findings may become part of a court case, either as reports or as testimony from expert witnesses. Criminalists' work includes fingerprinting, DNA testing, trace evidence analysis, firearm and toolmark evaluation and toxicology testing.
Criminalists improve crime solution rates. Working independently, they take the guesswork out of investigations by using proven scientific techniques to analyze and evaluate evidence. This also allows them to contribute to a fairer justice system. The first criminal case to use DNA testing happened in the UK in the 1980s -- expert analysis proved the innocence of the prime suspect. Experts can also help agencies understand what happened at a crime scene, and give guidance on potential suspects. They support cases, law enforcement agencies and individuals involved in crimes by giving expert testimony in court.
Skills and Qualifications
Some criminalists are generalists; others specialize in one area of forensic science. Most are graduates with degrees in biology, chemistry, physics or a criminalist discipline such as forensic science. Some jobs, such as crime-scene investigators, are sometimes taken on by serving or former police officers. Math, analysis and reporting skills are also important. Further training is likely once you start a job; this will be ongoing. It can take a number of years to qualify as an expert and you may need to take proficiency exams. Most new graduates will work with experienced criminalists to start with before being able to work independently.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, criminalists such as forensic science technicians had an average annual salary of $51,570 in 2010. Projected job growth between 2010 and 2020 is 19 percent. This is above the average for all jobs, which is 14 percent.
- California Association of Criminalists: Criminalistics Information
- Penn State: Criminalists
- BBC News: Twenty Years of DNA Evidence
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: How to Become a Forensic Science Technician
- ONet Online: Forensic Science Technicians
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Forensic Science Technicians
Carol Finch has been writing technology, careers, business and finance articles since 2000, tapping into her experience in sales, marketing and technology consulting. She has a bachelor's degree in Modern Languages, a Chartered Institute of Marketing.certificate and unofficial tech and gaming geek status with her long-suffering friends and family.