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What is a Crime Scene Examiner?

Margo Upson
Margo Upson
Margo Upson
Margo Upson

A crime scene examiner, also known as a crime scene investigator, is responsible for gathering and protecting the evidence from a crime scene. He or she is usually one of the first responders on the scene. After the crime scene photographer has finished taking the necessary pictures, the investigative team is the next group onto the crime scene.

The main duty of a crime scene examiner is to gather evidence. This can be a very complicated task, depending on the crime scene. It may involve making casts of footprints, gathering fingerprints and locating trace evidence, such as hairs, fibers or bits of paint. An examiner will also collect evidence relating to fire arms, or guns, such as shell casings, powder patterns and bullet fragments. Biological evidence, such as blood, semen, nail scrapings and other evidence left by the humans involved, will also be carefully gathered as evidence.

Crime scene examiners gather evidence after a crime scene has been secured.
Crime scene examiners gather evidence after a crime scene has been secured.

Crime scene examiners have received a lot of specialized training to be able to do their jobs correctly. They need to know how to use all of the tools necessary for analyzing a crime scene. If examiners use the tools incorrectly, they run the chance of ruining important evidence that could have been used to solve the case. Investigators need to know more than just how to use the equipment, however; they also need to know how to properly clean and store it, so that the equipment is ready for when it is next needed.

Crime scene examiners must look at the whole crime scene and then break it down into parts.
Crime scene examiners must look at the whole crime scene and then break it down into parts.

Depending on the number of investigators in a police department, a crime scene examiner may be on call at any time of the day and night. Examiners also have regular work hours, during which they do any office work and attend to current crime scenes. A crime scene examiner may often be faced with disturbing crime scenes, and may often need a strong stomach. Being able to look at the whole crime scene, and then be able to break it down into parts, is a necessary skill for examiners to have. Examiners should also be able to do heavy lifting as well as more delicate work with equal amounts of skill.

Crime scene examiners look at the dispersal of evidence.
Crime scene examiners look at the dispersal of evidence.

A crime scene examiner works in a very exciting career field where no two days are ever the same. Especially in more urban areas, where crime is more prominent, there is never a shortage of interesting cases to work. The work can often be challenging, and requires a lot of technical knowledge, but it is a great career choice for individuals who love science and are interested in pursuing a criminal justice degree.

Margo Upson
Margo Upson

Margo has a varied academic background, which has involved everything from psychology and culinary arts to criminal justice and education. These wide-ranging interests make her an ideal WiseGEEK writer, as she always enjoys becoming an expert on new and unfamiliar topics.

Learn more...
Margo Upson
Margo Upson

Margo has a varied academic background, which has involved everything from psychology and culinary arts to criminal justice and education. These wide-ranging interests make her an ideal WiseGEEK writer, as she always enjoys becoming an expert on new and unfamiliar topics.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

mummypaws

I also enjoyed these programs from 8am in the morning till whatever time in the night and never get tired of them. Which ones do you watch? I also enjoyed the article because this is what I'm going to school for in criminal justice.

anon38935

I just wanted you to know that this article was very interesting to me because this is what I'm going to school for and is the same field that I want to do when I'm finished. I watch all of these kinds of programs on the TV, and I never get tired of them. some say I'm like a kid when it comes to these shows, like a kid in cartoons.

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    • Crime scene examiners gather evidence after a crime scene has been secured.
      By: Loren Rodgers
      Crime scene examiners gather evidence after a crime scene has been secured.
    • Crime scene examiners must look at the whole crime scene and then break it down into parts.
      By: corepics
      Crime scene examiners must look at the whole crime scene and then break it down into parts.
    • Crime scene examiners look at the dispersal of evidence.
      By: squidmediaro
      Crime scene examiners look at the dispersal of evidence.
    • A crime scene examiner collects bullets, shell casings and other evidence at the scene of a crime.
      By: nito
      A crime scene examiner collects bullets, shell casings and other evidence at the scene of a crime.