So you want to be a CSI?
Shows like CBS' Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) and its spin-offs have sparked considerable interest in exciting and rewarding careers in law enforcement and forensic science for many students. As you might have guessed, these TV shows take considerable artistic license in how they portray the field to make it a good TV drama. One of the misrepresentations is the "do it all" investigator. In reality many highly trained specialists work together in these roles.
Fresno State's colleges of science and mathematics and social sciences offer a variety of programs that can help you pursue these career goals and both undergraduate and graduate levels. Selecting the program that will best meet your needs will require that you have a clear understanding of the many jobs in the criminal justice system, and which you would like to pursue. Students interested in working in a forensic science laboratory (crime lab) should contact a forensic science advisor in the Department of Chemistry for more information about the required preparation for these careers. Students interested in careers in law enforcement should contact the Department of Criminology.
Some of the careers you may wish to consider are listed below with descriptions of their role in criminal investigations and how programs at Fresno State can help you prepare for your future.
Crime Scene & Investigative Work
Forensic Science Laboratory Positions
- Drug Analysis & Clandestine Laboratory Investigation
- Toxicology
- DNA / Biochemistry
- Explosives Analysis
- Fire Debris Analysis
- Firearms and Toolmarks
- Questioned Documents
- Trace Analysis
Consultants / Other Specialists
Forensic Chemist - Drug Analysis and Clandestine Drug Laboratory Investigation
Drug analysis and clandestine laboratory investigating chemists are responsible for the chemical analysis of evidence to determine if they contain controlled substances or materials related to the manufacture of controlled substances. Some analysts have additional responsibility in investigating clandestine laboratories through chemical analysis and/or crime scene response. Drug analysis is one of the typical entry level assignments for crime laboratories.
Other Titles |
Forensic Scientist, Forensic Chemist, Criminalist, ... |
|---|---|
Salary |
$30K – $110K or more |
Work Hours |
Stable, business hours typical for laboratory positions. Participation in lab response teams may require evening and weekend call out and on call duties. |
Typical Employers |
Crime laboratories housed in law enforcement agencies, prosecutor's offices, or as independent government identities. Private contract laboratories and/or defense testing laboratories. |
Years of Education |
4+ including BS or BA undergraduate and optional additional graduate school |
Undergraduate |
|
Graduate Program |
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Toxicologist
Toxicologists are responsible for the chemical analysis of biological materials to determine if they contain drugs or poisons. Common samples include blood, urine, other bodily fluids, and a variety of tissues. The results of toxicological analysis are used to assist in determining the cause of death, determining extent of impairment (e.g. drunk driving), or to assess the use of prohibited substances (e.g. steroid use). Toxicology, in particular blood alcohol analysis, is a typical entry level assignment in a crime laboratory.
Other Titles |
Forensic Scientist, Criminalist, ... |
|---|---|
Salary |
$30K – $110K or more |
Work Hours |
Stable, business hours typical for crime laboratory positions. |
Typical Employers |
Government crime laboratories, government toxicology laboratories, medical testing laboratories, performance enhancing drug testing labs (NFL, Olympic, etc.), private toxicology labs, hospitals, etc. |
Years of Education |
4+ including BS or BA undergraduate and optional additional graduate school |
Undergraduate |
Chemistry or Biochemistry |
Graduate Program |
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Forensic Chemist - Explosives
Some forensic chemists are given the responsibility of analyzing physical evidence to determine if pre- or post-blast residues are present. The presence of these residues can help analysts determine if a piece of evidence is related to an explosive devise and what type of explosive material may have been used in the case.
Other Titles |
Forensic Scientist, Forensic Chemist, Criminalist, ... |
|---|---|
Salary |
$30K – $110K or more |
Work Hours |
Stable, business hours typical for laboratory positions. Some positions may require evening and weekend call out or on call duties related to scene response. |
Typical Employers |
Crime laboratories housed in law enforcement agencies, prosecutor's offices, or as independent government identities. Private contract laboratories and/or defense testing laboratories. The federal Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATFE) laboratories are one of the major employers for this discipline. |
Years of Education |
4+ including BS or BA undergraduate and optional additional graduate school |
Undergraduate |
|
Graduate Program |
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Forensic Chemist - Fire Debris
Fire debris analysts, sometimes called arson analysts, chemically analyze physical evidence from fire scenes to determine if they contain residual levels of accelerants, such as gasoline. This information can be used to help establish the cause of fires and who might have been involved.
Other Titles |
Forensic Scientist, Forensic Chemist, Criminalist, ... |
|---|---|
Salary |
$30K – $110K or more |
Work Hours |
Stable, business hours typical for laboratory positions. |
Typical Employers |
Crime laboratories housed in law enforcement agencies, prosecutor's offices, or as independent government identities. Private contract laboratories (e.g. insurance companies) and/or defense testing laboratories. |
Years of Education |
4+ including BS or BA undergraduate and optional additional graduate school |
Undergraduate |
|
Graduate Program |
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Forensic Scientist - Firearms and Toolmarks
A firearms and toolmarks examiner performs a variety of analyses on bullets, cartridge cases, guns, and other physical evidence. A common questions these analysts seek to answer include:
- Is a bullet or cartridge case found at a scene is connected to a gun found in a suspects possession?
- How close was a shooter to a victim based on gun shot residue patterns?
- Is a firearm in proper working condition or could it have discharged accidentally?
- Are the conditions of a shooting scene consistent with reports or staged?
Other Titles |
Forensic Scientist, Forensic Chemist, Criminalist, Firearms and Toolmarks Examiner, ... |
|---|---|
Salary |
$30K – $110K or more |
Work Hours |
Stable, business hours typical for laboratory positions. |
Typical Employers |
Crime laboratories housed in law enforcement agencies, prosecutor's offices, or as independent government identities. Private contract laboratories and/or defense testing laboratories. |
Years of Education |
4+ including BS or BA undergraduate and optional additional graduate school |
Undergraduate |
|
Graduate Program |
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Medical Examiner
Medical examiners perform autopsies and evaluate toxicological data and crime scene reports to reach conclusions regarding the cause and timing of deaths. Work in this field requires contact with dead and decomposing bodies.
Other Titles |
Forensic Pathologist |
|---|---|
Salary |
$80K – $150K or more |
Work Hours |
Typically stable hours. Some positions may require scene response. |
Typical Employers |
Coroner's Offices, Hospitals, ... |
Years of Education |
9+ including undergraduate and medical school |
Undergraduate |
|
Graduate Program |
None at Fresno State at Present |
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Forensic Nurse
The Forensic Nurse applies nursing science to public or legal proceedings. Forensic nursing combines bio-psycho-social education of the registered nurse with the application of the forensic aspects of health care, combining scientific investigation with the treatment of victims of trauma, violence, criminal activity and traumatic accidents and/or death; as well as treatment of the perpetrators of abuse, violence, trauma and violent activity.
Other Titles |
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, Forensic Nurse Investigator or Forensic Nurse Death Investigator, Forensic Correctional Nurse, Forensic Legal Consultant, Forensic Psychiatric Nurse |
|---|---|
Salary |
$60K – $100K or more |
Work Hours |
May require shift work, some on call may be required. |
Typical Employers |
Hospital Emergency Departments, County Coroner’s Offices, Jails, Departments of Corrections, Private Practice, State Department of Mental Health |
Years of Education |
4+ |
Undergraduate |
|
Graduate Program |
None at Fresno State at Present |
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Forensic Psychologist
Forensic psychologists are involved in research and practice in government, prisons, rehabilitative settings, police departments, and other law-enforcement settings. Some teach and conduct research on topics as varied as serial killing, substance abuse, eyewitness identification, antisocial personalities, jury selection, and the social psychology of crime. Perhaps the majority, those with clinical licensure, are involved in psychological assessment and therapy with suspects and inmates, with substance abuse populations, and with police and police agencies. Police psychologists may work in therapy and assessment with law enforcement officers, frequently those who have experienced critical incidents or officer involved shootings, or who exhibit signs of post traumatic stress disorder. They may also work in assessment with candidates for police positions, and in other related roles.
Other Titles |
Police psychologist |
|---|---|
Salary |
$50K – $120K or more |
Work Hours |
Variable; depends on nature of practice. Participation in critical response may require night and weekend call out and on call duties. |
Typical Employers |
Government justice agencies; police departments; prisons; halfway facilities; psychiatric hospitals; universities; private practice. |
Years of Education |
8+; PhD, EdD, or PsyD typically required. Clinical positions require licensure, which involves additional examinations and internships |
Undergraduate |
Typically psychology; sometimes criminology with psychology minor/emphasis, but other majors, with sufficient psychology coursework, may be considered for graduate training |
Graduate Program |
For practitioners, Forensic Psychology or Forensic Clinical Psychology; may also enter through clinical or counseling psychology doctoral programs with sufficient forensic emphasis. Research forensic psychologists come from all doctoral-level areas of psychology, depending on emphasis. |
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