Being a forensic investigator is like being at the center of any crime scene. You assemble evidence and literally trace the footsteps and fingerprints that criminals leave behind at crime scenes. You have the thrilling task of gathering this evidence for a crime lab. You gather this evidence so that criminals can be prosecuted in a court of law. A forensic investigator may even need to research the causes of an individual’s death in a case. This may involve performing an autopsy or collecting DNA from an individual’s body. The task of the forensic investigator is to figure out who may have caused the death of an individual too. The forensic investigator may analyze a crime scene where a murder took place. He or she may need to research an act of terrorism that has occurred in a country. The forensic investigator has important responsibilities in researching crime and ensuring that justice is upheld in society. Maybe you have wondered, “How do I become a forensic investigator?” When you want to become a forensic investigator, it is important to obtain a bachelor’s degree that focuses upon criminal justice.
What’s it like to be a forensic investigator?
When you become a forensic investigator, you may have a certain number of cases that are in your file. Your job is to research all of these cases so that you can figure out who the perpetrator of a crime is. A forensic investigator takes photographs of a crime scene. He or she may also need to gather physical evidence that is at a crime scene. The prosecution team in a high-profile case may rely upon a forensic investigator for producing evidence that connects up certain loopholes in a case. For example, a prosecutor may need access to DNA that shows a criminal was actually the murderer or rapist within a case. It is up to the forensic investigator to find any DNA evidence that could reveal an individual is actually guilty of a rape or murder crime.
Education Requirements
To become a forensic investigator, one should obtain a bachelor’s degree in biology, anatomy or criminal justice. A forensic investigator may also want to seek out programs that focus upon the use of computer software programs that help forensic investigators manage evidence. Labs and police departments are increasingly requiring that individuals have a background in using technology for evidence collection purposes. One may also benefit from having a degree in sociology in the forensic evidence field. When one has a degree in psychology or sociology, he or she is able to relate to the victims that he or she may deal with in cases. A forensic investigator may need to work with victims to obtain information for gathering evidence for their cases.
Salary & How to Get a Job
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of a forensic investigator is about $50,000 a year. A forensic investigator who works in a large city may be able to earn a greater salary of about $70,000 a year. One will earn a lower salary if he or she works in a rural town. If one works in a rural town, then he or she will earn about $30,000 to $50,000 a year.
References:
1. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/forensic-science-technicians.htm
2. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_does_a_forensic_investigator_do
3. http://www.ehow.com/how_2311263_become-forensic-investigator.html