Job
Title:
Forensic
Scientist / Trace
Evidence
Department:
Lab
Reports
To:
Sergeant
FLSA
Status:
Non-exempt
Prepared
By:
Jim Richard
Prepared
Date:
Approved
By:
Major
Oswald
Approved
Date:
01/1907
DOE
SUMMARY
– Applies
scientific principles to analysis, identification, and classification of
mechanical devices, chemical and physical substances, materials, liquids, or
other physical evidence related to criminology, law enforcement, or
investigative work by performing the following duties. Locates,
identifies, and collects evidence at crime scenes and conduct forensic analysis
of tool marks, trace evidence.
Drafts analytical reports evaluate, process, and documents evidence for
use in criminal and civil cases by performing the following duties.
ESSENTIAL
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include
the following. Other duties may be assigned.
Prepares reports or
presentations of findings, methods, and techniques used to support conclusions,
and prepares results for court or other formal
hearings.
Testifies as expert witness on evidence or crime
laboratory techniques.
Confers with experts in such specialties as metallurgy,
biochemistry, forensic science, or others.
Devises new
equipment, and develops formulas, processes, and methods for solution of
technical problems.
Analyzes organic and inorganic compounds to determine
chemical and physical properties.
Induces changes in composition of substances by
introduction of heat, light, energy, and chemical
catalysts.
Confers with
scientists and engineers regarding research, and prepares technical papers and
reports.
Prepares standards and specifications for processes,
facilities, products, and tests.
Conducts forensic evaluation of evidence for use in
court.
Lifts and collects
latent fingerprints from crime scene, using scientific
techniques.
Process victim’s
body or remains for trace evidentiary purposes.
Collect, develop and
identify latent fingerprints.
Collect, identify,
classify and file known fingerprints.
Identifies by
comparison latent fingerprints using A.F.I.S., I.A.F.I.S., and/or manual
means.
Submits properly packaged and labeled evidence to the
evidence custodians for possible further forensic evaluation and for use in
court proceedings.
Operate a variety of
computer systems including but not limited to I.B.I.S., A.F.I.S.,
I.A.F.I.S.
Operate or have
knowledge of a variety of microscopes and laboratory equipment, including but
not limited to, Scanning Electron Microscope, Comparison Microscope, Firearm /
Tool Mark Microscope, GC/MS, FT-IR, Polarized
Microscope.
SUPERVISORY
RESPONSIBILITIES – This job has no supervisory
responsibilities.
Assist in processing
crime scene to locate and collect trace evidence for scientific
evaluation.
QUALIFICATIONS
– To
perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each
essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative
of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may
be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential
functions.
EDUCATION
and/or EXPERIENCE – A
high school diploma or general
education degree (GED). A bachelors degree in science / chemistry and related
experience and training in the
field of forensic science is preferred.
LANGUAGE
SKILLS –
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and
maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write
detailed reports and correspondence. Ability to speak
effectively before groups of customers or employees of
organization.
MATHEMATICAL
SKILLS –
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all
units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute
rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar
graphs.
REASONING
ABILITY –
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete
variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to
interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or
schedule form.
CERTIFICATES,
LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS – Valid
Louisiana Motor Vehicle Operator’s License; proof of residency of St. Tammany
Parish (voters registration card); birth certificate (minimum age of 21 years);
Social Security Card.
PHYSICAL
DEMANDS – The
physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by
an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to
perform the essential functions.
While performing the
duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers,
to handle, or feel; reach above head with hands and arms; balance or climb (on
steps, and ladders); stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; and
smell. The employee frequently is
required to stand, walk, sit, and lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Due to the nature of this job the
employee must sometimes work in remote locations and must be able to maneuver in
these areas, such as jump over ditches, crawl underneath automobiles, and climb
over fences.
Specific vision
abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color
vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
WORK
ENVIRONMENT – The
work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an
employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to
perform the essential functions.
While performing the
duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to outside weather
conditions. The employee is
occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts;
high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic
chemicals; extreme cold; extreme heat; and risk of electrical shock. Applicant must be willing to work shifts
as needed. In addition, the
employee is expected to respond to emergency calls whenever necessary, 24 hours
a day. The employee may also be
required to be on call 24 hours a day.
The noise level in the work environment is moderate. The
work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an
employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
FOR
MORE INFORMATION OR TO APPLY FOR THE ABOVE POSITION, PLEASE CONTACT CAPTAIN JIMMY
RICHARD, AND THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT BEFORE
31, 2007
Jill
Martin
Human
Resources Specialist
W
(985) 645-2402
F
(985) 645-2441