Job Family: 19-0000 Life, Physical and Social Science

Occupational Group: 19-4090 Science Technicians

OCCUPATION PROFILE

JOB FAMILY: LIFE, PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCE

OCCUPATIONAL GROUP: SCIENCE TECHNICIANS

OCCUPATION: FORENSIC SCIENCE TECHNICIANS

19-4092

BROADBAND LEVELS: Level 1 – Pay Band 002

Level 2 – Pay Band 005

Level 3 – Pay Band 007

Level 4 – Pay Band 009

DESCRIPTION

This is work collecting, identifying, classifying, and analyzing physical evidence related to criminal investigations or the natural environment. Incumbents perform tests on weapons or substances, such as fiber, hair, and tissue to determine significance to an investigation. Incumbents may testify as expert witnesses on evidence or crime laboratory techniques and may serve as specialists in area of expertise, such as ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, or biochemistry.

Some positions in this occupation may be responsible for coordinating work and supervising employees.

EXAMPLES OF WORK

Supervises employees by assigning work, reviewing progress and assessing performance.

Examines, tests, and analyzes tissue samples, chemical substances, physical materials, and ballistics evidence, using recording, measuring, and testing equipment.

Interprets laboratory findings and test results to identify and classify substances, materials, and other evidence collected.

Collects and preserves criminal evidence used to solve cases.

Confers with ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, documents, electronics, medical, chemical, or metallurgical experts concerning evidence and its interpretation.

Reconstructs crime scene to determine relationships among pieces of evidence.

Prepares reports or presentations of findings, investigative methods, or laboratory techniques.

Testifies as expert witness on evidence or laboratory techniques in trials or hearings.

EXAMPLES OF JOB CHARACTERISTICS

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events / Identifying information received by making estimates or categorizations, recognizing differences or similarities, or sensing changes in circumstances or events.
Documenting/Recording Information / Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in either written form or by electronic/magnetic recording.
Getting Information Needed to do the Job / Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Analyzing Data or Information / Identifying underlying principles, reasons, or facts by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Communicating With Other Workers / Providing information to supervisors, fellow workers, and subordinates. This information can be exchanged face-to-face, in writing, or via telephone/electronic transfer.
Judging Qualities of Things, Services, and/or People / Making judgments about or assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems / Combining, evaluating, and reasoning with information and data to make decisions and solve problems. These processes involve making decisions about the relative importance of information and choosing the best solution.
Handling and Moving Objects / Using one's own hands and arms in handling, installing, forming, positioning, and moving materials, or in manipulating things, including the use of keyboards.
Communicating With Persons Outside Of the Organization / Communicating with persons outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged face-to-face, in writing, or via telephone/electronic transfer.
Interpreting Meaning of Information to Others / Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be understood or used to support responses or feedback to others.

EXAMPLES OF KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Information Gathering / Knowing how to find information and identifying essential information
Information Organization / Finding ways to structure or classify multiple pieces of information
Reading Comprehension / Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents
Problem Identification / Identifying the nature of problems
Critical Thinking / Using logic and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches
Science / Using scientific methods to solve problems
Active Listening / Listening to what other people are saying and asking questions as appropriate
Writing / Communicating effectively with others in writing as indicated by the needs of the audience
Judgment and Decision Making / Weighing the relative costs and benefits of a potential action
Equipment Selection / Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job
Coordination / Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions
Management of Personnel Resources / Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job
Public Safety and Security / Knowledge of some or all of the following: weaponry, public safety, security operations, rules, regulations, precautions, prevention, protection of people, data and property
Chemistry / Knowledge of the composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods
English Language / Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar
Law, Government and Jurisprudence / Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process
Computers and Electronics / Knowledge of electric circuit boards, processors, chips, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming
Mathematics / Knowledge of numbers, their operations, and interrelationships including one or more of the following: arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications

LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION, OR REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

EFFECTIVE: 07/01/2002

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