Final Project
1
Final Project: Crime Scene Investigator
Teresa Jurado and German Gomez
The University of Texas at El Paso
Balko Radley (2015). “A brief history of forensics” Retrieved November 20, 2019 from
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2015/04/21/a-brief-history-of-forensics/
Final Project
2
The Washington Post focused on important history how forensics came together. It
informed me about how forensics was first brought up in 1911 This article is helpful to
our final project because it can provide us with reliable background history information
on how forensics was developed.
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wages (2018).”Detectives and
Criminal Investigators” Retrieved November 20, 2019 from
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333021.htm
In this article, it provides us a map of the United States by pointing out the employment
and wages estimated in the month of May year 2018. Also, it introduces percentile wage
estimates for each different occupation in the career whether its high ranking or low. This
source is helpful to our project because it gives us well estimates and information about
the employment of a crime scene investigator.
Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, NIST,
NFSTC. (2013). Crime scene investigation: a guide for law enforcement. Washington, D.C.
Retrieved November 21, 2019 from
https://www.utsystem.edu/sites/default/files/offices/police/policies/Crime-Scene-Investigation.pd
The documentation and evaluation scene is explained in this PDF to understand the
principle, policy, and procedures of given case. This PDF can be informative and
beneficial to our project because we can understand the restrictions of a crime scene
investigator.
CSI Training. (n.d.). Retrieved November 19, 2019 Retrieved from
https://www.crimesceneinvestigatoredu.org/training/.
Final Project
3
In this website it explains the requirements of each state and different training
certifications. This can be helpful to our project to understand and list the different
requirements to become a CSI.
Castaneda, L., & Ridgeway, G. (2010). Perceived Pros and Cons of Law Enforcement Careers.
In Today's Police and Sheriff Recruits: Insights from the Newest Members of America's Law
Castaneda, L., & Ridgeway, G. (2010). Perceived Pros and Cons of Law Enforcement Careers.
In Today's Police and Sheriff Recruits: Insights from the Newest Members of America's Law
Enforcement Community (pp. 15-40). Santa Monica, CA; Arlington, VA; Pittsburgh, PA: RAND
Corporation. Retrieved November 18, 2019 from www.jstor.org/stable/10.7249/mg992doj.10
In this textbook, some studies performed on law enforcement workers can be viewed.
Interviews and survey questions about why they chose their career and how they think
it’s beneficiary for them. We can utilize this source to expand on the advantages and
disadvantages of becoming a crime scene investigator.
Crime Scene Investigator. (n.d.). November 19, 2019 retrieved from
https://www.correctionalofficer.org/career/crime-scene-investigator.
This website is resourceful because it explains the career path for a crime scene
investigations. It also provides the detailed job descriptions of CSI. It lists the qualities
of a successful investigators.
Chandler. A. M. (2012). “Women at the Forefront of Booming Forensic Science Field.”
Retrieved November 3, 2019 from https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/womenat-forefront-of-booming-forensic-science-field/2012/07/27/gJQAkASRPX_story.html
Final Project
4
The Washington Post covered students from George Mason University that are enrolled
in the field of forensic science. It is explained that statistics show that women are more
active in this field than men. The demographics displayed by this article can help our
project diferénciate which gender is more unfolded in the crime scene investigation field.
Criminal Justice degree Schools (2019).”Crime Scene Investigator: Study Guide” Retrieved
November 20, 2019 from
Https://www.criminaljusticedegreeschools.com/criminal-justice-careers/crime-scene-investigator
In this article, the author gives brief descriptions about crime scene investigators. It
informs us about the salary and helpful skills about this career. This website can be
reliable to our final project because we could explain the guidelines and requirements in
this career. Also, it allows us to look into more reliable sources on this website.
“Forensic Science History.” Retrieved November 1, 2019, from
https://www.troopers.ny.gov/Crime_Laboratory_System/History/Forensic_Science_History/
The New York State police department created a section on their website to include the
history of forensic science. Main points of the 1800s, 1900s, and 21st century are
included. With the main points given on the section, we will add them to our timeline to
organize the events, while describing how they changed crime scene history.
Inman, K., & Rudin, N. (2001). Principles and practice of criminalistics: the profession of
forensic science. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. Retrieved from November 19, 2019 from
http://plaza.ufl.edu/jhefner/forensic_Timeline.pdf
Final Project
5
In this book, many things are mentioned, but the useful information for our final project
would be the explanation of the evolution of forensics. This timeline is well explained
and can be resourceful to complete our timeline.
Julia Layton.”How Crime Scene Investigation Works” Retrieved November 20, 2019 from
https://www.acschools.org/cms/lib/PA01916405/Centricity/Domain/362/How%20Crime%20Sce
ne%20Investigation%20Works%20Article.pdf
In this article it explains with important details how a crime investigation works. It
touches on the rules of an investigator and what procedures they have to take when
arrival to scene. This article can help us by including the steps of an investigator and the
strategies they have to do when arrival at scene.
International Crime Scene Investigators Association (2005).”ICSIA” Retrieved November 20,
2019 from https://www.icsia.org/how-to-become-a-csi/
In this document, it introduces us a knowledgeable source which talks about “ICSIA” in
other words “International Crime Scene Investigators Association”. This article provides
us with well explained background definitions of what International Crime Scene
Investigators Association really means. This is useful to our project because we’re able to
find valid information.
Los Angeles Police Department. Forensic Science Division History. Retrieved November 19,
2019, from
Final Project
6
http://www.lapdonline.org/FORENSICSCIENCEANDTECHNICALDIVISION/content_basic_v
iew/6399
The Los Angeles Police Department created a section in their webpage about the history
of forensic science. Including the when the first forensic lab was created. This document
is useful to our project since it provides vital information on the history of crime scene
investigation.
Melissa Beattie-Moss (2013).”Do women dominate the field of forensic science?”Retrieved
November 20, 2019 from
https://news.psu.edu/story/276199/2013/05/07/research/probing-question-do-women-dominatefield-forensic-science
In this website, the author debates about if the field of crime scene investigators has been
taken over by women. It states facts about the history of this career specifically and also
introduces many investigators. This document is usable for our project for the debate
between the genders in this field.
Post University (2019). “ 5 Benefits of a criminal justice degree” Retrieved November 19, 2019,
from
https://post.edu/blog/2017/02/5-benefits-criminal-justice-degree/
In this article, it explains the benefits of becoming a crime scene investigator. It briefly
states that this career is a competitive job and takes a lot of requirements to be able to be
Final Project
7
successful in it. This website is reliable, reasons being is that it explains well educated
reasons on why considering a job as an investigator could be a wise decision someone
would make.
Rich Press (2017). “Who was detective X?. Retrieved November 20, 2019 from
https://www.nist.gov/featured-stories/who-was-detective-x
In this article, it breaks down information about a detective/ investigator named Wilmer
Souder. Also, it explains the reasons why wilmer Souder was also nicknamed as
“detective X”. This webpage is a good source because it provides us information about
Wilmer Souder’s History.
Technical Working Group on Crime Scene Investigation (2000). “Crime Scene Investigation A
Guide for Law Enforcement Research Report” Retrieved November 20, 2019 from
https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/178280.pdf
In this PDF it introduces us a guideline on the responsibilities of a law enforcement when
they arrive at a crime scene. It focuses on a chronological order of steps of what an
officer should proceed when arrival at crime scene. This is helpful to our final project
because it provides us with brief information and background history about our topic.
Timothy Roufa (2019).”Why Choose a Career in Criminal Justice or Criminology?” Retrieved
November 19, 2019, from
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/why-choose-a-career-in-criminal-justice-or-criminology974590
Final Project
8
In this document, it persuades the reader into why they should get a career in the criminal
justice field. It explains the benefits about forensic science and also it provides well
explained details about the perks of deciding the field of criminology. This article is
beneficial to us because it can be usable for the comparison of the pros and cons about
this career field.
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice. (2000).
Crime scene investigation: a guide for law enforcement. Washington, DC. Retrieved November
19, 2019 from https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/about-us/lab/forensic-sciencecommunications/fsc/april2000/twgcsi.pdf
In this PDF, it exemplifies the different dangerous situations that a crime scene
investigator might be exposed to in different cases. It explains the safety regulations that
a CSI has to follow within different cases. This can be very useful to our project to be
aware of the different difficult cases and mention in the pros and cons section.
Timeline. (2016, June 17). Retrieved November 19, 2019 from
https://www.fbi.gov/history/timeline
In this website, there is the evolution of different cases and strategies used for crime
scene investigations. We can use this source in our final project to complete our history
timeline and add different details to it.
U.S. Dept. of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice. (2013). The
fingerprint sourcebook. Washington, DC. Retrieved November 19, 2019 from
https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/225321.pdf
Final Project
9
In this website, the history of fingerprints is listed in the crime history. Fingerprints
changed the investigations of crime history and enhanced accuracy of criminal cases.
This website can be a good resource of information for our final project because we can
easily add information to our timeline.
Intro
Crime scene investigation is a career that interests both of us because of the time that has
to be invested in critical thinking. The expertise to collect evidence and determine where
it comes from and the reason as to why it exists, is what attracts our attention to this
career. To Teresa, this career brings a level of critical thinking that requires her to
implement her investigative skills into knowing the significance of the evidence
collected. To German, this career can allow him to develop the interactive and
questioning skills to advance in the FBI field.
Timeline
● 1923 August vollmer is named LAPD chief of police and laid ground for SID (scientific
investigation division) to exist
● July 1923 Police officer Rex Welsh was named criminalist by LAPD after completed
scientific work during college. He was given a microscope, chemicals, some glassware,
and a small lab to work in criminal investigations.
● 1929 ray pinker joins welsh with taking over technical, physcial evidence while welsh
ofuced on narcotics analysis
Final Project
10
● 1934 welsh dies and LEland jones replaces him. Jones and Pinker learned about tracing
evidence and latent fingerprinting collection and analysis.
● 1930s/1940s criminalists, fingerprint specialist, and forensics photographers were added
to crime scene staff under SID
● 1950s Los Angeles city council provided funds for new police facilities. SID moved into
the Police Administration Building (PAB), installing a criminalists lab,photography,
electronics, polygraph, questioned documents, and latent print units.
● 1970s SID staffing increased
● 1980’s first computer database of fingerprints was created and was known as the
Automated fingerprint identification system(AFIS).
● 1990s Firearms and Explosives Division created
● 1990 SID is divided into 3 sections: Criminalist Laboratory, Technical Laboratory, and
Explosives Section.
● 1995 National Institute of Justice began investigating cases in which convicted sex
offenders were later exonerated by DNA testing
● 1998 the Technical Working Group on Crime Scene Investigation(TWGCSI) begins to be
created by the Crime Scene Planning Panel (NCSPP). Personnel for TWGCSI was made
up of law enforcement, forensic science, crime scene training, the prosecution, and the
defense.
● December 1998 TWGCSI separated the crime scene guide into 4 sections: Arriving at the
scene, preliminary documentation and evaluation of scene, processing the scene, and
completing/ recording the crime scene investigation
● 2002 A solution was created to eliminate plasma based polyatomic interferences.
Final Project
11
● 2003 An inorganic chemical analysis was designed.
● May 2009 a forensics toolkit for the xbox gaming console, agents can easily access to the
hard drive where most criminals hide information.
● March 2012 applying Carbon-14 dating to human remains to determine year of birth or
year of death.
● March 2015 New technique to recover destroy serial numbers from metal objects.
● 2015 UV alternate light is able to tell bruises when a four ounce weight was dropped
down a five foot tube onto subjects’ ventral forearms.
●
2017 Jonathan Adelman develops an Assessment for Contributor Estimate (PACE) a
machine that determines at a fast pace the number of contributors in a DNA sample.
● February 2018 Sensitive detection of the small molecule targeted by using binding split
aptamers.
●
May 2019 Researcher creates new lubricant database to help solve sexual crime assaults.
Game Changer
We decided to give a feedback information on a little known investigator/detective name
Wilmer Souder. The reason why we picked Wilmer souder is because we caught our eye
of attention when we started researching more about his background history. It was so
interesting the way he contributed to the “NIST” in other words the National Institute of
Standards and Technology. The purpose of the NIST was to help develop more strategies
or techniques therefore, an investigator wouldn't have a hard time collecting evidence at
Final Project
12
the crime scene. At first, in 1913 Wilmer Souder led the NIST therefore, he became one
of the top crime scene investigators across the nation. Which around the 1930’s through
the 1950’s Wilmer effectively introduced reliable evidence to numerous cases he faced
throughout his career. He contributed a positive way towards his career of being an
investigator. We believe Wilmer Souder should be remembered because he helped by
increasing the varieties of tools an investigator might use during a scene. The career of
forensic science started to be more effective thanks to Wilmer which was also very
hidden investigator due to his contribution to his job, being a federal crime scene
investigator. Wilmer Souder was a very intelligent and well educated man that he
considered himself one of the forefathers of forensic science. Despite the fact that Wilmer
Souder wasn't well known, many people believe that he took on a huge role in producing
the career of forensic science in a way to make it less difficult to find valuable evidence
in crime investigations.
Demographics
Many people think the career of a crime scene investigator has always been taken over by
men. In fact, the latest stats about the programs of forensic science for women has tripled
the number of percentage of men in the program of forensic science. This shows that
eventually woman might take over the career field of investigation. There are also
different types of wages for certain varieties of investigators. For example, the starting
wage of a high level occupation for an investigators is $138,860 annually. Surprisingly
the wage for the lowest level occupation is about 100 thousand less than that starting
wage for the highest level occupation. However, residency also takes a huge role of the
earnings of a crime scene investigator. The reason why some investigators have different
Final Project
13
wages from others is because it depends if the state or city the stay in a metropolitan area
or nonmetropolitan area. What this means is that those cities that have a high crime rate
are most likely to have a high employment rate but it would also depend how much an
investigator would earn depending on the tax rates of the investigators residency. There is
a variety of ethinic groups that are involved in crime scene investigation programs.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Pros:
● Finding evidence that incriminates the person that commited a crime
● Police officers
● Justice for the victims and survivors
● Health benefits
● Ability to transfer skills
● Nationwide opportunities
● Flexible training options
● Often have government benefits
Cons:
● Long Shifts
● Heavy Lifting
● On Call (including bad weather)
● Unpleasant scenes
● Criminals benefit from forensic tv shows
● Cope with trauma
Final Project
14
● Night shifts, holiday shifts
● Potential danger
● Mandatory retirement age
Conclusion
In conclusion, becoming a crime scene investigator takes plenty of requirements to be
able to be reliable in its career field. Even though, the both of us are indecisive about what to
study in the field of criminal justice. We have a huge interest in becoming a crime scene
investigators. What caught our eye about this specific career was that we get to collect evidence
and analyze the valid information that was found at the crime scene. Not only that but we get to
discover what was the cause and effect of the crime. Our opinion about becoming or studying to
be a crime scene investigator is that everytime we would research about our career, information
here and there would catch our attention because there was plenty of reliable information that we
didn't know about our career. We would say that's a good thing, reasons being is that it keeps us
curious about what more else a crime scene investigator does for its career. Some things we
didn't know about a crime scene investigator is that they spend more time on their career jobs
than civil time. Before researching i didn't figure that a crime scene investigator has different
shifts during the day. This is a fact because crimes may occur at anytime in any day.
Investigators have different shifts throughout the day for example they could go in the morning
and still have to work overtime researching about a specific crime case.
References
Balko Radley (2015). “A brief history of forensics” Retrieved November 20, 2019 from
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2015/04/21/a-brief-history-of-
Final Project
15
forensics/Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of
Justice, NIST, NFSTC. (2013). Crime scene investigation: a guide for law enforcement.
Washington, D.C.
Retrieved November 21, 2019 from
https://www.utsystem.edu/sites/default/files/offices/police/policies/Crime-SceneInvestigation.pd
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wages (2018).”Detectives and
Criminal Investigators” Retrieved November 20, 2019 from
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333021.htm
Castaneda, L., & Ridgeway, G. (2010). Perceived Pros and Cons of Law Enforcement Careers.
In Today's Police and Sheriff Recruits: Insights from the Newest Members of America's Law
Enforcement Community (pp. 15-40). Santa Monica, CA; Arlington, VA; Pittsburgh, PA: RAND
Corporation. Retrieved November 18, 2019 from www.jstor.org/stable/10.7249/mg992doj.10
CSI Training. (n.d.). Retrieved November 19, 2019 Retrieved from
https://www.crimesceneinvestigatoredu.org/training/.
Chandler. A. M. (2012). “Women at the Forefront of Booming Forensic Science Field.”
Retrieved November 3, 2019 from https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/womenat-forefront-of-booming-forensic-science-field/2012/07/27/gJQAkASRPX_story.html
Criminal Justice degree Schools (2019).”Crime Scene Investigator: Study Guide” Retrieved
November 20, 2019 from
Https://www.criminaljusticedegreeschools.com/criminal-justice-careers/crime-sceneinvestigator
Final Project
16
Crime Scene Investigator. (n.d.). November 19, 2019 retrieved from
https://www.correctionalofficer.org/career/crime-scene-investigator.
“Forensic Science History.” Retrieved November 1, 2019, from
https://www.troopers.ny.gov/Crime_Laboratory_System/History/Forensic_Science_History/
International Crime Scene Investigators Association (2005).”ICSIA” Retrieved November 20,
2019 from https://www.icsia.org/how-to-become-a-csi/
Inman, K., & Rudin, N. (2001). Principles and practice of criminalistics: the profession of
forensic science. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. Retrieved from November 19, 2019 from
http://plaza.ufl.edu/jhefner/forensic_Timeline.pdf
Julia Layton.”How Crime Scene Investigation Works” Retrieved November 20, 2019 from
https://www.acschools.org/cms/lib/PA01916405/Centricity/Domain/362/How%20Crime%20Sce
ne%20Investigation%20Works%20Article.pdf
Los Angeles Police Department. Forensic Science Division History. Retrieved November 19,
2019, from
http://www.lapdonline.org/FORENSICSCIENCEANDTECHNICALDIVISION/content_basic_v
iew/6399
Melissa Beattie-Moss (2013).”Do women dominate the field of forensic science?”Retrieved
November 20, 2019 from
https://news.psu.edu/story/276199/2013/05/07/research/probing-question-do-women-dominatefield-forensic-science
Final Project
17
Post University (2019). “ 5 Benefits of a criminal justice degree” Retrieved November 19, 2019,
from
https://post.edu/blog/2017/02/5-benefits-criminal-justice-degree/
Rich Press (2017). “Who was detective X?. Retrieved November 20, 2019 from
https://www.nist.gov/featured-stories/who-was-detective-x
Technical Working Group on Crime Scene Investigation (2000). “Crime Scene Investigation A
Guide for Law Enforcement Research Report” Retrieved November 20, 2019 from
https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/178280.pdf
Timothy Roufa (2019).”Why Choose a Career in Criminal Justice or Criminology?” Retrieved
November 19, 2019, from
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/why-choose-a-career-in-criminal-justice-or-criminology974590
Timeline. (2016, June 17). Retrieved November 19, 2019 from
https://www.fbi.gov/history/timeline
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice. (2000).
Crime scene investigation: a guide for law enforcement. Washington, DC. Retrieved November
19, 2019 from https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/about-us/lab/forensic-sciencecommunications/fsc/april2000/twgcsi.pdf