Forensic Scientist II

Duties

Performing a variety of administrative and clerical tasks for assigned staff, including but not limited to:

• Conducts independent chemical processing on physical items of evidence.
• The primary type of physical evidence this position will analyze is suspected controlled substances. However, the unit performs additional forensic disciplines and based on operational need, analysis of blood for alcohol content, gunshot primer residue analyses, fire debris / explosives, and trace materials may be assigned.
• Maintains chain-of-custody for evidence by recording descriptions of evidence, laboratory identification numbers, dates, times, tests performed, techniques used, and other pertinent information.
• Prepares a detailed, technical report for each case which records findings and interpretation of results. Consults with colleagues, investigators, and attorneys about findings and interpretation of results.
• Prepares court testimony that links findings with conclusions to withstand scrutiny by adversarial experts, assists with the establishment the scientific soundness of analytical methods, and communicates cases effectively to jurors.
• Trains law enforcement personnel, subordinates, colleagues, medical personnel, and interns in the collection, handling, and examination of evidence, the theory of laboratory instrumentation, techniques to link evidence with other findings, and in the principles of effective courtroom presentation.
• Operates and performs preventive maintenance and minor repairs on state-of-the-art laboratory and analytical instruments and equipment.
• Performs independent research to develop and implement new techniques and recommends acquisition of state-of-the-art instrumentation.
• By position, visits crime scenes as needed to independently identify, collect, and preserve physical evidence (clandestine laboratories).
• By position, develops or modifies work plans, methods, and procedures, determines work priorities, and plans work schedule to meet testing deadlines.
• Provides work instruction and assists employees with difficult and/or unusual assignments.
• Resolves problems encountered during daily operations and determines appropriate solutions.
• Responds orally to informal grievances and relays information to the supervisor.

 Earn a Degree in Crime Scene Investigation, Forensic Science, or Computer Forensics

Requirements

The ideal candidate will have:

• Three years of experience processing items within a forensic chemistry unit or group.

Below are the minimum requirements used to determine eligibility for this position:

• Education requirement: Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Physics, or a directly related natural science.
• Experience Requirement: Three (3) years of professional criminalist and forensic analysis experience in toxicology, forensic biology/DNA, drug chemistry, trace-evidence, or other forensic discipline including a demonstrated competence in using job specific analytical instrumentation.
• Education/Experience Equivalency: One (1) year of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post-high school education.
• Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirements.
• License/Certifications: By position, requires a valid Driver's License at the time of application.
• By position, possession of Certification by the International Association of Identification (IAI). Certified Latent Print Examiner is preferred and if not received at time of employment must be obtained within the twenty four (24) months of employment as a forensic scientist II in the Latent Print Unit.
• The Denver Crime Laboratory is an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory system. An individual certification with the (IAI) is required of individuals hired in this class (equal to or exceeding forensic scientist II) to enable this individual to train and mentor other latent print examiners within the unit. The National Academy of Science has recommended in its 2009 report that individual certification of forensic science professionals should be mandatory, and all forensic science professionals should have access to an individual certification process especially in the pattern recognition sciences such as latent print examiners. In determining appropriate standards for accreditation and certification, all forensic laboratories should take into account established and recognized international standards, such as those published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). No person (public or private) should be allowed to practice in a forensic science discipline or testify as a forensic science professional without certification and that approach is supported by the Denver Crime Laboratory for all of its units utilizing pattern recognition methodologies.
• It is a condition of employment that the Denver Police Forensics & Evidence Division form for consent for collection of a DNA sample be completed at the time of hire.
• Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment.

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