A Five-Minute Guide to Becoming a Crime Scene Investigator

Want to become a crime scene investigator? Not sure what steps to take?

Well you’ve come to the right place. In this article we’ll be discussing what a crime scene investigator is, how to become one, and the qualifications you’ll need.

What is a Crime Scene Investigator?

A crime scene investigator – often shortened to CSI – is responsible for collecting, recording, and preserving evidence from crime scenes. Generally speaking, this means forensic evidence like DNA samples and clothing fibers, but it can also involve taking photographs and making detailed notes.

It can be quite a stressful job. The hours are irregular and you’ll be exposed to some disturbing situations. That said, the rewards often outway the negatives. CSI work can be fascinating and intricate work, requiring specialised skills and knowledge. Furthermore, the impact can be immense, with forensic evidence helping the police to catch criminals and often swaying whole court cases.

How to Become a Crime Scene Investigator

You might think you need a degree to get into CSI but that’s not always the case. While it certainly helps to hold a relevant degree, some police forces are happy to accept trainee candidates if they have other relevant experience. That said, it varies from force to force so be sure to research your local area’s requirements.

If you do pursue a degree then The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences offer a variety of subjects including everything from criminology to chemistry. All of which is to say that if you want to keep your options open you can get a relevant degree without restricting yourself to just CSI.

For most people it takes at least three years to become a crime scene investigator. This is because you either need to get a degree or build up experience in a relevant job position. It’s also worth noting that if you want to join CSI without a degree then you will almost certainly still need to hold at least two A-levels.

Alongside all of that, it’s also recommended that you develop some basic photograph skills. While not crucial – as you’ll learn all of this on the job – being comfortable and competent with operating a camera will really help you hit the ground running and is a great skill to mention on a CV or in a job interview.

What to Expect From a Career in CSI

In CSI no two cases are ever the same. There are few jobs that will expose you so directly to the complexity and messiness of the world. In fact, in many respects your job will be all about observing and noting what makes each case unique – getting every detail down to help the police build up a full profile of what’s happened.

Every day will offer new challenges and you’ll always be developing your skills further. If that sounds exciting to you, then this could be a really fulfilling career. If that sounds stressful to you then it’s worth taking the time to really think about whether or not this job is right for you.

And it’s not just the cases that vary either. In the UK, local police forces can vary a lot with different cultures and atmospheres. On top of that, crime rates vary massively from location to location. The cases you’ll find in an urban area will be very different to a rural one. The cases you’ll find in a wealthy neighbourhood will be different to an impoverished one.

When applying for jobs and going to interviews, be sure to ask about your local police force specifically as this can have a huge impact over your experience in the job.

That said, one thing that is universally true about CSI is that it’s a high work, high reward job. The hours can be long and unpredictable. The job can be difficult – both emotionally and mentally. But if you care about helping the criminal justice system and enjoy the feeling of putting your skills to work, then CSI can be an incredibly satisfying job.