What do Crime Scene Investigators do?

Crime Scene Investigators (CSI) help police by finding clues at crime scenes, like fingerprints, hair, blood, footprints, phones, cameras, and other objects left behind. They take pictures and videos of everything so the scene is recorded exactly how they found it. They also collect and label every piece of evidence so that nothing gets mixed up. They must make sure the evidence stays clean and safe so it is not ruined.

They help tell the story of what happened by studying evidence and writing official reports. These reports may be used in court later. CSIs work with detectives, police, and scientists in labs. Their job is to gather science facts that help solve crimes.

What does a typical day look like in this job? 

A CSI in Arizona may spend part of the day at a crime scene, and part of the day in the lab. When they are out in the field, they take photos, measure the scene, and collect samples. At the lab, they might run tests comparing fingerprints, or work on DNA, or check if items match other past cases. They carefully label everything and keep very exact notes because they need to prove that nothing was touched or changed.

CSIs also have to go to meetings with detectives, write reports, and sometimes go to court to explain how they collected clues. Many CSIs have “on-call” shifts, which means they must be ready to leave their home at any time if a crime happens. Some crime scenes are outside in the heat, some are inside homes, and some are at night time. Every day looks different depending on what crimes happen. 

What skills or abilities are important for this job? 

A CSI needs to pay attention to tiny details, because one hair or fingerprint could be the key to solving a crime. Patience is important because testing evidence takes time and must be done slowly and carefully. They must also be okay with science and technology because they use lab tools, computers, and special software to study evidence. They are required to write clear reports and explain things in a way that police, lawyers, and judges can understand.

They need to stay calm and focused in stressful situations. Crime scenes can be messy, scary, or sad because they may involve violence. CSIs must also be honest and trustworthy because the court depends on their proof and notes. They need to work well with others, stay organized, and follow strict rules so that evidence is handled the right way.

What kind of education, certification, or training is required?

In Arizona, many CSI jobs require a college degree in something like criminal justice, forensic science, biology, chemistry, or a related science field. Some people start as police officers and then get special training to become CSIs. Some schools in Arizona offer forensic science degree programs. Many local police agencies in Arizona also offer their own CSI training classes.

Arizona has its own training rules under AZPOST (Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training). CSIs may take classes on fingerprint lifting, photography, blood stain patterns, and handling evidence. They may also go to national training programs or conferences. To remain knowledgeable in the job, CSIs must keep learning new tools and science methods throughout their career. 

What is the most challenging part about this job? 

The job can be emotionally hard because CSIs see things that are violent, upsetting, or sad. They must collect evidence even when scenes are very unpleasant. They must stay focused because a mistake can mean evidence is not allowed in court. They must also be extremely careful to keep evidence clean and not mix up samples.

Another hard part is the schedule. Crimes can happen at any point of the day or night, so CSIs may work weekends, holidays, or very late hours. If a major crime happens at 2:00 AM, they must get up and go. They also must handle pressure from lawyers and court appearances when they testify about what they saw and collected. 

How much money do crime scene investigators make?

Visit the ZipRecruiter Crime Scene Salary page to view recent information regarding CSI salaries in Arizona.