Crime Scene Investigation

Frequently Asked Questions

Crime Scene Certification

Subcommittee on Crime Scene Investigations

  1. Purpose of this committee is to:

    The mission of the Subcommittee on Crime Scene Investigations is:
    1. To promote the education, research, communication, and standardization of activities and goals of the areas of crime scene investigations which include but are not limited to photography, scene documentation, evidence collection, evidence preservation, trace evidence collection, DNA recovery, footprint & tire track collection & preservation, and latent fingerprint detection & recovery throughout the year and at each annual conference.
    2. To provide speakers for the general session and trainers for workshops. The chairperson will coordinate with the education seminar planner coordinator to ensure that the areas under this subcommittee are represented in the program.
    3. The subcommittee will communicate with the membership through such media as the Journal of Forensic Identification (JFI) and the Identification News.
    4. To provide information and resources on the areas’ activities to the membership of IAI.
    5. To help develop responses to issues concerning Crime Scene Investigations for the IAI.

  2. How do I request to serve on this committee?

    Speak with the chair of the committee or with the incoming IAI President.

  3. What are the terms for serving on the committee?

    There are no term limits. Each person on the committee is appointed by the incoming IAI president and can be removed by the incoming IAI president as well.

  4. What are the responsibilities of the Chairperson?

    The Chairperson is required to review IAI applications where the applicant list their primary area of expertise as crime scene investigations, coordinate and set an agenda for the annual IAI committee meetings, give an annual report to the IAI’s 4th VP (Chairperson of the Science and Practice Committee) on the crime scene investigations committees yearly activities, provide updates for the IAI training manual and related issues in the field, and provide responses to relevant issues, resolutions, and SWGFAST documents. Assist the Conference Planner with workshops and lectures within the field of crime scene investigations.

  5. Who can I contact to obtain information regarding this committee?

    The IAI 4th VP (Science and Practices Committee) or the Chair of the Crime Scene Investigations Committee.

  6. Are there any requirements for obtaining employment in the Crime Scene Investigations discipline?
    1. Academic? The academic requirements vary from agency to agency, it is highly suggested that the applicant poses a degree in crime scene technology, forensic science, or some other law enforcement related degree.
    2. Previous Experience? This depends on the individual agency and the needs of the agency. At times agencies will hire at entry level, at other times the demands within the agency require a more highly trained individual.
    3. Internship? Some agencies have an Internship program which has the intern work in all areas of the agency. Some agencies accept volunteers within the Crime scene Unit for the purpose of training and reviewing the individual’s talents.
    4. Position or Agency Specific? Some agencies require that the candidate possess a degree in either Crime Scene Investigations or a Bachelors or Masters in Forensic Science or Criminal Justice. These requirements would be specific for employment as a Crime scene Investigator.

  7. What source(s) such as a website, standards, best practices or guidance are utilized by practitioners working in this field?
    1. Journals

      Journal of Forensic Identification
      Journal of Forensic Sciences

    2. Newsletters

      Identification News

    3. Books
      • Crime Scene Photography by Edward Robinson, 2007, Elsevier Science & Technology Books (Available at: Elsevier.com, Evident Crime Scene Products, Lynn Peavey Company, Amazon.com, LexisNexis.com, Overstock.com)
      • Practical Crime Scene Processing and Investigation by Ross M. Gardner, 2005, CRC Press (Available at: CRC Press, Lynn Peavey Company, Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, Books-A-Million)
      • Crime Scene Investigation by Fish, Miller and Braswell, 2007, Anderson Publishing (LexisNexis Bookstore) (Available at: LexisNexis, Lynn Peavey Company, Barnes&Noble.com)
      • Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science (9th Edition) by Richard Saferstein, 2007, Prentice Hall (Available at: PrenticeHall.com, Lynn Peavey Company, Amazon.com)
      • Bloodstain Pattern Analysis: With an Introduction to Crime Scene Reconstruction, 3rd Edition by Tom Bevel, Ross M. Gardner, CRC Press 2008
      • Cold Case Homicides: Practical Investigative Techniques, Richard H. Walton, CRC Press, 2006
      • Shooting Incident Reconstruction: By Lucien C. Haag - Elsevier Academic Press (2006)
      • Photography Ninth Edition by London Stone Upton
      • Police Photography 5th Edition by Larry S. Miller

    4. Websites
  8. Can you provide recommendations on where to find information and resources to support research or a science project for:
    1. Elementary School
      1. Books
        • Crime Scene Investigations: Real-Life Science Activities for the Elementary Grades, Pam Walker (Author), Elaine Wood (Author)
        • Crime Scene Detective: Using Science And Critical Thinking to Solve Crimes, Karen Schulz (Author)
        • Crime Scene Investigations: Real-Life Science Labs For Grades 6-12, Pam Walker (Author), Elaine Wood (Author)
        • CSI Expert!: Forensic Science for Kids, Karen K. Schulz (Author), David Parker (Illustrator)
        • Crime-Solving Science Projects: Forensic Science Experiments (Science Fair Success) [Library Binding], Kenneth G. Rainis (Author)
    2. High School
      1. Books
        • Crime Scene Detective: Using Science And Critical Thinking to Solve Crimes, Karen Schulz (Author)
        • Crime Scene Investigations: Real-Life Science Labs For Grades 6-12, Pam Walker (Author), Elaine Wood (Author)
        • CSI Expert!: Forensic Science for Kids, Karen K. Schulz (Author), David Parker (Illustrator)
        • Crime-Solving Science Projects: Forensic Science Experiments (Science Fair Success) [Library Binding], Kenneth G. Rainis (Author)
    3. College
      1. Journals
        • Journal of Forensic Identification
        • Journal of Forensic Sciences
      2. Newsletters
        • Identification News
      3. Books
        • Crime Scene Photography by Edward Robinson, 2007, Elsevier Science & Technology Books (Available at: Elsevier.com, Evident Crime Scene Products, Lynn Peavey Company, Amazon.com, LexisNexis.com, Overstock.com)
        • Practical Crime Scene Processing and Investigation by Ross M. Gardner, 2005, CRC Press (Available at: CRC Press, Lynn Peavey Company, Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, Books-A-Million)
        • Crime Scene Investigation by Fish, Miller and Braswell, 2007, Anderson Publishing (LexisNexis Bookstore) (Available at: LexisNexis, Lynn Peavey Company, Barnes&Noble.com)
        • Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science (9th Edition) by Richard Saferstein, 2007, Prentice Hall (Available at: PrenticeHall.com, Lynn Peavey Company, Amazon.com)
        • Bloodstain Pattern Analysis: With an Introduction to Crime Scene Reconstruction, 3rd Edition by Tom Bevel, Ross M. Gardner, CRC Press 2008
        • Cold Case Homicides: Practical Investigative Techniques, Richard H. Walton, CRC Press, 2006
        • Shooting Incident Reconstruction: By Lucien C. Haag - Elsevier Academic Press (2006)
        • Photography Ninth Edition by London Stone Upton
        • Police Photography 5th Edition by Larry S. Miller
      4. Websites
    4. Practitioners in the field
      1. Journals
        • Journal of Forensic Identification
        • Journal of Forensic Sciences
      2. Newsletters
        • Identification News
      3. Books
        • Crime Scene Photography by Edward Robinson, 2007, Elsevier Science & Technology Books (Available at: Elsevier.com, Evident Crime Scene Products, Lynn Peavey Company, Amazon.com, LexisNexis.com, Overstock.com)
        • Practical Crime Scene Processing and Investigation by Ross M. Gardner, 2005, CRC Press (Available at: CRC Press, Lynn Peavey Company, Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, Books-A-Million)
        • Crime Scene Investigation by Fish, Miller and Braswell, 2007, Anderson Publishing (LexisNexis Bookstore) (Available at: LexisNexis, Lynn Peavey Company, Barnes&Noble.com)
        • Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science (9th Edition) by Richard Saferstein, 2007, Prentice Hall (Available at: PrenticeHall.com, Lynn Peavey Company, Amazon.com)
        • Bloodstain Pattern Analysis: With an Introduction to Crime Scene Reconstruction, 3rd Edition by Tom Bevel, Ross M. Gardner, CRC Press 2008
        • Cold Case Homicides: Practical Investigative Techniques, Richard H. Walton, CRC Press, 2006
        • Shooting Incident Reconstruction: By Lucien C. Haag - Elsevier Academic Press (2006)
        • Photography Ninth Edition by London Stone Upton
        • Police Photography 5th Edition by Larry S. Miller
      4. Websites