Criminalistics

Career Pathway:

There are hundreds of related careers in the Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security Career Cluster, some more similar than others. By classifying these similar careers into narrower categories called pathways, it helps individuals look at a range of options when it comes to employment in an area with similar skills and knowledge. Although this system of classifying careers into clusters and pathways is helpful in navigating career options, it is not the only way. This module is more specifically aligned with the Law Enforcement Services Career Pathway. Individuals in this pathway share a set of skills and knowledge expanding on the skills and knowledge needed in the Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security Career Cluster. Individuals in the Law Enforcement Services Career Pathway demonstrate the following skills and knowledge:

1. Demonstrate effective communication skills (e.g., writing, speaking, listening and nonverbal communication) required in law enforcement.

2. Demonstrate proficiency in the operation of communication equipment used in an emergency telecommunications center.

3. Utilize anger and conflict management strategies to resolve problems in law enforcement settings.

4. Model behaviors that exhibit integrity and commitment to a code of conduct and ethics for law enforcement professionals.

5. Analyze the impact of federal, state and local laws on law enforcement procedures.

6. Execute established procedures to avoid the violation of the rights guaranteed by the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments.

7. Manage crime and loss prevention programs in collaboration with the community.

8. Explain the appropriate techniques for managing crisis situations in order to maintain public safety.

9. Evaluate for the signs of domestic violence, child abuse and neglect.

10. Demonstrate the routine day-to-day tasks conducted by various law enforcement agencies.

11. Describe law enforcement protocols and procedures designed to handle incidents related to homeland security, terrorism and other disaster situations.

12. Demonstrate the procedures to properly protect, document and process crime scenes and all related evidence.

13. Demonstrate procedures to assist individuals requiring special assistance from law enforcement personnel.

14. Describe the behavioral symptoms of drug use and the inherent dangers associated with handling dangerous drugs.

Planning Your Career:

By working through this module you will begin your journey toward developing the skills and knowledge to be successfully employed in this pathway. By taking your experience and building on it by applying these skills in different scenarios you will be better prepared to take the next step in your educational path. At the end of this module, you will select two of the related careers and describe the means to achieve those opportunities.

These are the careers you will explore in this module:

• Police Identification and Records Officers

• Detectives and Criminal Investigators

• Forensic Science Technicians

• First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

• Digital Forensics Analysts

• Chemists

• Chemical Technicians