Criminalist – Virgin Islands Police Careers

Overview

Position Title: Criminalist

Company: City Of Dopusvi

Location: Saint Thomas, VI, US

Job Description

This is specialized and technical work in latent fingerprint/palm print examination and identification within the Police Department. This position is a highly confidential position due to its involvement in highly sensitive cases and working relationship with federal partners. Work involves the examination, comparison, and identification of latent fingerprints/palm prints and other specialized methods utilizing chronology knowledge of latent print processing. The Criminalist is responsible for the maintenance and identification of criminal evidential records and latent fingerprint/palm print evidence. Work is intellectual and varied in nature as opposed to routine mental, manual, mechanical, and physical work and involves the consistent exercise of judgment and discretion in its performance. Work may be performed on an assigned basis as part of an investigation/prosecution of criminal offenders. Direct supervision is received from the Forensic Supervisor or designee who reviews work for completeness, technical quality, and adherence to departmental standards. The incumbent must successfully complete the Latent Print Training program before becoming certified. This incumbent will function in a confidential capacity to a policymaker.

Responsibilities:

• Develops, compares, evaluates, identifies, and prepares latent fingerprints/palm prints for court exhibits, and testifies in all courts of law as a qualified expert witness.
• Classifies fingerprints/palm prints and records classifications according to standard classification codes; searches files to find specific prints or make comparisons.
• Generates and receives requests to and from other law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, attorneys, etc., in reference to criminal evidence and crime laboratory procedures.
• Examines amputated fingers or hands with the intended purpose of developing known prints for comparisons with latent prints or other known prints; trains other forensic personnel in the procedures utilized.
• Processes, lifts, photographs, compares, and examines latent prints from crime scenes or parties involved in criminal activity.
• Searches unsolved latent prints through the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) and the FBI’s NGI database, where applicable.
• Consults on and assists with crime scene investigations, as needed (e.g. processes, lifts, preserves, and examines evidence), upon approval of the supervisor; trains other forensic personnel in the procedures utilized in consulting and/or assisting.
• Maintains report files; issues periodic and special reports as assigned.
• Participates in and successfully passes practical and/or written competency exam(s) when new or amended techniques are implemented prior to performing casework responsibilities using these techniques.
• Performs other related work as required.
• Operates standard office equipment (e.g., personal computer, fax machine, telephone, copier, scanner, etc.).
• Provides recommendations and assists in the development and application of new techniques and methods of efficiency for the section.
• Reviews manuals, publications, etc., within the latent print discipline.
• Assists in the training of, but not limited to: Crime Scene Investigators, Latent Print Examiner Trainees and Police Recruits in the basic and advanced techniques of crime scene processing, latent print processing and court room testimony.
• Utilizes the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (A.F.I.S.) for search of latent prints, generated from open criminal cases, in an attempt to identify criminals.
• Assists other forensic personnel in latent print processing and/or comparisons.
• Instructs law enforcement personnel about latent print processing and collection.

Requirements:

• Graduation from a recognized four-year college or university in the fields of forensic, criminal justice or biology.