State of Maryland

A MSP Crime Scene Technician Trainee is the entry level of forensic field services work.  Employees in this classification learn to identify, collect, record and preserve evidence found at crime and disaster scenes for laboratory examination and court presentations.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive close supervision from a MSP Crime Scene Technician Supervisor. Employees may be subject to 24 hour on-call and overtime based upon staffing needs.  The work is performed at crime and disaster scenes where climbing, crawling and stooping may be required.  Employees may be exposed to hazardous chemical agents requiring the use of safety equipment.

Positions in this classification are evaluated using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work Sections of the class specification.

The MSP Crime Scene Technician Trainee, MSP Crime Scene Technician I and MSP Crime Scene Technician II are differentiated on the basis of the degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The MSP Crime Scene Technician Trainee learns to perform duties under close supervision.  The MSP Crime Scene Technician I performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed.  The MSP Crime Scene Technician II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Learns to survey actual and suspected crime and disaster scenes, take photographs and prepare sketches as necessary;

Learns to identify, collect, record and preserve evidence for further laboratory examination, analysis and processing;

Learns to maintain control of physical evidence and maintain a proper chain of custody of evidence collected;

Learns to process crime scene and related evidence for latent prints, fabric impressions or shoe impressions either chemically or with specialized photographic techniques;

Attends autopsies and learns to collect physical evidence where appropriate;

Learns to prepare, testify and present evidence, photographs and sketches in criminal courts as to scientific findings and conclusions drawn;

Performs other related duties.

Ability to learn the scientific principles and practices of forensic field service work;

Ability to learn Forensic Laboratory procedures and the processing of crime scene evidence;

Ability to learn the criminal trial process related to rules of evidence;

Ability to learn to identify, collect, record and preserve physical evidence found at crime and disaster scenes;

Ability to learn to survey, photograph and prepare sketches at crime and disaster scenes;

Ability to control physical evidence and maintain a proper chain of custody for evidence collected;

Ability to respond to information transmitted over a mobile and a base radio system;

Ability to prepare reports to document finding of evidence at crime and disaster scenes;

Ability to make valid determinations concerning evidence based upon observations, technical procedures and use of laboratory equipment;

Ability to perform at crime and disaster scenes under stressful and unpleasant conditions which often involve deceased individuals in varying stages of decomposition;

Ability to prepare and present court testimony;

Ability to communicate effectively.

Education:   Completion of sixty credit hours from an accredited college or university with at least 15 credit hours in criminal justice or law enforcement or forensic sciences.

Experience: None.

Notes: 

1. Candidates may substitute two years of experience identifying, collecting, recording and preserving physical evidence at crime and disaster scenes for the required education.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in Master at Arms classifications or Military Police or Security Forces speciality codes in the Criminal Justice filed of work on a year-for-year basis for the requied education.  

1. In accordance with Public Safety Article, Section 2-204 (b) (6) of the Annotated Code of Maryland, candidates for positions in this classification will be subject to an initial drug screening, a physical examination, submission of a DNA sample, and a complete criminal background investigation, to include a polygraph examination before permanent appointment can be made. A criminal conviction may be grounds for rejection of the candidate by the hiring agency.

2. Employees in this classification are subject to random substance abuse testing in accordance with Code of Maryland Regulations 17.04.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.

3. Employees in this classification are subject to call-in 24 hours a day and, therefore, are required to provide the agency with a telephone number where they can be reached. 

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit H, Public Safety and Security classes.  As provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.   An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime, as provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class, as defined by the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.