AIKEN COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA
JOB DESCRIPTION,
JOB TITLE: Crime Scene Investigator
SHERIFF’S OFFICE
SPECIFIC STATEMENT OF JOB
The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office is seeking qualified applicants for the position of
Crime Scene Investigator. This position is a part of the Forensic Investigations Section of
the Criminal Investigations Division and is tasked with responding to crime scenes,
documentation, collection, and examination of physical evidence as well as assisting
other divisions and sections of the agency with criminal investigations.
Under general supervision, the position is responsible for responding to crime scenes,
origin and cause determination of fires, latent print processing and identification,
laboratory analysis, evidence management, courtroom testimony, assisting other agencies
with criminal investigations, and general law enforcement support as directed. This
position requires after-hours call schedules.
Minimum Qualifications:
Two to five years of progressively responsible related experience; or any combination of
education, training, and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and
abilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Requires drug testing, background
check, polygraph examination; in addition to the application, testing and/or examinations
may be required for further consideration on this position.
Applicants must be currently certified as a law enforcement officer in good standing with
the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy (SCCJA) and have been employed by an
agency greater that two (2) years.
Or:
Currently possess an equivalent certification as a law enforcement officer from another
state’s certifying agency and have the ability to be certified by the State of South
Carolina.
Preferred Qualifications:
Crime scene investigative experience and/or fire investigative experience
Certifications from the International Association for Identification (IAI) in forensic
sciences such as but not limited to:
– Certified Latent Print Examiner
– Certified Crime Scene Investigator / Analyst
– Certified Bloodstain Pattern Analyst
Aiken County Sheriff’s Office
Michael E. Hunt, Sheriff
420 Hampton Ave. NE
Aiken, South Carolina 29801
– Certified Footwear / Tire Impression Analyst
Or
– Certified Fire Investigator – International Association of Arson Investigators
(IAAI)
– Certified Fire and Explosions Investigator – National Association of Fire
Investigators (NAFI)
Bachelor Degree or Master Degree in Forensic Sciences, Natural Sciences, Biology,
Chemistry or other science based degree programs from an accredited university or
college is preferred.
Residency Requirement: YES
Applicants must reside in Aiken County, South Carolina or within 10 miles of the county
line inside the State of South Carolina and be able to respond to a call for service within
30 minutes of notification.
Other Requirements:
Valid South Carolina driver’s license
Clear NCIC criminal history
How to Apply:
Applications may be electronically submitted at:
www.aikencountysheriff.net
Employment Opportunities (aikencountysc.gov)
Essential Job Functions:
The tasks listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in
this position. Supervision may assign additional tasks related to the type of work of the
position as necessary. The omission of an essential function does not preclude
management from assigning duties not listed herein.
Respond to and processes crime scenes to include autopsies for the purpose of
documentation, evidence gathering, and to obtain necessary evidence for the
identification of persons.
Process lab requests including processing for latent prints, disseminating evidence to
proper authorities, copying and or photographing evidence, retrieving audio / video
footage, and collecting DNA samples.
Utilizes physical and chemical techniques for the recovery of latent prints on various
surfaces; which will include mechanical, potentially hazardous chemicals, and forensic
light source techniques to photograph or record scenes and items of evidentiary matter;
variety of techniques, including mechanical and chemical, for the recovery of forensic
evidence which will include but not limited to, shoe and tire impressions, biological and
trace evidence; computer equipment and forensic software, diagrams, and image
recovery.
Photographs evidence; performs data entry and filing tasks of photos and evidence;
maintains all property/evidence software applications and backup records.
Receives and documents all newly submitted property and evidence from departmental
personnel to criminal investigations; accurately categorizes and archives items.
Receives and documents materials submitted by departmental personnel as evidence in
criminal investigations and prosecutions; tests materials; packages and transfers materials
to laboratory for additional analysis.
Releases property/evidence to authorized departmental personnel for investigations and
court proceedings; maintains disbursement files to track released items in accordance
with departmental policies.
Receives, catalogs, stores, releases, tracks and disposes of all property/evidence stored.
Releases items to the general public in accordance with departmental policies and
procedures.
Disposes of items in accordance with South Carolina State Statute and departmental
policies and procedures; researches case progression and completion; researches software
databases.
Prepares written reports on crime scenes, forensic analysis, evaluating and examinations
indicating results of findings; and presents expert testimony in court proceedings, which
may be necessary for the efficient and effective performance of the position functions.
Attends training sessions and seminars as directed.
Responds to call-outs during off-duty hours, including nights and/or weekends.
Physical Requirements:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an
employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
Requires exerting between 20 and 50 pounds of force on a recurring basis and a 100
pounds on occasion.
Additional physical abilities required:
Speaking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken English word
including the ability to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers
accurately and concisely. Ability to communicate verbally both in person and over the
phone.
Sitting: Ability to sit for extended periods of time.
Standing: Particularly for long periods of time.
Stooping/Bending: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist.
Occurs to a considerable degree and requires full motion of the lower extremities and
back muscles.
Kneeling/Crouching: Substantial movements (motions) of the lower body.
Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including those
activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other
workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
Visual Acuity: Have visual acuity to operate motor vehicles, includes close vision, distant
vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or
moving from one work site to another.
Climbing: Ascending or descending stairs, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms.
Body agility is emphasized.
Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by
touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.
Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
Handling: Picking, holding, or otherwise working, primarily with the whole hand.
Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without
correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to
make the discrimination in sound.
Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally
from position-to-position.
Mental Acuity: Ability to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive
processes.
Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
Repetitive Motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.
Driving: Ability to operate a law enforcement vehicle in accordance to standards and
policies set forth by the agency.