The Difference Between a Forensic Technician and a Forensic Scientist

Both forensic scientists and forensic technicians are vital to solving crime, but there are many differences between the two jobs. Learn more about the day-to-day of both roles.

The working environment

Forensic technicians, albeit tending to be based in police or other law enforcement places of work, spend much of their time out in the field. They will likely visit crime scenes to collect evidence to be analized, and spend a significant amount of time on their feet. They will never know what they are likely to be faced with as each day goes by. They will not know what will be fully expected of them or how much evidence, or the type of evidence they will likely gather, until they arrive on scene. Forensic technicians often have to work overtime to ensure that all evidence is collected as this can be vital in cases and also investigation reports. Forensic scientists usually work in forensic laboratories, which are a comfortable and safe environment. Unlike a forensic technician, forensic scientist know exactly the working environment they will be facing each day. They tend to typically work a traditional 40 hour work week.

Hazards

Forensic technicians often work outside and in some cases, there can be extreme working conditions. This includes all manner of weather systems such as the heat of the summer, the cold of the winter and other elements such as rain and snow. They might also have to visit remote areas where there could be uneven or rough terrain and other things to encounter that they may not be expecting. There could also be the opportunity of needing to visit unsafe and unsanitary areas, as well as things like abandoned buildings. Often where crimes are committed, it can be in some strange and undesirable places. When collecting evidence, they may have to handle dangerous items, so ensuring that they are wearing full protective gear is part and parcel of the job. Forensic scientists don’t need to think about dangerous and unsanitary places. There is still an element of risk when it comes to the items that they could be handling, and there could be potential danger when it comes to experiments and the use of chemicals, but other than that they fully know what to expect when it comes to risk.

Duties

Forensic technicians' job role is mainly gathering and finding evidence for law enforcement officials. They will tour the entire scene and search out anything that might be able to help law enforcement understand what has happened, how it happened and more importantly who if anyone is responsible. After identifying potential evidence, they will then document and seal it in a protective container or packaging helping the evidence to stay sterile to be used and investigated further. Forensic scientists will then test the evidence to determine answers to the questions that the law officials will have.