Forensic Scientist Career Project:

Criminologist VS. Criminalist

BY: ASHLEY LANIER AND JENNIFER CABALLERO

What is Forensic Science?

Forensic science is the scientific method of gathering and examining information about the past which is then used in a court of law. Forensic sciences are used around the world to resolve civil disputes, to justly enforce criminal law and government regulations, and to protect public health.

What does a Forensic Scientist do?

A forensic scientist is in charge of collecting and analyzing physical evidence. There are two different kinds of forensic scientist. There are some that are crime scene investigators and some that are laboratory analysis.

Some of the duties crime scene forensic scientist must preform are: analyzing crime scenes to collect evidence, take photographs of the crime scenes, make sketches, record observations/findings, and catalog/ preserve evidence.

Laboratory forensic scientist must preform chemical biological and physical analysis on evidence, explore possible links between suspects and criminal activity, consult with experts in related or specialized fields, and reconstruct crime scenes.

What do they do?

Criminalist A criminalist is a person with a background in science. A criminalist applies scientific methods and techniques to examine and analyze evidentiary items and testifies in court as to his/her findings. For the criminalist, crime scene investigation involves the recognition, documentation, collection, preservation, and interpretation of physical evidence. The criminalist testifies in courts of law, teaching the judge and jury about the conclusions reached in the lab.

Criminologist A criminologist conducts specific research to analyze criminal behavior and the things that contribute to it. They study how evidence is analyzed, hereditary, social, and physiological factors that contribute to crime. They evaluate a suspects social behavior in order to help law enforcement agencies.

How do I become this? Criminalist

They need to have a bachelor’s degree in biological, physical, or forensic science. They are also required to complete 24 credit hours in math, biology or chemistry. They must also continue their education while in their specific field. The skills required to be a criminalist are: Information gathering/organization/ordering, problem identification, reading comprehension, critical thinking, oral expression, and inductive reasoning.

Criminologist They need to complete an undergraduate course in sociology, criminal law, psychology, constitutional law, juvenile delinquency, and criminal theory. Most criminologists will get a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. It also helps if they have completed courses in: business management, behavioral science, statistics, corrections, forensics, and abnormal psychology. Additionally, you should take classes in computer science, English, and philosophy/logic.

What type of evidence do I work with?

Criminalist They examine and identify physical evidence and come to conclusions from it. They also identify significant evidence and remove valueless evidence. They utilize scientific procedures when determining they value f evidence before identifying, classifying, and comparing similar evidence that can be used by police investigators and prosecuting attorneys. Physical evidence includes: weapons, clothing, human blood/tissue, drugs, and any object providing answers about a crimes.

Criminologist Criminologist can utilize their training and skills to conduct research, advocate on behalf of victims, improve juvenile justice procedures, investigate white collar criminals, examine DNA and other physical evidence, and utilize forensic technology.

How much money will I make?Criminalist

“Experienced” criminalists earn annual salaries between $35,000 and $50,000. Criminalists working in the right position for the right agency, with the right education and credentials can earn over $100,000 per year. • Employer (federal agencies

tend to pay higher on average)

• Location (large cities tend to have higher crime rates, which means more work)

• Education level, Certification • Position in Company

(supervisor, management, positions pay higher)

Georgia Salary for a Criminalist: $50,980

Criminologist Newly experienced criminologists make between $30,000 and $50,000 during the first four years of their career. Experienced criminologists will make around $69,000 unless they live in small areas, then it can be as low as $41,000 (Low crime rate). A criminologist that works in high profile areas such as New York, New jersey, Virginia, etc. with more than five years experience can make anywhere from $75,000 to $106,000 a year. Criminologists that work for the Federal Executive Branch can expect to make up to $101,000 a year. Georgia Salary for a Criminologist: Undetermined

Where will I work and when will I get called in?

Criminalist Criminalists are employed at sheriffs’ departments, crime labs, government agencies, medical examiners’ offices, colleges/universities, private companies, and law enforcement agencies. They have to work whenever they are called in to investigate the physical evidence of the crime and they are called before the juries to offer expert testimony about their conclusion.

Criminologist Criminologists typically work at colleges and universities and conducting research and teaching classes on corrections, juvenile justice, law enforcement administration, criminal ethnography, drug abuse and addiction, theoretical criminology, and other related courses. Some criminologists consult with elected officials and law enforcement agencies, publish articles in scientific journals, and participate in anti-poverty programs. They also can set-up and manage consulting firms.

The Killer Clown CaseBackground:

John Wayne Gacy was born on March 17,1942, in Chicago, Illinois. He suffered alienation at school, unable to play with other children due to a heart condition that was looked upon by his father as another failure. Gacy’s father abused him both mentally and physically. At one point during his childhood he was sexually abused by one of his father’s friends and soon after Gacy realized he was attracted to men, and experienced great agitation over his sexuality.

Victims:

33-34 boys/men were raped and murdered by Gacy, The Killer Clown.

Span of killings:

January 3, 1972 – December 11, 1978

Convictions:

1 count of Sodomy

33 counts of murder

1 count of sexual assault

1 count of indecent liberties with a child

The Killer Clown Case continued..

Gacy lured his victims in with the promise of construction work, and then captured, sexually assaulted and eventually strangled most of them with rope. When he killed, he sometimes dressed as his alter ego “Pogo the Clown”.

After he was imprisoned, FBI Profiler Robert Ressler, interviewed Gacy. Gacy told him that his victims were “worthless little queers and punks”.

Many detectives, police officers, criminal justice professors, and FBI profilers were involved with this case. Gacy buried 26 of his victims in the crawl space of his home. Three other victims were buried on other parts of his property. The last four victims were disposed of in the Des Plaines River.

What got the Killer Clown caught?

On December 11, 1978, a 15 year old boy, Robert Piest, went missing. He was last seen at a pharmacy where Gacy had offered him a potential job at his company. The two left the pharmacy and Robert was never seen again. On December 21st Police searched Gacy’s house and uncovered evidence in his involvement in numerous murders. This is what linked the police to the 33 missing boys/young men.

He was in prison at Menard Correctional Center for almost a decade and a half, appealing the sentence and offering contradictory statements of the murders in interviews even though he had already confessed once. On May 10,1994, he was killed by lethal injection at the Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill, Illinois. To this day they are still trying to link other missing boys whose bodies have yet to be found to Gacy.

Work Cited

"Criminalist." Career Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Aug. 2015. http://www.careerprofiles.info/criminalist.html

"Criminologist." Career, Job, and Training Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Aug. 2015. http://www.careerprofiles.info/criminologist.html

Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 30 Aug. 2015. http://www.biography.com/people/john-wayne-gacy-10367544

"Forensic Science Careers." Forensic Science Careers. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Aug. 2015. http://www.forensicsciencecareers.net/forensic-scientist/salary.html