Baldwin (2006) outlines the two major paths by which a person can become a crime scene investigator either through law enforcement or as a civilian. Approaching CSI work as a law enforcement official provides increased job prospects, notes Baldwin (2006) because few law enforcement agencies need full-time civilian crime scene specialists. Still, the wide range of CSI positions means that either civilian or law enforcement crime scene investigators will be called on to help solve crimes. As Layton (nd) points out, no two crime scenes are alike. Therefore, no two crime scenes demand the same approach using the same array of CSI specialists.

Crime scene investigation is not limited to murders. All types of crimes ranging from simple property crime or robberies to aggravated assault to rape are all scenes that demand the presence of crime scene investigators. As Baldwin points out in an autobiographical account of the life of a crime scene investigator, "It isn't unusual for the call to come after the crime scene technician is asleep in bed, sometimes after having worked a 12-hour day." Thus, crime scene investigation is tough work demanding rigorous attention to detail unparalleled by most other careers. Lives are at stake too; a successful crime scene investigation leads to the arrest and apprehension of...

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Layton, J. (nd). How crime scene investigation works. How Stuff Works. Retrieved Feb 27, 2008 at http://science.howstuffworks.com/csi.htm

U.S. Department of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2007). "Science Technicians." Retrieved Feb 27, 2008 at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos115.htm