Forensic Science Academy

Hydroflask, Stanley, or ?? What keeps your water colder?
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There is a moment when a student starts seeing like an investigator.
I call it the light bulb moment.

It is the second when they stop seeing a scene as a collection of random items and start seeing what needs to be:

• documented
• photographed
• analyzed
• measured
• explained
• preserved
• connected

That moment matters.
I have seen students come into training with no real concept of how to capture evidence.
Then suddenly, they get it.
They understand how to eliminate a shadow.
They understand why lighting matters.
They understand how to photograph with purpose.
They understand how to build a case file that shows their process.
That transformation does not happen by memorizing terms alone.
It happens through practice.
Through correction.
Through repetition.
Through hands-on experience.
And yes, through passion.

There is nothing worse than arriving at a major scene and realizing you are out of supplies.

Imagine this:

You respond to a large outdoor crime scene. The scene is active, the weather is changing, multiple items of evidence need to be marked, photographed, collected, and packaged, and you quickly realize the unit van is missing several basic supplies.

You are low on evidence bags.
You are out of fresh gloves in your size.
You do not have enough markers.
You are missing extra batteries.
Your packaging supplies are limited.

Now you are standing at a scene where evidence integrity, documentation, and collection still have to be done correctly.

So, what would you do?

A. Try to make do with what you have and process the scene anyway
B. Ask another unit or agency for supplies and document any issues
C. Send someone back for supplies while you continue documenting what you can
D. Stop and notify a supervisor before evidence collection begins

There may be more than one reasonable answer depending on agency policy, scene conditions, and available personnel.

In law enforcement, “Code 7” usually means lunch.

Dispatchers cannot just leave their desks whenever they want. They are tied to the radio, the phones, the calls, and the constant flow of information that keeps officers, CSIs, and investigators connected.

So one of the smartest things you can do is take care of dispatch.

Be the “Code 7 runner.”

A lesson from our Master Instructor, Sheri Orellana, CSI (ret): I used to go into dispatch, and they had what I called the “special box.” Inside were several lunch orders from the local Mexican restaurant. Everyone had their order written out, and they would staple their money to their specific request.

Sometimes there were 10 or 11 different orders.

Was it a headache to keep everything separated?

Absolutely.

But it mattered.
Because when you take care of dispatchers, you are taking care of the people who help take care of you.
They are often the first voice on the call.
They know where people are.
They know what is happening.
They help keep the unit informed, coordinated, and safe.
This is a lesson aspiring CSIs need to understand:

Success in this field is not just about evidence, photography, reports, or scene processing.
It is also about relationships.

It is about respect.
It is about understanding that the people behind the scenes are essential to the mission.

When you take care of the people who keep the operation running, the entire unit functions more smoothly.

Students: Have you built a physical portfolio of your mock crime scene photos to bring to interviews and set yourself apart from the average applicant?

Myth: “My smartphone is good enough for forensic photography.”

Forensic photography is not about snapping a picture.
It is about documenting evidence accurately, consistently, and defensibly.
That requires more than having a camera in your pocket.
Professional crime scene documentation often requires a DSLR or agency-approved camera system, along with the ability to understand and control:
• Lighting
• Shadows
• Scale
• Depth of field
• Aperture
• F-stops
• Exposure
• Low-light conditions
• Close-up photography
• Overall, mid-range, and close-up sequencing

This is where many aspiring investigators underestimate the skill.
A photograph can look “good” and still fail as a forensic photograph.
If shadows hide evidence, if the scale is wrong, if the image lacks proper context, if the depth of field is poor, or if the photo cannot support later testimony, then the image may not serve the case well.

Agencies are not just looking for people who know forensic terms.
They are looking for proof that you can apply the skills.
One way to separate yourself from the average applicant is to build a strong training portfolio. That means documenting mock scenes, showing proper photo sequencing, including scales when appropriate, demonstrating control of lighting, and creating a professional case-style file that shows how you think through documentation.

Your smartphone may be convenient.
But convenience is not the standard.
Forensic work requires skill, control, accuracy, and the ability to explain what you did and why.

Blue or black pen?
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Detectives and CSIs work hand in hand. One cannot do the job effectively without the other. Why is this not always practiced?
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CSI interview questions are not just testing what you know.
They are testing how you think. In real crime scene work, small decisions can have major consequences.

For example, preserving trace evidence may require knowing when clothing should be protected before other handling occurs, or understanding why certain evidence containers are used for specific types of evidence.

In arson-related investigations, for example, proper packaging decisions may help preserve possible accelerant vapors.

These are not random details.

They are the kind of judgment-based decisions hiring panels may want to hear you think through clearly.

That is why scenario-based questions matter. A panel may ask how you would respond to a scene, what you would document first, how you would protect fragile evidence, or when you would notify the appropriate authority.

The CSI Scenario Question Survival Guide + Worksheets helps aspiring CSIs practice answering those questions with structure, confidence, and professional reasoning.

Inside, you will learn the CSI Answer Framework: Safety → Integrity → Documentation → Authority → Communication → Quality Stop Point

This guide helps you organize your thoughts under pressure, explain your decisions clearly, and show hiring panels that you understand more than definitions.

You understand responsibility.

Download your copy!
Link below

Hard Truths for Aspiring CSIs

If you want to become a Crime Scene Investigator, you need more than interest, passion, or a degree with “forensic” in the title.

This field is competitive, and many students are not being told the full truth early enough.

Here are a few hard truths aspiring CSIs need to understand:

1. A degree alone may not be enough.
Many applicants have degrees. Some also have internships, hands-on training, related work experience, certifications, conferences, and strong interview skills.

2. You may need to relocate.
CSI openings are limited. If you only apply in one city or one county, you may be limiting your opportunities before you even begin.

3. Your program title does not guarantee readiness.
Some forensic science programs only include a few actual forensic courses. Read the curriculum, not just the title.

4. Hands-on training matters.
If you have never processed a mock scene, documented evidence, practiced photography, or worked through decision-making, you may still have a readiness gap.

5. Related roles count.
Evidence technician, property room technician, latent print technician, forensic technician, police service technician, and coroner support roles can help you build relevant experience.

6. Agencies are watching your professionalism before you are hired.
Your communication, follow-through, background packet, interview answers, and attitude all matter.

7. CSI work is not TV.
It is documentation, patience, procedure, evidence integrity, emotional discipline, and responsibility.

The goal is not to discourage you.
The goal is to prepare you.
Let me help you prepare!