Forensic Scientist II

Job Posting

This job announcement may close at any time with little or no notice. Applicants are advised to apply promptly.

Pay Schedule I, Grade 36, Regular Schedule : 35 hours per week

A vacancy exists in the Police Department, Administrative & Technical Services Bureau / Forensic Services Section.

A list of eligible applicants will be established based on the examination as outlined below. Current and future vacancies occurring in any Office or Department of Baltimore County General Government may be filled from the list of eligible applicants.

All interested transfer and promotional candidates must apply at this time.

List all promotions and changes in job duties due to reclassification as separate work experience on your application. Applicants must include the dates of the promotions and reclassifications.

Note : Failure to complete all fields of the "Work Experience" section of the application will result in your application not being considered. A resume will not be considered in determining your qualifications for a position. Applicants selected for an interview may provide a resume at that time.

You MUST attach your transcript(s), certification(s) or license(s) to your application. Unofficial copies are acceptable.

Failure to submit proof of License(s), Certification(s) and Education will result in your application not being considered. Proof of license(s), certification(s), and / or education must be submitted with each application.

Examples of Duties

Under general supervision, executes the handling, analysis and reporting of results of technical work in accordance with the quality assurance program as part of police and fire investigations in one or more units of the Forensic Services Section of the Baltimore County Police Department.

• Performs analysis and examinations of physical and or digital evidence and prepares reports thereof as part of police and fire investigations in one or more units of the Forensic Services Section.
• Provides expert testimony in court.
• Performs other laboratory activities to support the technical work and the quality assurance program for one or more units of the Forensic Services Section.
• Participates in continuing education and training and completes other administrative and technical tasks in one or more unit of the Forensic Services Section.
• Transfers evidence.
• Conducts thorough examinations of computer hard disk drives, and other electronic data storage media.
• Preserves and copies the original media.
• Prevents the transference of viruses, destructive programs, and inadvertent writes to and from the original media.
• Restores recoverable deleted files.
• Accesses password-protected and secured files.
• Uses forensic software applications to analyze electronic media.
• Examines the contents of a computer's CMOS.
• Examines boot record data, system configuration, and operation command files.
• Verifies the correctness of the computer's internal clock.
• Physically disassembles and examines computers and related hardware components.
• Identifies evidence of computer crimes such as the theft and sabotage of data; unlawful access of data and systems; fraudulent use of bank, credit, and telecommunications accounts; and the trafficking of pornography.
• Examines and analyzes text, graphics, multimedia, and digital images.
• Labels and secures evidence.
• Prepares and presents reports of examinations and findings.
• Works with prosecutors and others to prepare cases for trial.
• May provide advice and guidance within the various disciplines of the forensic services unit. May give presentations to community groups.
• Provides expert opinions / testimony in court.
• Prepares evidence for further examination, analysis, and processing.
• Develops various types of plaster and rubber casts of crime scene evidence.
• Evaluates prints and photographs.
• Participates in continuing education and training and completes other administrative and technical tasks in one or more unit of the Forensic Services Section.
• Transfers evidence.
• Conducts biological / chemistry analysis and examinations pertaining to law enforcement investigations.
• Receives and logs evidence from evidence custodians in accordance with rules of chain-of-custody.
• Prepares standard and special reagents as required.
• Conducts and assists in biological / chemistry analysis and examinations.
• Formulates conclusions and prepares investigative reports and charts based on forensic examinations.
• Prepares exhibits to be used in courts and provides expert testimony in court.
• Cleans and maintains laboratory facilities and equipment.
• Assists in the purchase and inventory of laboratory equipment and supplies.
• Performs other related duties as required

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in chemistry, biology, biochemistry, genetics, medical technology, pharmaceutical science, or a related field (physical, natural, or forensic science). OR Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in criminal justice, law enforcement, digital forensics, cyber security, high technology crime or a related field. PLUS Two years' experience in the scientific analysis of forensic evidence, including testifying in a criminal court as an expert forensics witness. (Possession of a Master's degree in chemistry, biology or a related field may be substituted for one year of the required experience. Possession of Doctoral degree in chemistry, biology, or related field may be substituted for two years of the required experience.) Licenses and Certificates Possession of a valid driver's license equivalent to a non-commercial, class C Maryland driver's license is required at the time of appointment. Some positions may require certification by the International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists (IACIS) for the Certified Forensic Computer Examiner (CFCE) or equivalent. Chemistry : Certification from the Maryland Department of Health is required to analyze controlled dangerous substances.

Proof of License(s), Certification(s), and Education Applicants are required to submit proof of license(s), certification(s) and education beyond high school to meet the required and preferred qualifications of the position. Diplomas or transcripts must show the applicant's major field of study. Copies and unofficial transcripts are acceptable as long as they indicate the degree awarded and have the name of the school printed on them. Failure to submit proof of License(s), Certification(s), and Education will result in your application not being considered. Proof of license(s), certification(s), and / or education must be submitted with each application.

Proof of Degree Equivalency Applicants who have obtained a degree from outside the United States of America are required to submit degree equivalence documentation from World Education Services, Inc.

Mail or deliver documents to : ATTN : Forensic Scientist II Office of Human Resources Baltimore County Government 308 Allegheny Ave. Towson, MD 21204

You MUST attach your transcript(s), certification(s) or license(s) to your application. Unofficial copies are acceptable.

Examination Procedure Applicants will be qualified based on an evaluation of their training and experience, as stated on their application, which includes answers to the supplemental questions. Applicants must state the dates and duties of past and present experience clearly and completely for evaluation purposes.

Conditions of Employment

On appointment to this classification, an employee must provide a DNA sample to be maintained for quality assurance purposes by way of buccal swab of the inside of the employee's mouth or current standardized collection procedure to be performed by qualified police department personnel. Provision of the DNA sample is a condition of employment and shall only be used for law enforcement purposes as a forensic laboratory or for purposes of human remains identification and request, but only to the extent that the genetic information is used for analysis of DNA identification markers for quality control to detect sample contamination. It shall be maintained and disclosed only in a manner consistent with law, separate from the employee's personnel file as a confidential medical record, and will not be used for any other purpose.

Employees in this classification may be assigned to a work shift which includes nights, evenings, weekends, and / or holidays. Employees in this classification are subject to call to duty in emergencies, and may be required to work overtime as needed.

Other licenses and certifications may be required within a year of appointment and must be maintained thereafter to retain employment.

All applicants must be of good moral character and emotionally stable, as determined by a comprehensive background investigation, polygraph examination, and drug test. Employees are subject to periodic drug testing.

The work of this classification frequently requires walking and standing, lifting, carrying, or dragging equipment and evidence of various sizes and shapes, traveling between work sites, and exposure to adverse weather conditions, toxic chemicals, bio-medical hazards, such as blood and other