CRIMINALIST

Position/Program Information

Exam Number

P4333C-R

When to Apply

Applications will be accepted on Tuesday, October 15 , 2024, at 8:00 a.m. (PT)

through Monday, October 28, 2024 before 5:00 p.m. (PT).

Type of Recruitment

Open Competitive Job Opportunity

County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner is recruiting for highly motivated and career minded individuals to fill the position of Criminalist . To view classification standards for the position, please click HERE .

With more than 10 million residents, Los Angeles County is the most populous county in the nation. As the largest employer in Southern California, over 112,000 employees in more than 36 departments provide vital public services as diverse as law enforcement, property assessment, public health protection, water conservation, cultural activities and many more. We are dedicated professionals committed to preserving the dignity and integrity of the workplace as well as protecting the rights of each employee. With more than 2,300 different job descriptions, the County offers a lifetime of opportunities and careers! We offer one of the strongest public-sector benefits packages in the nation. Join us and discover a rich selection of health care options, robust retirement plans, and the flexibility to work, relax, and rejuvenate in order to reach your fullest personal and professional potential.

Check Out Our Outstanding Benefits! Click HERE to see a list of employee benefits.

Essential Job Functions

• Performs physical, chemical, and microscopic analyses of evidentiary material (e.g., narcotics, drugs, trace materials, tool marks, body tissues and fluids, etc.) encountered in the course of criminal and/or death investigations by utilizing microscopic techniques, comparison macrophotography, chromatography, spectroscopy, and physical analytical and comparison techniques using laboratory instruments (e.g., thermocyclers, genetic analyzers, light and electron microscopes, liquid and gas chromatographs, spectrometers, basic laboratory equipment, etc.) to determine the nature and quality of the evidence for forensic or criminalistics purposes; and comply with Federal and State laws, County ordinances, safety guidelines, and departmental policies and procedures.
• Identifies, collects, documents, and properly handles physical evidence (e.g., gunshot residue, ligatures, prescription drugs, controlled substances and paraphernalia, trace evidence, sexual assault evidence, etc.) by utilizing relevant investigative equipment and materials (e.g., swabs, digital camera, and alternate light source), and maintaining a proper chain of custody (e.g., ensuring that evidence is not contaminated and limiting access to evidence, etc.) to ensure the integrity of the collected evidence and comply with the Federal and State rules regarding evidence collection, safety guidelines, and departmental policies and procedures.
• Performs scientific criminal investigations at various crime scenes by examining, collecting, documenting, and preserving physical evidence (e.g., gunshot residue, ligatures, prescription drugs, controlled substances and paraphernalia, trace evidence, sexual assault evidence, etc.); utilizing relevant investigative equipment and materials (e.g., swabs, digital camera, and alternate light source); and maintaining a proper chain of custody (e.g., ensuring that evidence is not contaminated and limiting access to evidence, etc.) to ensure the integrity of the collected evidence, prepare evidence for analysis and evaluation, and comply with the Federal and State rules regarding evidence collection, safety guidelines, and departmental policies and procedures.
• Assists in preparing a variety of written documents (e.g., technical reports of laboratory analyses and results, displays for court presentations, investigative reports, evidence logs, quality assurance reports, email correspondence, etc.) by compiling and organizing facts and conclusions, and composing the text in a logical manner using appropriate computer software programs (e.g., word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, etc.) in order to write reports of analytical or investigative findings and offer opinion based on those findings, present information to appropriate parties (e.g., experienced criminalists, supervisors, attorneys, investigators, medical staff, etc.) and to facilitate accurate and effective communication, reporting, and record keeping within the Department, law enforcement agencies, and general public in compliance with Federal and State laws and departmental policies and procedures.
• Provides testimony in judicial proceedings by conveying procedural and/or technical information (e.g., chain of custody, instrumentation, methodology, etc.) related to laboratory analyses and criminal investigations, articulating clearly and concisely the facts and conclusions of the case, and responding to challenges with professionalism and clarity in order to accurately represent the findings and conclusions determined by the analysis of the evidentiary material.
• Interacts with a variety of individuals (e.g., coworkers, supervisors, families, law enforcement agencies, government officials, medical professionals, legal professionals, other scientific investigatory agencies, etc.) by assisting in coordinating findings, providing support and information on cases and serving as a point of contact, if necessary in order to represent the Department in a professional manner and facilitate communication and cooperation between the Department and interested parties.
• Maintains current scientific knowledge and practices in the field of forensic sciences (e.g., accreditation requirements and departmental policies and procedures) by attending professional conferences or meetings (e.g., Society of Forensic Toxicologist, American Academy of Forensic Science, California Association of Criminalist, etc.), scientific training sessions, in-service education programs, annual training and proficiency programs, and by reviewing information obtained from Department memoranda, staff meetings, professional publications, etc. to maintain proficiency and current knowledge in the practice of forensic science.
• Complies with all applicable health and safety standards and good laboratory practices (e.g., using personal protective equipment and ensuring it is in good working condition, following appropriate bloodborne pathogen practices, handling of chemical and biological materials properly, etc.) by following the applicable guidelines (e.g., CA-OSHA) and reporting defects or problems so they can be appropriately addressed or repaired in order to maintain a clean, safe, and professional work environment.
• Complies with established quality assurance procedures (e.g., technical and administrative reviews) by reading and staying abreast on policies, procedures, laws and regulations to ensure proper functioning of laboratory and safety equipment, analytical instruments, reagents, and work areas in compliance with the accreditation guidelines, safety guidelines, and departmental policies and procedures.
• Assists in determining the best methods of performing analytical testing and in the development of new scientific methods and techniques related to forensic science under the direction of Senior Criminalist and/or Supervisor by researching applicable publications (e.g., technical journals, textbooks, manuals, etc.), identifying and studying emerging trends in the field of forensic science (e.g., new controlled substances, instrumentation, methodology, etc.) to maintain the competencies and further the capabilities of the forensic laboratory.

Requirements

Selection Requirements:
A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in criminalistics, chemistry, biology, biochemistry, or a closely related scientific field, including at least eight (8) semester units or twelve (12) quarter units of general chemistry and three (3) semester units or 4.5 quarter units of quantitative analysis.

In order to receive credit for your degree and coursework, you must include a legible copy of the official transcripts from the accredited institution which shows completion of the required coursework, degree has been conferred and the area of specialization with your application at the time of filing or within seven (7) calendar days from the last day of filing to awong@hr.lacounty.gov . Please ensure to indicate your full name, the exam title, and the exam number in the subject line of the email.

Unofficial transcripts and/or diplomas received will not be considered nor accepted. We also do not accept password-protected documents. Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to your application or sending to the exam analyst.

For more information regarding education, please see the Employment Information document on the LA County Jobs website.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE:

As part of this application process, applicants will be required to complete a supplemental questionnaire to document specific education and work experience. Your answers on the Supplemental Questionnaire will be used for scoring purposes on part of the examination.

LICENSE:
A valid California Class C Driver License is required to perform job-related essential functions of the position.

Out of state applicants must have a valid license from the state in which they reside at the time of filing and will be required to obtain a California Class "C" or above driver license by the time of hire.

PHYSICAL CLASS:

Requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10 pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

WITHHOLD INFORMATION:
No withholds will be allowed for this examination. All required education must be possessed by the last day of the filing period.

Additional Information

Our Assessment Process
This examination will consist of THREE (3) parts:

PART I: A multiple choice and/or simulation assessment(s), weighted at 40%, assessing:

• Professional Potential
• Achievement
• Coping with Uncertainty
• Responsibility
• Working to High Quality Standards
• Willingness to Learn
• Working Relationships
• Analyzing Information
• Learning Quickly
• Generating New Ideas
• Using Time Efficiently
• Adapting to Change
• Deductive Reasoning

PART II: An evaluation of training and experience, weighted at 20%, assessing:

• Professional/Technical Knowledge of:
• Physical, chemical, or microscopic analyses
• Criminalistic techniques and procedures
• Written Communication
• Safety Orientation

MULTIPLE CHOICE AND/OR SIMULATION ASSESSMENT(S) ARE NOT REVIEWABLE BY CANDIDATES PER CIVIL SERVICE RULE 7.19.

Candidates must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on the combined score of Parts I and II in order to participate in Part III.

PART III: A structured interview, weighted at 40%, assessing job knowledge, data analysis, project management, safety orientation, knowledge application, relationship building, work habits and attitudes, and oral communication.

Candidates must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on Part III of the examination in order to be placed on the eligible list.

Transfer of Test Components :

• Applicants that have taken identical components recently for other exams may have their responses automatically transferred to this examination.
• This examination contains test components that may be used in the future for new examinations and your test responses may be transferred.

Note: All notifications including invitation letters will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application. It is important that applicants provide a valid email address. DO NOT select "off" under Email Preferences within your profile or click "unsubscribe" on our notices if you would like the County of Los Angeles to notify you regarding your application status, test schedules, and other important information pertaining to your candidacy for this position. Please add the following email addresses to your email address and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk mail.

• awong@hr.lacounty.gov
• info@governmentjobs.com
• talentcentral@shl.com
• noreply@proctoru.com
• donot-reply@amcatmail.com

Los Angeles County will not consider claims of not viewing or receiving notification to be a valid reason for late test administration or rescheduling of a test component.

Exam results cannot be given over the telephone.

Test Preparation :
Study guides and other test preparation resources are available to help candidates prepare for employment tests. While the guides will help you preparing for the test, we advise you to review all related materials that you deem necessary.

• An interactive, Online Test Preparation System for taking practice tests may be accessed on the Department of Human Resources website at http://hr.lacounty.gov . Please click on "Find A Job" and then "Job Search Toolkit." Test preparation information is located under the "Employment Test Assistance" section.

• Additional online practice tests are available at https://www.shldirect.com/en-us/practice-tests /.

Eligibility Information
The names of candidates receiving a passing grade in the examination will be placed on the eligible list in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months.

Vacancy Information
The eligible list resulting from this examination will be used to fill vacancies in the Department of Medical Examiner.

Available Shift: Any

How to Apply:

Applications must be submitted online only. We must receive your application BEFORE 5:00 p.m., PT, on the last day of filing. Applications submitted by U.S. Mail, Fax, or in person will not be accepted. Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" green button at the top right of this posting. You can also track the status of your application using this website.

Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the deadline as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty , you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.

Fill out your application and supplemental questionnaire completely. The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the Minimum/Selection Requirements. Provide any relevant education, training and experience in the spaces provided so we can evaluate your qualifications for the job. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and description of work performed. If your application is incomplete, it will be disqualified.

Any additional documents must be received at the time of filing or within seven (7) calendar days from the last day of filing. If you are unable to attach the document(s) to your online application, you may email it to the assigned exam analyst. Please ensure to reference your full name, examination title, and examination number on the subject of your email.

Important Notes : Please note that all information included in the application materials is subject to verification at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. Falsification of any information may result in disqualification or rescission of appointment. Utilizing verbiage from Class Specification and Minimum Requirements serving as your description of duties will not be sufficient to demonstrate that you meet the requirements. Doing so may result in an incomplete application and you may be disqualified.

Social Security Numbe r :
Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal Law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

Computer and Internet Access at Public Libraries : For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.

No Sharing of User ID and Password : All applications must file their application online using their own user ID and password. Using a family members or friends user ID and password may erase a candidates original application record.

Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) :
The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of Human Resources is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

Testing Accommodations
If you require an accommodation to fairly compete in any part of the assessment process, you will be given the opportunity to make a request when completing your application. Please note, you may be required to submit documentation from a qualified medical provider or other qualified professional to support your request for a testing accommodation.

Testing Accommodations Coordinator Email: TestingAccommodations@hr.lacounty.gov .

Teletype Phone: (800) 735-2929
California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922

Department Contact Name: Annie Wong
Department Contact Email: awong@hr.lacounty.gov
Department Contact Number: (213) 441-2034

For detailed information, please click here

Closing Date/Time: 10/28/2024 5:00 PM Pacific

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• Los Angeles County

• (800) 970-5478

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