State of Connecticut Executive Branch

In the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Scientific Services, this class is accountable for supervising the activities and operations of a section engaged in selecting and conducting a variety of highly complex tests to analyze physical evidence.

DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID (DNA) SECTION: Incumbents are responsible for supervising staff performing complex analysis of forensic biology evidence such as nuclear and mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).

FORENSIC IDENTIFICATION SECTION: Incumbents are responsible for supervising staff performing complex analysis of evidence such as latent fingerprints, electronic/digital imagining, firearms, ballistics, toolmarks, questioned documents, imprints and investigating electronic related criminal activity.

TOXICOLOGY SECTION: Incumbents are responsible for supervising staff performing complex analysis of forensic biology evidence such as trace, physical, chemical samples, autopsy specimens, body fluids, hairs, fibers and identification of suspected poisonous substances.

• Schedules, assigns, oversees and reviews work of staff and laboratory operations;
• Provides staff training and assistance;
• Conducts performance evaluations;
• Determines priorities and plans unit work;
• Establishes and maintains unit procedures and quality assurance/control programs;
• Develops or makes recommendations on the development of policies and standards;
• Acts as liaison with other operating units, agencies and outside officials regarding unit policies and procedures;
• Prepares complex comprehensive reports and correspondence;
• Maintains instrumentation and equipment and safeguards laboratory physical evidence;
• Maintains chemicals, supplies and inventory;
• Ensures laboratory safety;
• Conducts proficiency testing;
• Attends court trials to evaluate testimony of subordinates;
• Assists in the preparation and presentation of the laboratory program budget;
• Handles the most complex cases in the section;
• Serves as State Police scientific representative;
• Testifies in court as an expert witness and before legislative bodies;
• Carries out advanced scientific research in appropriate fields;
• Maintains building security;
• Performs related duties as required.

• Considerable knowledge of
  • and ability to apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
  • relevant agency policies and procedures;
  • current laboratory facilities, methods, equipment, instrumentation and material;
  • modern methods of criminal investigations and identification;
  • applicable techniques and procedures for analyzing evidentiary materials;
  • physical laboratory instrumentation, documents, firearms, fingerprints and crime reconstruction techniques;
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills;
  • oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to
  • independently conduct technical, analytical, consultative, and research activities;
  • utilize computer software;
  • act as an expert witness in a court of law on complex and sensitive cases;
  • reconstruct crime scenes;
• Supervisory ability.

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been in a lead capacity guiding the activities of professional forensic science laboratory personnel.

NOTE: For state employees this experience is interpreted at the level of a Forensic Science Examiner 2.

• College training in forensic science, applied genomics, biochemistry, chemistry, genetics, molecular and cell biology or closely related field may be substituted for the General Experience required on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
• A Master's degree in forensic science, applied genomics, biochemistry, chemistry, genetics, molecular and cell biology or closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
• A Ph.D. in forensic science, applied genomics, biochemistry, chemistry, genetics, molecular and cell biology or closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

• Incumbents in this class may be required to work flexible hours.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.

This replaces the existing specification for the class of Forensic Science Examiner 3 (40 Hour) in Salary Group FP 27 approved effective August 10, 2012. (Revised to modify content and add Acknowledgement section) Final No. 23-024