Criminalist (Entry, Journey or Senior Level DOQ)

Achieving Justice and Protecting the Community

It is the mission of the District Attorney's Office to seek and do justice by assisting law enforcement and other public agencies in the investigation of crimes, prosecuting only those crimes which can be proved beyond a reasonable doubt, ensuring a fair trial for those accused of crime as well as for victims and witnesses of crimes, advocating to the public and to the Board of Supervisors necessary improvements to the criminal justice system, and educating the public by providing prompt and accurate information regarding the activities of the office and the administration of criminal justice.

to learn more about the district attorney's office, please visit: http://www.solanocounty.com/depts/da/default.asp 

Criminalists work in the District Attorney’s Forensic Laboratory conducting analysis of physical evidence, and serve as expert witnesses in court on the subjects of forensic analysis. Currently the Forensic Laboratory is seeking applicants to perform testing in forensic human-performance toxicology; including identification and quantitative methods for alcohol and drugs in blood, as well as instrumental skills in GC/MS, LC/MSMS and other related toxicological instrumentation. In addition, skills in research and validation of toxicology methods are also desirable.

Distinguishing characteristics between the Entry, Journey and Senior levels are based on assignment and years of experience. The independence of work, complexity and scope of responsibilities is defined as stated below:

• At entry level, Criminalists have little or no previous forensic casework experience. They receive on-the-job training in one or more of the core forensic disciplines, learning to apply the required body of knowledge. They perform fundamental, routine forensic scientific casework of moderate difficulty and within established parameters that are designed to develop broader and more in-depth knowledge and skill. This is the training and developmental level.
• At the journey level, Criminalists independently perform technically complex and difficult forensic scientific casework in one or more forensic disciplines; and assist in training laboratory staff and law enforcement officers.
• At the senior level, Criminalists perform the most technically complex, difficult, or highly sensitive scientific casework in one or more forensic disciplines; research and develop new methods and/or lead oversight and training of laboratory staff on a regular and recurring basis.

The eligible list established from this recruitment will be used to fill full-time and part-time regular, limited-term or extra-help positions as vacancies occur or the need arises.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in chemistry, forensic chemistry/science, biochemistry, toxicology, criminalistics, or a closely related physical or natural science field that included 20 semester/30 quarter units of general chemistry, organic chemistry (two courses), quantitative techniques, and laboratory sections;

AND

Entry-level Experience: No experience; or

Journey-level Experience: Two years of full-time directly related experience in a class comparable to Solano County's Criminalist; or

Senior-level Experience: Four years of full-time directly related journey-level experience in a class comparable to Solano County's Criminalist in one of the following areas: firearms and tool mark comparisons; forensic biology/DNA, trace and impression evidence examinations, drug analysis, and/or forensic alcohol or toxicology.

Note: Master's degree or higher in one of the scientific fields noted above is desirable and may be substituted for one year of the required experience.

Licensing/Certification:

To view the job description for this position, please visit: http://www.solanocounty.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?blobid=7246

A Bachelor’s Degree is required for this position. All applicants must submit a copy of their college diploma (verifying the degree, date earned and area of specialization). Applicants qualifying with a major in "a closely related physical or natural science field" must also submit official or unofficial transcripts (verifying the student, institution, courses and units completed). Candidates who fail to submit their diploma/transcripts by the final filing date will be disqualified from the recruitment.

How to Submit Your Documents

In addition to uploading attachments when applying online, candidates may submit documents in-person or by mail at Solano County Department of Human Resources 675 Texas Street, Suite 1800, Fairfield CA 94533, by fax to (707) 784-3424, or by email to recruitment@solanocounty.com  When submitting documents in-person, by mail or by fax, include the recruitment title (Criminalist Journey/Senior) and the recruitment number (17-413360-01). If submitting documents by email include the recruitment title and recruitment number in the subject field.

This Supplemental Questionnaire will be used to determine applicants’ qualifications for this position and assess an applicant’s ability to advance in the recruitment process; therefore, applicants are encouraged to answer all questions thoroughly and completely. Omitted information will not be considered or assumed. Applicants who have no experience in a specific area are recommended to state "no experience in this area" instead of leaving the space blank.

Please note that the experience in your answers must be reflected in your employment history.

To be eligible, applicant must have served at least 181 consecutive days of active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States and have received either an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions.  A COPY OF THE DD 214, SHOWING DISCHARGE TYPE (GENERALLY COPY 4), MUST BE RECEIVED IN THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT BY THE FINAL FILING DATE.  Applicants who have a service connected disability must also submit a recent award letter from the VA stating they are receiving disability benefits for service connected reasons. 

Veteran applicants for initial County employment with an honorable or general under conditions discharge shall receive five (5) points added to their combined score.  Disabled veterans rated at not less than 30% disability shall have ten (10) points added to their combined score.  Veteran’s preference points will only be added to passing scores in competitive open examinations.

It is the policy of Solano County that all employment decisions and personnel policies will be applied equally to all County employees and applicants and be based upon the needs of County service, job related merit, and ability to perform the job.

APPLICANTS WITH DISABILITIES:  Qualified individuals with a disability, who are able to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, and need an accommodation during any phase of the recruitment/testing/examination process (as detailed in the “Selection Process”), must complete the following Request for Testing Accommodation by Applicants with Disabilities Form: http://www.solanocounty.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=23215.

This form must be received in the Human Resources Department by the final filing date of the recruitment.  Applicants will be contacted to discuss the specifics of the request.

Click here to take a video tour of Solano County.

The County of Solano offers a blend of agriculture, corporate business, cultural venues, festivals and events, and provides residents with many recreation and entertainment choices. The County is also home to Travis Air Force Base.

Solano County is centrally located and serves as a gateway to all that Northern California has to offer. The Napa Valley is less than 20 miles away, two world-class public universities (UC Berkeley and UC Davis) are 20 miles away, and both San Francisco and Sacramento are less than 40 minutes away. Day trips can also be made to South Lake Tahoe and Monterey.

With its strategic location, affordable housing, natural resources, responsible land use planning, and attractive quality of life, Solano County is a great place to live, learn, work and play.

County Population (2016): 431,498

The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice.

SOLANO COUNTY IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER