Level I: Minimum of a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university in a biology-, chemistry-, or forensic science- related area. Any four-year or higher degree in a forensic science-related area must include emphasis in the sciences, such as biology, chemistry, etc. Criminalist I’s must also demonstrate successful completion (grade of a C or better) of college coursework covering a minimum of 2 of the 3 following subject areas: biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology, each constituting an integral component of any coursework used to demonstrate compliance and as required/defined by the current FBI Quality Assurance Standards. For the subject areas of biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology, each course must have been a minimum of 3 semester hours or equivalent. If an applicant has not completed college coursework in all three previously mentioned subject areas, successful completion of the missing coursework is required within the first year of employment. Any analyst hired/appointed/promoted or qualified (as defined by the laboratory in accordance with FBI Quality Assurance Standards, Standard 4.2) prior to July 1, 2020, shall have coursework and/or training in statistics and/or population genetics as it applies to forensic DNA analysis. Any analyst hired/appointed/promoted or qualified (as defined by the laboratory pursuant to Standard 4.2) on or after July 1, 2020, shall have successfully completed coursework covering statistics and/or population genetics.
Level II: Requirements include those identified in Level I plus either one year of experience working full-time as a forensic laboratory criminalist within any forensic discipline of the OSBI’s Criminalistics Services Division or one year in a position with another agency in which the applicant performed forensic analysis full-time in forensic biology/DNA. Additionally, must demonstrate successful completion (grade of a C or better) of college coursework covering the coursework as described in Level I, as required/defined by the current FBI Quality Assurance Standards. For the subject areas of biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology, each course must have been a minimum of 3 semester hours or equivalent.
Level III: Requirements include those identified in Level II plus either two years of experience working full-time as an OSBI forensic laboratory criminalist in the OSBI’s Forensic Biology Units or two years of experience in a position with another agency in which the applicant performed forensic analysis full-time in the forensic biology/DNA discipline.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Competencies
Level I: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of the assigned field of work (chemistry, biology, forensic science, criminalistics, criminal justice, latent print development, print identification, firearms and toolmarks, digital evidence, or document examination); of basic scientific principles; of methods used in forensic analysis; of grammar, punctuation, English usage, and spelling; and of math. Ability is required to prepare evidence and exhibits for court; to effectively testify in court or administrative hearings; to organize and present facts and opinions clearly; and to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
Level II: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of the assigned field of work (chemistry, biology, forensic science, criminalistics, criminal justice, latent print development, print identification, firearms and toolmarks, digital evidence, or document examination); of basic scientific principles; of methods used in forensic analysis; of grammar, punctuation, English usage, and spelling; of math; of criminal investigative procedures relating to laboratory criminalistics; of statutory criminal law; of laboratory techniques; of Laboratory Quality Assurance/Quality Control standards; and of laboratory safety policies and practices. Ability is required to prepare evidence and exhibits for court; to effectively testify in court or administrative hearings; to organize and present facts and opinions clearly; to establish and maintain effective working relationships; to use laboratory equipment and instrumentation efficiently; and to conduct crime scene investigations.
Level III: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of the assigned field of work (chemistry, biology, forensic science, criminalistics, criminal justice, latent print development, print identification, firearms and toolmarks, digital evidence, or document examination); of basic scientific principles; of methods used in forensic analysis; of grammar, punctuation, English usage, and spelling; of math; of criminal investigative procedures relating to laboratory criminalistics; of statutory criminal law; of laboratory techniques; of Laboratory Quality Assurance/Quality Control standards; and of laboratory safety policies and practices. Ability is required to prepare evidence and exhibits for court; to effectively testify in court or administrative hearings; to organize and present facts and opinions clearly; to establish and maintain effective working relationships; to use laboratory equipment and instrumentation efficiently; to conduct crime scene investigations; to provide leadership and direction to lower-level employees; to make public presentations and speeches; and to conduct scientific research.
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Applicants must possess, or be eligible for a valid Oklahoma driver’s license. They must be able to meet the requirements for peace officer certification if required by the agency. They must possess the physical and mental stamina to perform the work and accept the inherent physical, chemical, and biological hazards. They need accurate vision with or without corrective lens, and need to accurately distinguish between colors. They must be able to successfully complete any necessary training and certification required by the agency, be able to be called back to work at irregular times, be willing and able to work overtime when required, and be willing and able to travel frequently and be in travel status for extended periods of time. They must be willing to transfer where and when needed and to accept assignments anywhere in the state; pass a thorough character and background investigation; successfully pass a polygraph examination, drug screen and, if required by the agency, a psychological evaluation. Subsequent to an offer of employment, applicants may be required by the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System to satisfy psychological testing, medical examination and/or physical agility testing standards or requirements. Educational and/or experience selective qualifications may apply for specific disciplines, levels, or positions.
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Some positions may require certification by the International Association of Computer Investigative Specialist (IACIS) as a Certified Forensic Computer Examiner.
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The federal Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997 contained an amendment of the federal Gun Control Act of 1968. This amendment addresses misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence. Commissioned applicants must be able to satisfy the limitations contained in this federal law.
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The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has determined that some positions in this job family are safety sensitive as defined by 63 O.S. § 427.8.
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Successful applicants must be willing to submit to a drug screen, polygraph examination, psychological evaluation (commissioned positions only), and a thorough background investigation. Certain events automatically disqualify an applicant, such as, felony conviction; admission of an undetected crime that, if known, would have been a felony charge; failure to pay federal or state income tax; positive confirmed drug urine test; illegal use of a controlled substance within certain time frames.