The professional background of a crime scene investigator may also include experience and training through a law enforcement agency while working as an officer.   Some go further and confuse crime reconstruction with the specific task of crime scene processing and the overall field of crime scene investigation . A crime scene investigator is a forensic specialist that is employed by a department, but is not necessarily a law enforcement officer. Crime scene technicians are highly trained and hold, at least a certificate, associate degree or bachelor degree. Observing minute details at the scene and relating them to the crime; visually identifying and describing persons, vehicles, and locations; and giving expert testimony about evidence in criminal court cases .

Collect, identify, classify, and analyze physical evidence related to criminal investigations. Most law enforcement agencies will require candidates to successfully complete a background check, polygraph examination, physical examination and psychological evaluation. When working at the evidentiary level, this is in no small part because of the natural limits to what forensic science is capable of. Consequently, the term crime scene reconstruction is at best an inaccurate description of what forensic science is actually able to contribute to the cause of justice. A crime scene investigator job description involves collecting, identifying, classifying, and analyzing physical evidence related to criminal investigations.

Experience in a forensic laboratory, crime scene investigation and/or photography will make you a more attractive candidate as well. Many law enforcement agencies give preference to those applicants with an associate or bachelor degree in criminal justice, biology, forensic science, crime scene investigation, or chemistry. Current law enforcement professionals can supplement the degrees they currently hold and specialize as a crime scene technician by earning a crime scene technician certificate. A technician is one who is trained in specific procedures, learned by routine or repetition. Crime reconstruction is the determination of the actions and events surrounding the commission of a crime.