8262-Criminalist III
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Criminalist III
Job classification
Class | 8262 |
---|---|
Title | Criminalist III |
Overtime eligibility | Exempt (Z) - No Paid Overtime |
Labor agreement | Prof & Tech Eng, Local 21 |
Effective date | November 15, 2023 |
Current compensation plan
Effective: Jul 01, 2024
See Historic and future compensation information for this class
Step: | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rate /hr: | $80.4375 | $84.4375 | $88.7000 | $93.0750 | $97.7750 |
Rate /biweekly: | $6,435.00 | $6,755.00 | $7,096.00 | $7,446.00 | $7,822.00 |
Rate /year: | $167,310 | $175,630 | $184,496 | $193,596 | $203,372 |
Job description
CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
JOB CODE TITLE: CRIMINALIST III
JOB CODE: 8262
DEFINITION
Under direction, supervises, trains and evaluates a group of criminalists engaged in the scientific examination and evaluation of physical evidence in criminal investigations, and/or performs the more complex identifications, analyses, and interpretations of criminal evidence, and serves as a technical expert in one or more specialty areas. The Criminalist III performs work in many Forensic Services Division sections, including Chemical Analysis, Firearms and Tool-marks, Trace Evidence, Forensic Biology, Crime Scene Investigation, Digital Forensics and Latent Prints.
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES
This class serves as a first-level supervisor over employees in class 8259 Criminalist I and class 8260 Criminalist II. It is distinguished from class 8260 Criminalist II in that the latter per-forms journey-level criminalist work and reports to class 8262. Additionally, class 8262 Criminalist III performs the more complex criminalist work and may serve as a technical expert in a particular scientific area.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED
Supervises a team of criminalists.
EXAMPLES OF IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES
According to Civil Service Commission Rule 109, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this job code/class and are not intended to be an inclusive list.
1. Collects, examines, analyzes, and processes complex evidence, including trace, firearms, impression, biological, fingerprint, digital, and crime scene evidence.
2. Develops, validates, and implements new methods and technologies in the analysis of evidence.
3. Maintains the breath alcohol program, which includes: training officers in the use of breath testing equipment in accordance with state statutes, acting as an expert witness in forensic breath alcohol analysis, the effects of alcohol on the human body, and effects of alcohol on a person�s ability to drive.
4. Develops and updates written procedures for evidence analysis, data interpretation, case note composition, and maintenance.
5. Reviews requests for forensic services as to the merit, urgency, and scope of the request.
6. Assigns cases based on factors such as available personnel, specialties of personnel and caseload.
7. Conducts administrative and technical reviews of all case files and reports.
8. Develops and implements quality control and safety procedures in the laboratory.
9. Develops a documented evidence control system to ensure the integrity of physical evidence.
10. Establishes and implements a documented program to ensure that instruments and equipment are properly maintained and calibrated.
11. Administers proficiency testing, reviews results, and recommends remedial action as necessary.
12. Presents court testimony as an expert witness concerning conclusions drawn from laboratory examinations and analyses.
13. Researches technical journals, textbooks, and proprietary publications to determine the best methods of performing tests.
14. Ensures current test methodologies satisfy court requirements for validity and admissibility as evidence.
15. Schedules training for staff in the use of highly technical instruments and microscopes.
16. Maintains training and proficiency test records of all subordinates, case examinations and service records for scientific instruments in the laboratory.
17. Prepares written budget requests for presentation to superiors of unit need, including equipment upgrade, staff training or other budget increases.
18. Confers with Inspectors and District Attorneys to discuss case priorities.
19. Serves as an instructor on evidence collection and crime laboratory procedure for Police Academy and for Advanced Officer training courses.
20. Attends professional meetings to maintain communication with other agencies, and to keep abreast of innovations that may be useful to the Unit.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of: Current principles, methods and materials needed to examine items of evidence; principles of computer, chemistry, biochemistry, physiology, molecular biology, and statistics as necessary as they relate to forensic science; technical writing as related to criminalistics; basic and advanced laboratory procedures, and equipment and apparatuses used in a laboratory setting; procedures used to validate internal testing methodology prior to laboratory implementation; quality assurance/accreditation standards.
Ability to: Perform routine and complex analytical procedures; interpret data generated by laboratory tests, and draw appropriate conclusions and inferences; interpret and apply federal, state and local regulations; present key facts, points, or inferences orally, in a clear, organized and concise format; prepare comprehensive clear written reports; use proper English, gram-mar, spelling, punctuation, and structure in written communications; provide fair and impartial court testimony as an expert witness; set schedule for self and others so that all priority activities are carried out in a timely manner; identify what constitutes acceptable and effective performance and/or levels of productivity, take appropriate action when subordinates fail to follow procedures or deviate from expected performance; ability to assess training needs of subordinate personnel; give appropriate and timely feedback to subordinates; state and explain policies and procedures in such a way as to enlist support and compliance by subordinates; and establish and maintain courteous, cooperative, business-like relationships with subordinates, peers, superiors, and personnel from other departments.
Skill to: handle, assess, and manipulate physical, biological or laboratory samples; operate and maintain a wide variety of instruments such as microscopes and gas chromatographic-interfaced mass spectrometers.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
These minimum qualifications establish the education, training, experience, special skills and/or license(s) which are required for employment in the classification. Please note, additional qualifications (i.e., special conditions) may apply to a particular position and will be stated on the exam/job announcement.
Education:
Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in criminalistics, chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, or a closely related physical science field; AND
1. For positions assigned to Forensic Biology (DNA), must meet the minimum education requirements for an analyst as described by the current Federal Bureau of Investigation�s Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories; AND four (4) years of forensic DNA laboratory experience which may include computer database management.
2. For positions assigned to Chemical Analysis, course work must include 8 semester units of chemistry with lab and 8 units of organic chemistry with lab.
Experience:
Four years (4) of experience working in a laboratory performing duties of a criminalist (equivalent to the City's 8260 Criminalist II).
Notes:
For positions assigned to Latent Prints, the fours (4) years of required experience must be as a latent fingerprint examiner in a public jurisdiction.
License and Certification:
Possession of a valid driver's license.
Substitution:
Postgraduate degree in biology, chemistry, or forensic science-related area may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.
For positions assigned to Latent Prints additional full-time experience as a Latent Print Examiner in public jurisdiction may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis. Thirty (30) semester units or forty-five (45) quarter units equals one year.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
PROMOTIVE LINES
From: 8260 Criminalist II
ORIGINATION DATE: 06/15/1970
AMENDED DATE: 08/27/1982; 05/12/00; 08/15/02; 11/15/23
REASON FOR AMENDMENT:
To accurately reflect the current tasks, knowledge, skills & abilities, and minimum qualifications.
BUSINESS UNIT(S): COMMN
Standard information
Disaster service work
All City and County of San Francisco employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the City requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.
Historic and future compensation
Effective (Sched) | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jul 01, 2024 (Z) | $80.4375 | $84.4375 | $88.7000 | $93.0750 | $97.7750 |
Jan 06, 2024 (Y) | $79.2500 | $83.1875 | $87.3875 | $91.7000 | $96.3250 |
Jul 01, 2023 (X) | $77.5000 | $81.3625 | $85.4625 | $89.6875 | $94.2000 |
Jul 01, 2022 (W) | $75.6125 | $79.3750 | $83.3750 | $87.5000 | $91.9000 |
Jan 08, 2022 (V) | $71.8375 | $75.4125 | $79.2125 | $83.1375 | $87.3125 |
Jul 01, 2021 (U) | $71.4750 | $75.0375 | $78.8125 | $82.7250 | $86.8750 |
Dec 26, 2020 (T) | $69.0500 | $72.4875 | $76.1375 | $79.9125 | $83.9250 |
Jul 01, 2020 (S) | $67.0375 | $70.3750 | $73.9250 | $77.5875 | $81.4750 |
Historic compensation data is provided in hourly pay.
Sources: San Francisco Open Data Portal: Compensation plan table