Citizens of Wyoming and students of forensic science will never forget the day when detectives announced they had charged a man in connection with a 14-year-old cold case murder that took place just outside of Laramie in 1988. CSI professionals at the time managed to obtain serological evidence from the victim, whose case was broadcast nationwide in an effort to generate clues, but to no avail. A break finally came in 2002 when the victim’s case was re-examined using the latest technology in DNA profile analysis, which turned up a match with a man who was already incarcerated on unrelated weapons charges.
Besides the great amount of satisfaction derived from bringing delayed justice to the perpetrator – who is now Wyoming’s only death row inmate –, forensic science professionals and crime scene investigators in Casper are also involved with more recent cases, which last year included a high profile double murder-suicide, 12 robberies, and two cases of rape.
Education for Entering the Forensic Science Field in Casper
Candidates who are interested in the process of how to become a crime scene investigator or forensic scientist in Casper should be prepared for a career that can be challenging but also rewarding, which also involves meeting certain education requirements.
There are several providers of forensic science jobs in Casper, which prominently include the following agencies:
Crime Scene Investigation Professionals
- Casper Police Department: The Casper PD employs Field Evidence Technicians who are dispatched to crime scenes to assist experienced police officers with collecting evidence and making field CSI analysis. This includes:
- Computer forensics
- Blood pattern interpretation
- Latent print recovery
- Digital photography and the use of alternate light sources
- Computer diagramming
Candidates interested in field evidence technician CSI jobs can obtain certification in the above subjects through several online schools as well as courses offered at locations throughout the country.
Forensic Laboratory Technicians and Scientists
- Natrona County Coroner in Evansville: Located just outside the Casper city limits, the coroner becomes involved in Casper criminal cases anytime a death is involved. Last year this meant four homicides and three questionable death cases. Coroners are responsible for the following:
- Collecting evidence
- Fingerprinting
- Toxicology tests
- Forensic photography
- State Crime Lab: Although the Casper Police Department is qualified to conduct controlled substance tests on marijuana, other forensic evidence is sent to the State Crime Lab in Cheyenne for analysis by the following units:
- Biology
- Firearms and Toolmarks
- Chemistry
- Trace Evidence
- Latent Prints
Laboratory-intensive occupations generally require incumbents to have a bachelor degree in a science field. For State Crime Lab and coroner employees this can include:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- DNA and Genetics
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
- Forensic Science
There are several colleges in the Casper area offering relevant degree programs for careers in the forensic science field, with at least one two-year institution located within the city limits.