DNA and Fingerprint sample: DFS employees work in proximity to submitted crime scene evidence. Due to this proximity, it is a necessity for all employees of the agency to have their DNA and fingerprint sample taken. These samples are maintained in the DFS Staff DNA Index and Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) respectively. The purpose of this is to eliminate any possibility that an identified DNA profile or latent print may belong to DFS staff who came into contact with the evidence and/or the location/equipment/supplies that were used during an examination.
The DNA sample is obtained via buccal swab (saliva sample).
Legal Eligibility for Employment: The Department of Forensic Science hires individuals that are legally authorized to work in the United States. Within the first three
days of employment, you will be required to present evidence of your identity and legal authorization to work.
Grant funded (restricted) positions: Some positions are grant funded (restricted). This means the salary and other costs associated with the position are paid from grant funds rather than general funds. You will be advised of the restrictions that may apply if you are offered employment in a grant funded position.
Wage employment: A wage employee (part-time hourly) is limited to working 1500 hours in a 365-day period and is excluded from participating in the state’s vacation, retirement, health, and life insurance programs.
Criminal Conviction Investigation: In order to provide user agencies and the criminal justice system the assurance of forensic analyses of the highest caliber and integrity, the Department conducts a comprehensive criminal investigation on all selected candidates. A determination of either a job-related conviction or falsified conviction information on the application may result in denial of employment.
The following is a list of automatic disqualifiers for employment, contract work or internship with DFS:
- Any felony conviction if the position could require testimony in a court of law, financial management of state resources, or access to sensitive information, including access to federal tax information or other financial information.
- Any conviction that requires registration on the Virginia Sex Offender Registry.
- Any misdemeanor conviction involving lying, cheating, or stealing if the position could require testimony in a court of law, financial management of state resources, or access to sensitive information, including access to federal tax information or other financial information.
- Any pending criminal charge for a violation that would otherwise be considered a disqualifier.
- Active revocation or suspension of driving privileges in any state if the position requires operation of DFS vehicles.
- A conviction of driving under the influence in the last five (5) years if the position requires operation of DFS vehicles or driving as part of the job duties.
- Any illegal use of a Schedule I or II controlled substance (listed in Title 54.1 or the Code of Virginia) in the past five (5) years.
- The illegal sale of any drug.
- Any substantive and/or intentional failure to accurately disclose information pertinent to the full, preliminary, or abbreviated background investigation.
- Documented untruthfulness during the application process.
You may review the status of your application at any time by choosing the “Application Status” link in your personal account within Virginia Jobs account (jobs.virginia.gov).
You will be contacted if you are selected for an interview. The applicants possessing the most qualifications will be invited by the respective Laboratory for an interview. Please be patient, as the Lab must schedule time for reviewing and interviewing applicants while also producing case work. It sometimes takes a few weeks to get to the interviewing stage of the recruitment process.
The hiring manager will review the applications, resumes, and supporting documents to determine which applicants best meet all of the required minimum qualifications and some, if not all of the additional considerations as listed in the job posting.
You should describe in detail all of your relevant training and experience on your application and/or resume, to include both paid and volunteer work. Ensure that all mandatory sections of the application are completed, including employment eligibility status, veteran status, and any applicable education, licenses, certifications and required documents (such as transcripts). It is very important that you provide complete and detailed information about your qualifications so your application/resume can be accurately evaluated.
To express your interest in an internship, please submit your request a minimum of one semester prior to the actual semester of interest by sending the following to the Laboratory Director at the lab location of interest:
- CV/resume AND
- A cover letter expressing your area of interest including project idea, current degree program, academic/professional letter of reference and the dates you are requesting to conduct your internship
- If you are seeking an internship for academic credit, provide information regarding your college’s requirements, expectations and contact information for the appropriate college representative
Once all required information has been received by the appropriate Laboratory Director, it will be screened to ensure the candidate meets the criteria (see qualifications FAQ above). If the request can be accommodated, the Laboratory Director will consult with others within the Department to identify a mentor and determine if your project idea aligns with the Department’s mission or if a suitable project is available.
Laboratory Director contact information:
Whenever possible the original documents, questioned and known, should be submitted.
Known samples must be comparable to the questioned material. Document examination is a comparative process and any known standards have to be the same type of writing as the questioned. If the questioned material is hand printed (disconnected letters), the known should also be hand printed. If the questioned is handwritten (connected, cursive), the known material should likewise be handwritten. In short, the known material should contain the same characters and character combinations as the questioned.
The source of the known writing must be provable and it must be admissible in a court of law.
Call the laboratory and talk to a Questioned Document Examiner. Currently, all areas of the state are serviced by Document Examiners from the Western Laboratory (540) 561-6600.
In a word, “YES”. Original handwritten documents are always the best evidence but in some cases the original has been lost or destroyed and the only evidence is a photocopy.
The lab can also examine photocopied documents in an effort to identify the source machine used to produce them.
The quality or quantity of the questioned material may be such that no conclusion could be rendered.
There may be so little comparability between the known and the questioned that an examination could not be performed.
Outside influences (drugs, illness, disguise, etc. ) may have affected the handwriting to the degree that no examination could be performed.
The Certificate of Analysis will normally include explanations of any significant limiting factors encountered during the examination.
