Criminal Justice & Forensic Science Technologies

Crime-solving techniques and procedures have expanded and evolved significantly. Professionals in the field now recognize the importance of combining crime scene analysis, physical evidence, witnesses and records for successful criminal investigations. Today, crimes are most often solved through teamwork, using a system that depends on advanced investigative skills and the ability to properly process crime scenes by identifying, collecting and preserving all relevant physical evidence and information.

Numerous cases, both routine and high-profile, have demonstrated the harsh reality that, despite current technologies and specialized training, the effectiveness of crime scene investigation is only as good as the preservation, collection and processing of information from the scene and the system that supports those activities. Conditional evidence may be present, and subsequent movement on the scene can easily alter that evidence.

Wake Tech's Criminal Justice program emphasizes latent evidence: fingerprint classification, identification and chemical development; photography; footwear and tire track identification; and crime scene processing. Additional study areas may include juvenile justice, North Carolina criminal law, constitutional law, court procedure and evidence, substance abuse, ethics and community relations and computer-assisted design programs in crime scene technology.

Students who complete an Associate in Applied Science degree at Wake Tech may transfer to four-year colleges or universities to complete a bachelor's degree. Graduates also may find positions in an array of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and private businesses.