CRIMINALISTICS LABORATORY TECHNICIAN

Position/Program Information

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT:

We welcome applications from anyone.

FIRST DAY OF FILING:

We will be accepting online applications from Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 8:00 A.M. (PT) until Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 5:00 P.M. (PT).

All applications must be received before 5:00 P.M. (PT) on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, to be accepted.

EXAM NUMBER:

J4331B

Check Out Our Outstanding Benefits!

Los Angeles County offers one of the strongest public-sector benefits packages in the nation: https://hr.lacounty.gov/benefits/

Why work for us?

With more than 10 million residents, Los Angeles County is the most populous county in the nation! As the largest employer in Southern California, over 116,000 employees in more than 38 Departments provide vital public services as diverse as law enforcement, property assessment, public health protection, water conservation, cultural activities and many more.

We are dedicated professionals committed to preserving the dignity and integrity of the workplace as well as protecting the rights of each employee. The County has more than 2,300 different job descriptions, offering a lifetime of opportunities and careers! We offer one of the strongest public-sector benefits packages in the nation. Join us and discover a rich selection of health care options, robust retirement plans and the flexibility to work, relax, and rejuvenate in order to reach your fullest personal and professional potential.

Essential Job Functions

Prepares standard chemical solutions and reagents for use in forensic biological procedures.

Performs routine chemical analyses on biological samples and bulk-controlled drug specimens and may perform special projects under close supervision.

Operates a chromatograph for the routine analysis of specified classes of evidence submitted to the laboratory.

Performs routine toxicology extraction procedures of blood and urine specimens and prepares extracts for subsequent analysis.

Operates an immunoassay instrument to screen urine specimens for drugs of abuse.

Assists laboratory personnel by performing routine laboratory tests and analyses of evidentiary specimens, as directed.

Prepares evidence collection kits for distribution (e.g., GSR, sexual assault kit).

Provides inventory support functions, including ordering supplies, tracking packages, and stocking.

Documents evidence.

Prepares evidence for outsourcing.

Provides guidance to volunteers who perform crime lab support functions.

Performs functions to support and/or ensure equipment is adequately calibrated, records are accurate, and active inventory has not exceeded its expiration date.

For more information, please view the classification specification: Criminalistics Laboratory Technician

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY
Successful completion of 60 semester units or equivalent quarter units from an accredited college or university*, including three (3) semester units or equivalent quarter units in both general chemistry and organic chemistry.
LICENSE

A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to use an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

PHYSICAL CLASS

Physical Class III - Moderate: This class requires that the incumbent stand or walk most of the time with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, reaching, working on irregular surfaces, occasional lifting of objects weighing over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION
* To receive credit for the required coursework and any degree, you MUST include a legible copy of the official transcripts AND official degree, or official letter from the accredited institution which shows the completed semester/quarter units of coursework in the areas of specialization at the time of filing, or within seven (7) calendar days from the date of application filing . Please submit documentation to sheriffexamsunit@lasd.org and indicate your name, the exam title, and exam number. The document should show the date the degree was conferred and be in English; if it is in a foreign language, it must be translated and evaluated for equivalency to U.S. standards. For more information on our standards for educational documents, please visit:
https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/080812_PPG123.pdf and

https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/205105_PPG_123_ACE_Resource_Guide.pdf

Failure to provide the required documentation will result in application rejection. Unofficial transcripts will not be accepted to meet the education requirement.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE

As part of this application process, applicants will be required to complete a supplemental questionnaire. The questionnaire contains a pre-investigative questionnaire which will be used as part of the background investigation process to ensure applicants meet the standards set forth by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Applicants who fail the pre-investigative questionnaire will be disqualified and will have to wait three (3) months from the date of the disqualification in order to reapply.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Credit will be given to applicants, who possess DESIRABLE qualifications and indicate so on their employment application at the time of filing.
Being currently enrolled in a Bachelor's degree* program with a specialization in criminalistics, chemistry, biology, biochemistry, or a closely related scientific field at an accredited college or university.

A Bachelor's degree* or Master's Degree* with a specialization in criminalistics, chemistry, biology, biochemistry, or a closely related scientific field from an accredited college or university.

Full-time experience** working in criminalistics, chemistry, biology, biochemistry, or a closely related scientific field laboratory.

**Full-time work experience is evaluated on the basis of a 40-hour work week.

Additional Information

EXAMINATION CONTENT

This examination will consist of two (2) parts:

PART I - A written multiple-choice test worth 50% assessing: Biology, Chemistry, Quantitative Analysis, Scientific Method, and Criminalistics.
Transfer of test components:

Applicants who have taken any identical test with the Sheriff's Department within the last six (6) months will have their responses automatically transferred to this examination.

This examination contains test components that may be used in the future for new examinations and your test responses may be transferred.

MULTIPLE-CHOICE TEST IS NOT REVIEWABLE BY CANDIDATES PER CIVIL SERVICE RULE 7.19.

ONLY APPLICANTS WHO ACHIEVE A PASSING SCORE OF 70% OR HIGHER ON PART I WILL PROCEED TO PART II.

PART II - A Training and Experience Evaluation worth 50% assessing: Education and experience in a criminalistics, chemistry, biology, biochemistry, or a closely related scientific field laboratory. This assessment type will evaluate the training and experience you list on your application and supplemental questionnaire and assign a score based on a standardized scoring system.

APPLICANTS MUST ACHIEVE A PASSING SCORE OF 70% OR HIGHER ON EACH WEIGHTED PART IN ORDER TO BE PLACED ON THE ELIGIBLE LIST.
TESTING ACCOMMODATION
If you require an accommodation to fairly compete in any part of the assessment process, you will be required to submit documentation from a qualified medical provider or other qualified professional to support your request for a testing accommodation. Please note, you will be contacted at a later time by a Sheriff’s Department representative that will guide you through the process. You will be provided with an initial deadline to submit documentation. Failure to submit the required documentation by the deadline will delay your participation in the examination process and consideration for initial placement on the eligible list.

TEST PREPARATION
Department of Human Resources (DHR) provides study guides and other test preparation resources to help candidates prepare for employment tests. While the guides may help in preparing for the test, we recommend reviewing all related materials that seem necessary.

• Various information can be found on DHR's website at https://hr.lacounty.gov/job-search-toolkit/. The section dedicated to test preparation is "Employment Test Assistance."

VETERAN'S CREDIT
If you are a veteran, you may be eligible for veteran's credit, which is an additional 10% of the total points added to a passing score. We will need a copy of your form DD214 to review, so please include that with your application or email it to sheriffexamsunit@lasd.org within seven (7) calendar days from the date of filing your online application.

ELIGIBILITY AND VACANCY INFORMATION
Applicants who passed the assessments are placed on the eligible list in the order of their score group for a period of six (6) months.
The eligible list from this examination will be used to fill vacancies throughout the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Technology and Support Division, Scientific Services Bureau facilities.
SPECIAL INFORMATION

SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES MUST COMPLETE A THOROUGH BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION, INCLUDING FINGERPRINT SEARCH. Examples of disqualifying factors include: Any felony convictions; job related misdemeanor convictions; certain serious traffic convictions or patterns of traffic violations (3 moving violations in one year; failure to appear; at fault accidents; suspended license; driving under the influence); poor credit history; poor employment history; substance abuse; anyone on probation.

ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY IF HIRED
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (Department) has a " zero tolerance " policy for its employees for the following:

• use of narcotics, controlled substances, and/or prescription drugs without a prescription.

Any employee found in violation of this policy will be subject to discharge.

AVAILABLE SHIFT Any Shift

APPOINTEES MUST BE WILLING TO WORK ANY SHIFT, INCLUDING EVENINGS, NIGHTS, WEEKENDS, AND HOLIDAYS.

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION
We only accept applications filed online. Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, or in person are not accepted. Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" green button at the top right of this posting. This website can also be used to get application status updates. Your application and supplemental questionnaire must be submitted electronically before 5:00 P.M., PT, on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.
Please fill out the application completely. Provide relevant job experience including employer's name and address, job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and description of work performed.

We may verify information included in the application at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. Falsification of information could result in refusal of application or rescission of appointment. Copying verbiage from the Requirements or class specification as your work experience will not be sufficient to demonstrate meeting the requirements. Doing so may result in an incomplete application and may lead to disqualification.

We will send notifications to the email address provided on the application, so it is important that you provide a valid email address. If you choose to unsubscribe or opt out from receiving our emails, it is possible to view notices by logging into governmentjobs.com and checking the profile inbox. It is every applicant's responsibility to take steps to view correspondence, and we will not consider claims of missing notices to be a valid reason for re-scheduling an exam part. Register the below domains as approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk mail.

• jbarco@lasd.org
• noreply@governmentjobs.com
• info@governmentjobs.com

NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED OUTSIDE OF THE OFFICIAL APPLICATION FILING PERIOD, NO EXCEPTIONS.

TO ENSURE THAT YOUR APPLICATION HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY SUBMITTED, YOU MUST HAVE RECEIVED A CONFIRMATION EMAIL AS VERIFICATION.

NOTE: Candidates who apply online must upload any required documents as attachments during application submission. If you are unable to attach required documents, you may fax the documents to (323) 415-2580 or email any outstanding required documents to sheriffexamsunit@lasd.org at the time of filing, or within seven (7) calendar days from the date of application filing.
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:
Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number, so include yours when applying.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES:
For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.

NO SHARING OF USER ID, EMAIL, AND PASSWORD:
All applicants must file their application using their OWN user ID and password. Using a family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.
California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922

ADA Coordinator Phone: (213) 229-1621

Teletype Phone: (213) 626-0251

Department Contact Name: Professional Examinations Unit

Department Contact Phone: (323) 526-5611

Department Contact Email: sheriffexamsunit@lasd.org

For detailed information, please click here

Closing Date/Time: 6/18/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

• 

• Los Angeles County

• (800) 970-5478

Show more