Criminal Identification Specialist Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

Series established January 24, 1973

Scope

This series specification describes three classes used by the Department of Justice to perform the technical work involved in the analyzing, identifying, locating, registering, licensing, and sealing of records, property, establishments, and descriptive data; the classifying, searching, and comparing of fingerprints; and other related work.

Definition of Series

Criminal Identification Specialists classify, search, and compare fingerprints; analyze, evaluate, and index information contained in reports of unidentified dead and missing persons; search and maintain a file of persons wanted for crimes and a file of pawned and stolen property; process applications and licenses to carry concealed firearms and to possess tear gas; maintain and control registration files of sex and narcotic offenders; seal criminal records pursuant to law and court orders; man the Department's Command Center 24 hours a day providing record information and associated data; assist subjects of criminal records in the review and correction of their records; and perform other criminal identification duties critical to the operations of the Bureau of Identification of the Department of Justice.

Definition of Levels

Criminal Identification Specialist I

This is the entry, training, and first working level in the series. Incumbents perform simple, routine duties involving the classification, searching, and comparison of fingerprints; the location and identification of persons who are missing, wanted, or deceased; the registration of specified offenders and licensing of persons and establishments; the sealing of criminal records; the location and identification of stolen property; and all other criminal identification functions of the Department of Justice.

Criminal Identification Specialist II

This is the higher journeyperson level in the series. Under general direction, Criminal Identification Specialists II perform the difficult fingerprint identification duties; man the Department's Command Center with responsibility for processing urgent telephone and teletype requests for criminal record information and associated data on a 24-hour, 7-day basis; by appointment, meet with and confirm the identity of criminal record subjects who have requested a review of their record and, when necessary, assist the subject in properly contesting and/or correcting the contents of the record; and may act as leadperson to several Criminal Identification Specialists I involved in all facets of the Department's criminal identification function.

Criminal Identification Specialist III

This is the working supervisor level in the series and is used primarily in the Fingerprint Section of the Bureau of Identification. This level performs the most complex fingerprint identifications and as a working supervisor, also directs the work of several units of the Fingerprint Section manned by 10 to 15 Criminal Identification Specialists I and II. Criminal Identification Specialists III may be assigned highly specialized identification duties which do not include supervision.

Minimum Qualifications

Criminal Identification Specialist I

1.One year of experience in the California state service performing the duties of a Criminal Identification and Intelligence Assistant. or

2.Equivalent to completion of two years of college. or

3.Two years of work experience in a criminal justice agency performing duties comparable in level of responsibility to those of a Program Technician I (Criminal Records).

Criminal Identification Specialist II

Either I

One year of experience in the California state service performing criminal identification duties comparable in level of responsibility to those of a Criminal Identification Specialist I.

Or II

Experience: Two years of experience performing the technical phases of criminal identification work in a governmental law enforcement agency. (Experience in California state service applied toward this requirement must include at least one year performing criminal identification duties comparable in level of responsibility to those of a Criminal Identification Specialist I.) and

Education: Equivalent to completion of two years of college. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.)

Criminal Identification Specialist III

Either I

One year of experience in the California state service performing criminal identification duties comparable in level of responsibility to those of a Criminal Identification Specialist II.

Or II

Experience: Three years of experience performing the technical phases of criminal identification work in a governmental law enforcement agency. (Experience in California state service applied toward this requirement must include at least one year performing criminal identification duties comparable in level of responsibility to those of a Criminal Identification Specialist II.) and

Education: Equivalent to completion of two years of college. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.)

Knowledge and Abilities

All Levels:

Knowledge of: Methods, techniques, procedures, and terminology used in criminal identification processes; the Henry System of Fingerprint Classification as modified and extended for use in the California Bureau of Identification and familiarity with other fingerprint systems.

Ability to: Search, analyze, compare, and identify persons, information, or property.

Criminal Identification Specialist III

Knowledge of: In addition to the above, principles and techniques of personnel management and supervision; Department's Affirmative Action Program objectives; a manager's role in the Affirmative Action Program and the processes available to meet affirmative action objectives.

Ability to: In addition to the above, assign and direct the work of others; effectively contribute to the Department's affirmative action objectives.

Special Personal Characteristics

All Levels:

Retentive memory, keenness of observation, patience, good judgment, and accuracy.

Class History