City of San Diego

Crime Laboratory Internship Program

Volunteering with the San Diego Police Department Crime Laboratory is designed to provide an opportunity that will provide a partnership with the intern, in which the intern will gain real world experience in a crime laboratory and the crime laboratory will receive assistance in our case work and projects.

The partnership will help maintain the lab’s high quality of work while helping improve our efficiency. The intern should expect to learn about general lab practices, accreditation practices and requirements, proper evidence handling, the flow of evidence from collection to trials, and the importance of reference collections and databases. Interns will focus on independent work and motivation to achieve deadlines and goals given to them. Interns will also be expecting to compile clear and concise documentation of work completed that is consistent with current laboratory standards.

The time commitment will depend on the requirements of the project and area of the Crime Laboratory where work will commence.

Requirements for the following units in the Laboratory:

• Forensic Biology – DNA Analysis
  • • Completion of a hard science lab course
    • Enrollment in a hard science degree with key courses in this discipline (biology, biochemistry, chemistry, genetics, molecular biology)
    • Completion of 75 semester or 112.5 Qtr. units of college

• Forensic Chemistry -  Alcohol and Narcotics Analysis
  • • Completion of a hard science lab course
    • Enrollment in a hard science degree with key courses in this discipline (Chemistry preferred)
    • Completion of 75 semester or 112.5 Qtr. units of college

• Forensic Technology – Process Digital Evidence
  • • Completion of a hard science lab course
    • Enrollment in a computer forensics or computer science degree
    • Completion of 75 semester or 112.5 Qtr. units of college

• Trace – Hair, Fiber, GSR etc. Analysis & Comparison
  • • Completion of a hard science lab course
    • Enrollment in a hard science degree with key courses in this discipline (biology, biochemistry, chemistry, genetics, molecular biology)
    • Completion of 75 semester or 112.5 Qtr. units of college

• Firearms – Bullet and Cartridge casing Analysis & Comparison
  • • Completion of a hard science lab course
    • Enrollment in a hard science degree with key courses in this discipline (biology, biochemistry, chemistry, genetics, molecular biology)
    • Completion of 75 semester or 112.5 Qtr. units of college

• Crime Scene   - Evidence collection from crime scenes & processing of evidence (** If selected, 2 weeks of training are required)
  • • Completion of the following courses:
      • Basic and Advanced Forensic Photography
      • Basic and Advanced Fingerprinting
      • Basic Forensic Technology

• Latent Print– Fingerprint Examination
  • • Completion of Basic and Advanced fingerprinting

Please attach the following documents to your application:

• 1) Current Resume
• 2) Copy of your college transcript(s) - does not need to be official.
• 3) Letter of Interest stating your goals in the field of forensics and your area of interest.

Applicants will have to undergo a background and polygraph examination to work in the Crime Laboratory.**

Please check for updates as information is subject to change.

To apply, submit the completed application, your resume, a cover letter,-including area of interest, and transcripts.

Deadline to submit is December 1st

For additional information, please visit: Crime Laboratory | City of San Diego Official Website