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Forensics Blog

Investigate it: Forensics at BCIT

Crime and Intelligence Analysis Option students: CRA co-op opportunity – Deadline this week!

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Posting for:  Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)

Want to start your career with one of the Canada’s Top 100 Employers 2018 winners?  The CRA is accepting applicants for student co-op terms of 4 or 8 months.  This position will provide students the opportunity to obtain practical experience in working in Criminal Investigations Division of the CRA.

Job title:  Criminal Investigator Support Worker

Why work with us?

  • Enrich your academic program
  • Develop your employability skills
  • Explore your interests
  • Get insight into a career as a federal public servant
  • Find your future career

Applications will only be accepted from BCIT, Forensic Investigation, Crime and Intelligence Analysis Option students.  Students enrolled on a part-time basis due to a disability that is recognized by their academic institution are also eligible to apply.

Work locations: Fraser Valley Tax Services Office – 9737 King George Boulevard, Surrey

Anticipated start date(s): September 2019 or January 2020

Work term: 4 to 8 months

Number of openings:  Varies depending upon start date

Pay rates:  $20.19 – $21.64

Applications accepted until:  August 21, 2019

Duties:

  • Assist with data collection strategies, techniques and methods and provide assistance with tactical analysis.
  • Provide assistance to investigators by creating inventory lists of materials seized during searches.
  • Make scan copies of evidence to be used in court proceedings.
  • Provide assistance to investigators by using software to convert documents and evidence into readable evidence.
  • Follow the Criminal Investigations Student Learning Path to understand the key areas of an investigation.
  • Other duties

Language requirement: English essential

Requested documents:

  • Resume
  • Cover letter
  • Transcript
  • Proof of Canadian citizenship

Your resume must include the name, daytime phone numbers and email addresses of a minimum of two references, preferably work-related or volunteer activities.  You may also provide other types of references related to academic activities.  Please indicate in your cover letter why this opportunity would be a good fit for you.

Preference will be given to Canadian citizens. Please indicate your citizenship status on your application.

Assessments:

Applicants meeting the application requirements may be assessed through an interview and/or reference check on the following asset qualifications:

  • Effective interpersonal skills (pass mark 70%)
  • Client service (pass mark 70%)
  • Effective oral communication in English (pass mark 70%)
  • Dependability (pass mark: meets)
  • Professionalism (pass mark: meets)

Conditions of employment:

As an essential condition of employment, applicants must be willing to work full time, 37.5 hours per week, obtain a personnel security clearance of reliability status prior to the start of the work term, and be enrolled in the BCIT Crime and Intelligence Analysis Option and have completed the essential education requirements.  Applicants must also be meeting current performance expectations.

Essential Education:

Successful completion or partial completion of the BCIT Forensic Investigation, Crime and Intelligence Analysis Option, including the following essential courses:

  • FSCT 8432 – Approaches to Analysis and Reasoning for Crime Studies
  • FSCT 8436 – Introduction to Crime and Intelligence Analysis
  • FSCT 8430 – Tactical Analysis 1
  • FSCT 8520 – Internet for Investigation
  • FSCT 7001 – Forensic Applications of Criminal Law 1: Legal Procedures
  • FSCT 7002 – Criminal Law 2: Legal Evidence

Contact information:

Janice Ng, Team Leader, Criminal Investigations

604-587-2124

Janice.Ng@cra-arc.gc.ca

Community Coroner Career Opportunities

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Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
Multiple locations

Community Coroner Career Opportunities
Salary: $32.32 hourly

Are you interested in a unique, challenging part-time role in your community?

In this role, you will be trained to be a Community Coroner – a death investigator appointed under section 55 of the Coroners Act by the Chief Coroner, and responsible within a specific geographic area to attend the scene of a death in order to establish the identity of the deceased and gather information to help determine when, where, how and by what means the person died. For additional information about the role of Coroner, please visit the Community Coroners Webpage.

The BC Coroners Service (BCCS) is responsible for determining the circumstances of all sudden, unexpected and unnatural deaths in the province. The BCCS is seeking mature, compassionate and community minded individuals to work as Coroners on an “as and when required” basis. These unique positions offer an opportunity for individuals to use various skills in serving their communities in a high-profile role. Community Coroners are an integral part of the investigative team, providing critical initial information that allows for timely, thorough and accurate investigations.

Successful Community Coroners are individuals with excellent analytical and problem-solving skills; are highly effective communicators; are organized; able to demonstrate tact, diplomacy and good judgement; work respectfully, knowledgeably and collaboratively with Indigenous peoples; and work effectively under pressure. Consider joining our dedicated team in this important role!

Qualifications for this role include:

  • A minimum 5 years of professional employment experience in decision making, risk management, communication with stakeholders and gathering and synthesizing information.

OR

  • An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.

For more information and to apply online by July 21, 2019, please go to: https://bcpublicservice.hua.hrsmart.com/hr/ats/Posting/view/62168

Attention: only applications submitted through the BC Public Service’s employment website (see link above) will be accepted.

We’re Co-hosting the Canadian Forensic Science and Criminal Law Conference this June

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Join us for this comprehensive two-day conference on the latest issues in Forensic Science.

Canadian Forensic Science and Criminal Law Conference: Strengthening Forensic Science in the Courtroom 

With an esteemed Planning Committee comprised of judges from each level of court in BC, forensic experts, and senior crown and defence counsel from BC and beyond, this conference will critically examine how science is presented and used in criminal trials.

Topics Include:

  • Looking Back at Bitemarks – Prof. Iain Pretty (University of Manchester)
  • Topics in DNA Analysis: Complex Mixtures and Secondary Transfers – Prof. Bruce Budowle (University of North Texas)
  • Statistical Analysis and Forensic Science in Criminal Cases – Prof. Jeffrey Rosenthal (University of Toronto)
  • Special Topics in Forensic Science: Focus on Blood Splatter – Lynne Garcia, JD (General Counsel, Texas Forensic Science Commission)
  • Litigating Forensic Science Issues – Chris Fabricant, JD (Innocence Project, New York)
  • Current Issues in Forensic Pathology – Prof. Emma Cunliffe (Peter A. Allard School of Law) & Dr. Matthew Orde (Vancouver General Hospital)
  • Forensic Psychology and Risk Assessment Tools – Prof. Stephen Hart (Simon Fraser University)
  • Best Practices in Fingerprint Identification – Prof. Simon Cole (University of California, Irvine)
  • Audio and Video Enhancement – David McKay, BSc (BCIT)
  • The Challenges of Social Media Evidence – Bryan Fitzpatrick, JD (Pushor Mitchell LLP)
  • Medical Evidence in Sexual Assault Cases – Colette Tvedt, JD (Denver, Colorado)

Keynote Speaker: Professor Gary Edmond, University of New South Wales, Australia

Gary Edmond, PhD, has published on law and science, expert evidence, and the public understanding of science in journals dedicated to law, sociology, and science studies. His research interests, spanning the Anglo-American world, are primarily focused on the evidentiary and procedural dimensions of expert evidence, particularly admissibility issues and the forensic sciences.

With Special Guest Maria R. Shepherd

Maria R. Shepherd is Innocence Canada’s 21st client to be exonerated, a current Director of Innocence Canada, and a Senior Paralegal at Shepherd Advocacy and Litigation.

Co-chaired by Tamara Levy, QC, UBC Innocence Project, and Dean Hildebrand, PhD, BCIT Forensics, with a planning committee comprised of Justice Elizabeth Bennett; Justice Janet Winteringham; Judge Reginald Harris; David Layton, QC; Marilyn Sandford, QC; Jason Moore; Caitlin Pakosh. Please note speaker list is subject to change.

Supported by a generous donation from the Lew Family Foundation at UBC, permitting reasonable registration fees including an Early Bird Student Rate of only $100.

Note: Conference is eligible for 11.5 hours of CPD credits from the Law Society of B.C.

Register here.