The United States Secret Service is a storied law enforcement organization that has ties to many different areas of forensic science. The Forensic Services division, which is a part of the Secret Service, has a highly advanced forensic laboratory, as well as the largest ink library in the world. The Secret Service has forensic specialists and examiners that can handle forensic evidence in many different capacities and at many different levels. They will be able to examine the evidence, develop leads with investigators, and offer expert testimony in the courts. The lab in use by the Forensic Services division is one of the best in the world, and it has accreditation by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board.

What Do the Forensic Examiners in the Secret Service Do?

The forensic examiners come from many different disciplines, and some of the equipment and techniques that they use are going to be in use only by the Secret Service. Finding employment at the lab can be exceedingly difficult because of the stringent requirements, but it could be one of the best jobs in the world for many forensic specialists, and it holds as much mystique and respect as any of the other crime labs in the world.

Some of the Specialties in the Forensic Services Lab

The Secret Service has some of the best fingerprinting methods in the world, and they use a variety of different methods to obtain prints. The specialists are able to lift latent fingerprints from a variety of surfaces, and the experts that work in this area are able to offer training to satellite offices and other law enforcement groups. In addition, they can provide expert testimony.

Forensic automation analysts can offer advanced computer support to various investigative groups within the Secret Service and in other agencies. They use their skills to help search through internal and external networks, where they can help with identifying documents, fingerprints, and more. They often turn to this searching method when other leads and types of investigations are proving fruitless.

The Secret Service lab also has a questioned documents area, where they are able to determine the legitimacy of documents based on forensic analysis. Some of the best experts in the world when it comes to questioned documents are working with the Secret Service.

The visual information area uses many different types of technologies including forensic photography, audio and image enhancement, voice identification, simulations, 3-D modeling, graphic arts, and more.

One of the areas where a forensic psychologist may be able to find employment is with the polygraph division. The people who work in the unit have extensive training, and they are able to help with criminal investigations as well as hiring. Most of the people working in the area are psychology experts, and they are able to provide investigative expertise as well. This is a natural area for a forensic psychologist to work.

As you can see, the Forensic Services lab is one of the most comprehensive and sophisticated labs and units of its type.

Please visit http://www.secretservice.gov/investigation/ for more information about the U.S. Secret Service Forensic Services.