CRIMINALIST

Job Posting: Criminalist (DNA Special Skills)

Department of Justice

JC-511592

• Criminalist (DNA Special Skills)

CRIMINALIST

$4,587.00 - $10,138.00 per Month

New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 7/22/2026

Application Methods:

Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account)

By Mail

Drop-off

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Job Description and Duties

The Criminalist classification is an entry, training, and sub-journey level position. Criminalists perform routine and less complex biology and DNA examinations and analyses. They may assist higher-level Criminalists in scientific investigations and the examination of physical evidence at crime scenes and clandestine drug labs.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• CRIMINALIST
• SENIOR CRIMINALIST

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist
• Duty Statement

Position Details

Job Code #:

JC-511592

Position #(s):

420-506-8466-XXX

Working Title:

Criminalist (DNA Special Skills)

Classification:

CRIMINALIST

$4,587.00 - $6,100.00 A

$6,001.00 - $8,411.00 B

$7,229.00 - $10,138.00 C

New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Shall Consider:

SENIOR CRIMINALIST

$7,935.00 - $11,151.00

# of Positions:

2

Work Location:

Contra Costa County

Telework:

In Office

Job Type:

Permanent, Full Time

Work Shift:

8am-5pm

Work Week:

Monday-Friday

Department Information

• This position is located in the Division of Law Enforcement, Bureau of Forensic Services, Jan Bashinski DNA Laboratory, in Richmond, CA. The Bureau of Forensic Services has seven DNA programs in California. Six programs are at regional laboratories, and the positions at these laboratories are assigned to DNA Casework Programs. Positions at the seventh laboratory, the Jan Bashinski DNA Laboratory in Richmond (Contra Costa County), may be assigned to the DNA Casework Program, the CAL-DNA Data Bank Program, the Missing Persons DNA Program, or the Method Development Unit.
• Please disregard the SROA/Surplus language below, as the Department of Justice requires applicants to submit their SROA/Surplus Letter if that is the basis of their eligibility.
• For more information about the Department, please visit the Attorney General's website at www.oag.ca.gov.
• Please note that this classification contains multiple salary ranges. New-to-State employees will be given the minimum salary of Range A, unless you meet Alternate Range Criteria 277. For current state employees and/or those with reinstatement rights, your salary will be determined in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
• Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary wage reductions in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) accruals. The specific rate and hours earned were negotiated and agreed upon by each bargaining unit. The actual monetary impact of these temporary reductions can vary based on your bargaining unit and/or federal and state tax withholdings. For additional information please visit Human Resources Manual - CalHR

Special Requirements

• The position(s) require(s) a fingerprint check prior to being hired.
• The position(s) requires that incumbents pass a Background Investigation prior to being hired. The Background Investigation may include Criminal Background and a review of any governmental records.
• The position requires that incumbents pass a Medical Evaluation. You will be required to submit to a Medical Evaluation and receive clearance prior to being hired.
• The position(s) require(s) you to complete and pass a Drug Screening test prior to being hired.

Eligibility

• To be appointed to this position as a Criminalist you must meet the minimum qualifications as stated in the class specifications, be eligible for transfer, reinstatement, or have current list eligibility. Candidates who have graduated from college with a major in one of the physical or biological sciences but do not have 3 semester hours of Quantitative Analysis will be admitted to the examination, but they must provide proof of completion of the 3 semester hours of Quantitative Analysis before they are eligible for appointment.
• To be appointed to this position as a Senior Criminalist you must be eligible for transfer, reinstatement, or have current list eligibility. This classification does not offer an ongoing exam.

Education Incentive

Criminalists and/or Senior Criminalist assigned to a DNA program may be entitled to a $300 Pay Differential as per Pay Diff 209.

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 7/22/2026

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply. Individuals who are eligible for a Training and Development assignment may also be considered for this position(s).

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of Justice

DLE - Kerry Hoefling

Attn: Kerry Hoefling

Department of Justice/DLE - OC - Personnel Services Unit

1300 I Street, Suite 1140

Sacramento, CA 95814

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of Justice

DLE - Kerry Hoefling

Kerry Hoefling

Department of Justice/DLE - OC - Personnel Services Unit

1300 I Street, Suite 1140

Sacramento, CA 95814

08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• School Transcripts
• Other - Candidates must submit a copy of college transcripts and a copy of your college degree(s). Official transcripts will be required upon appointment.
• Statement of Qualifications -

A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required. To be considered for the position, applicants must submit an SOQ along with their application. Resumes do not take the place of the Statement of Qualifications. Applicants who fail to follow this requirement as specified will be disqualified from the selection process. Please see Statement of Qualifications section below for instructions.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

DOJ's DNA programs comply with the FBI's Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories. These standards set minimum educational requirements for analysts, including degree and coursework requirements. The DNA Casework program's training curriculum provides more exact specifications that will meet these standards. The exact requirements to meet these standards and the training curriculum are laid out in the Statement of Qualifications section.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Contact Information

The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Hiring Unit Contact:

Kerry Hoefling

(916) 210-7465

kerry.hoefling@doj.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:

EEO Officer

(916) 210-7580

EERROffice@doj.ca.gov

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Statement of Qualifications

The SOQ must be typed in a professional 12-point font, single-spaced, and no more than one page in length. It should outline, as a bulleted list, the coursework you have taken (or plan to take) which fulfill the following:

• A Bachelor's (or its equivalent) or an advanced degree in a biology, chemistry, or forensic science-related area (required)
• Eight Semester Hours or Twelve Quarter hours of General Chemistry (required)
• Quantitative Analysis Chemistry Course (required)

At least 9 semester hours (or equivalent) in the areas of genetics, biochemistry, and molecular biology to meet the current FBI DNA Quality Assurance Standards 5.4.1 (required)

• Completed university coursework covering statistics or population genetics, this cannot be covered by the same courses used to meet the 9 credit hours listed above (required)

Include a narrative discussion of how your knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience relate to this position as described in the duty statement. You may draw from your experience in professional, educational and personal settings.

Additional Information on Application Filing

Please note, if using the United States Postal Service for delivery, there is no guarantee that your application will be date stamped and will arrive by the final filing date. If your application does not have a postmark or date stamp and arrives after the final filing date, your application will not be accepted. Therefore, to ensure timely delivery of your application, it is recommended that you use either electronic delivery, parcel service, or certified mail. Using one of these options will provide proof of delivery prior to the final filing date. Electronic Filing preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.