“What is the first step to becoming a forensic artist?”

Actually, there is no such thing as a step-by-step, foolproof way to becoming a working forensic artist. Each of us got here in a variety of different ways. Some of us knew all along that it’s what we wanted, and for some of us the opportunity presented itself.

However, there is one thing that most working forensic artists share…the one thing that will open more doors for you than anything else. A degree? Drawing ability? Thousands of dollars’ worth of classes? Nope. To have a real shot at working in the field, for longevity, for a career, you will most likely have to become part of law enforcement. In some capacity, full-time.

That right there scares a lot of people off, and I wish it wouldn’t. You do not have to be a police officer, you do not have to carry a gun. Now, the vast majority of forensic artists actually are police officers, and that’s no accident. They are the ones out there doing the job, working the burglaries, the homicides, the sexual assaults, all the cases where there is a witness and/or a victim, who saw the perpetrator, and the officer is there on the scene. Doesn’t it make sense to have a trained officer, who knows law enforcement protocols, who is on salary, to do the interview and prepare the composite drawing? Of course it does.

The agency’s only other option if they choose to go the composite drawing route (and a lot don’t….big subject for another post) would be to find and call a freelance artist. And then: find the budget money to pay them, get there quickly when they need them, and be able to depend on them to do the job right. And, to keep their mouth shut. (It’s an open investigation….you can’t go home and tell your neighbor all the dirt about the break-in down the street.) And to top it off, to depend on them testify in court later if need be. That’s a tall order.

Yes, of course, there are good freelance artists out there, some are dedicated and very skilled. But it’s just a fact that police agencies are not rolling in dough, they have to constantly watch the budget, and they have very little to spare for “extras.” And in many peoples’ minds, forensic art is an extra. I hope someday this changes, that forensic artist are more readily available for agencies to call on. But that’s simply not how it is now.

So, whether you believe me or not, being part of law enforcement is a vital step in having a career as a forensic artist. But it’s not even the first step. The first step is to understand the different types of forensic art, and that’s the subject of my next post.