Final Filing Date: 5/29/2025.

Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) must be received or postmarked by the filing date indicated above. Applications postmarked, personally delivered or received via interoffice mail after the filing date will not be accepted.

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

• LATENT PRINT ANALYST II - Open

Applications received without the required documents will be considered incomplete and may be rejected. To apply for this examination, please complete and return the following required documents:

• Standard State Application (Form STD 678): All applications must include "to" and "from" employment dates (month/day/year), time-base, and applicable classification titles
• Official school transcripts (if applicable to meeting minimum qualifications): Candidates unable to obtain official transcripts before the final filing date may submit unofficial transcripts for the examination process. However, candidates will be required to submit official transcripts upon appointment to a position. 

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

You may apply by mail to:

• Department of Justice
  Testing and Selection Unit
  ATTN: Latent Print Analyst II Examination
  P.O Box 944255
  Sacramento, CA 94244-2550
  

Indicate the Examination Code and Classification(s) on your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678).

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

• Department of Justice
  Testing and Selection Unit
  1300 I Street, 1st Floor Lobby
  Sacramento, CA 95814
  8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  ATTN: Latent Print Analyst II Examination

Indicate the Examination Code and Classification(s) on your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678). All applicants must provide proof of identification. Accepted forms of identification are: 1) a photo identification card or 2) two forms of signed identification.

The following items must be submitted with your Examination/Employment Application form. Failure to submit these items may result in rejection of your application.

• Transcript (Official or Unofficial)

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

This examination consists of the following component(s):

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

Although this examination is listed as an Interview weighted at 100% above, the examination includes two components illustrated below. Applicants who successfully apply and are determined to meet the minimum qualifications will be required to take a practical exercise and QAP in-person. The details for both components of this examination are listed below: 

PRACTICAL EXERCISE - 30%

The practical exercise will consist of performing a latent print comparison. A magnifying glass and pointers will be provided.

QUALIFICATION APPRAISAL PANEL (QAP) - 70%

The QAP will consist of pre-determined, job-related interview questions. Each competitor will be allowed time prior to the QAP to review the questions. A panel of subject matter experts will evaluate each competitor’s QAP responses using pre-determined scoring criteria.

Test Date: 

It is anticipated that the test will be conducted the weeks of July 7, July 14, and/or July 21, 2025. The testing location will be determined based on the applicant pool but administrations are most likely to be held in Sacramento. Prior to the test administration, applicants will receive a notice to appear approximately two weeks before the test date with additional information.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

KNOWLEDGE OF:

1. Friction ridge analysis to complete comparisons, evaluations, and identifications.
2. ACE-V methodology for friction ridge examinations.
3. Basic laboratory procedures to ensure proper collection and development of latent prints.
4. Techniques of evidence collection and handling to ensure the integrity of evidence.
5. LASER/ALS, dye stains, photographic equipment, and other latent print techniques used in the development and enhancement of latent prints on difficult surfaces to obtain friction ridge detail from evidence and crime scene processing.
6. Automated fingerprint and palmprint systems to identify prints.
7. Proper handling of chemicals to ensure compliance with procedural manual and employee safety.
8. Laboratory safety procedures to ensure employee safety.

ABILITY TO:

1. Conduct friction ridge analysis to complete comparisons and conclusions.
2. Analyze difficult friction ridge detail for proper latent comparison.
3. Effectively testify in court to communicate findings and/or examination results.
4. Maintain high ethical standards in completing all assignments and projects.
5. Apply ACE-V methodology for friction ridge examinations.
6. Safely handle foreign substances and chemicals.
7. Exercise sound judgment when making decisions in accordance with program or work unit goals and objectives.
8. Follow written and oral instructions, directions, guidelines, and procedures in the completion of assignments.
9. Use LASER/ALS, dye stains, photographic equipment, and other latent print techniques used in the development and enhancement of latent prints on difficult surfaces to obtain friction ridge detail from evidence and crime scene processing.
10. Use the automated fingerprint and palmprint systems to identify prints.
11. Communicate effectively to staff, management, the public, and other interested parties to share ideas, opinions, and/or recommendations.
12. Analyze situations to determine and implement appropriate courses of action.
13. Use database software to store, retrieve, and analyze data.
14. Communicate with diverse audiences on matters related to various projects and program issues.
15. Interpret laws, rules, requirements, and regulations to ensure compliance with program and accreditation standards.
16. Communicate in a clear, concise, and appropriate manner to address the particular situation and audience.
17. Make difficult friction ridge examinations.
18. Clearly illustrate findings and/or conclusions in preparation of exhibits for use in court.
19. Identify and reconcile discrepancies in data and information pertaining to program and/or project activities to ensure accuracy.
20. Deliver oral presentations to an audience with varying levels of understanding to convey ideas, opinions, and/or recommendations.

A Departmental Open eligible list for the LATENT PRINT ANALYST II Classification will be established for:

• Department of Justice

The list(s) will be abolished 12 months after being established, unless the needs of the State and conditions of the list(s) warrant a change in this period.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

• A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
• A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Candidates may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board (SPB) within 30 days of the postmarked date of any decision notice (e.g., Minimum Qualifications denial, exam results). Examination appeals are required to meet one of the following grounds to be accepted by the State Personnel Board; (1) fraud; (2) discrimination; (3) erroneous interpretation or application of minimum qualifications (MQs); or (4) a significant irregularity in the examination process. Appeals can be filed online at the website above or mailed to Appeals Division, State Personnel Board, 801 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, CA 95814-4806. Please refer to SPB's website for more information this process at https://www.spb.ca.gov/appeals/appeals.aspx

• Department of Justice

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

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.

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

Department of Justice reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.