This crime scene investigator offers a unique behind-the-scenes look into her daily life.
Shannon Byrne, from Sarasota, Florida, spends her day combing through evidence and lifting DNA – all in the name of justice.
Shannon works full-time at the local police department, processing everything from partially skeletonised remains of a human body to finding traces of DNA.
She said: “I got a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a specialisation in criminalistics.
“Towards the end of my schooling, I completed an internship with a crime scene unit and volunteer hours with a Property and Evidence Unit. From there I landed my current job!”
In a typical workday, Shannon starts with filing reports before heading into the lab examining evidence, such as clothing and kitchenware.
Often, she then heads out in her crime scene van to process any active incidents and cases in her local area.
From quiet farm towns to violent crime scenes, her job as a crime scene investigator can take her everywhere.
However, as exciting as it may seem, the job isn’t without its downsides.
The CSI worker revealed that being on call at all times can result in late night calls – affecting her sleep schedule for the remaining working week.
Shannon added: “My favourite part of the job is that no two cases are ever the same.
“Even though some aspects may overlap, every single scene is different.
“You never know what you’re going to walk into – it’s always an adventure.”
She explained: “Eventually we get used to seeing similar things all of the time and we start to enjoy the educational aspect of it.
“However, everyone has some type of case that always bothers them deeper than the others.
“One big misconception is that DNA comes back in seconds. In reality, it takes at least four months.”