Crime Investigation

Crime Investigation Career Overview

Crime Investigation professionals investigate and handle all facets of a crime scene. They are among the first individuals to arrive on a crime scene and are responsible for the collection and processing of any physical evidence found at the scene. This evidence is later analyzed and evaluated by trained forensic scientists. Careful consideration of small details and observations are key parts of a crime investigator’s job, and they are responsible for writing up detailed and highly accurate reports of all their observations and events which take place at a crime scene. Once completed, these reports are then handed over to the law enforcement agency in charge of the case. Sometimes, crime scene investigators are requested to testify in a court of law about their discoveries and observations, and they are usually classified as expert witnesses.

Crime Investigators are trained to investigate a wide variety of crimes, and some of them choose to specialize in a particular type of crime. Some of the different type of crimes these professionals are responsible for responding to and investigating include:

• Home invasions
• Burglaries
• Sexual assaults
• Homicides
• Kidnappings
• Money Laundering
• Computer Crimes

Crime investigation careers are generally characterized by long periods of high stress and long hours. While most crime investigators work a 40-hour work week, Monday-Friday, employees have to be willing to work standby duty, and weekend hours are not uncommon during a large case. Investigators have to be available by phone or by pager at all times. For a crime investigator who works in the field, a typical day could be spent assessing and processing the crime scene, packaging and transferring evidence, viewing and photographing autopsies, and participating in conferences and briefings with police agencies. Large amounts of paperwork must be completed with great accuracy as well.

Due to the nature of the job, crime scene investigators must possess excellent analytical abilities, good physical condition and a high attention to detail. Investigators are required to carry firearms and may use their assigned firearms and other weapons in carrying out police enforcement responsibilities. Applicants to careers within crime investigation are often screened via an extensive array of physical and psychological tests, background checks, personality tests and polygraph tests to ensure that they have the necessary personal qualities and have are in good physical and psychological health.

Crime Investigation Training & Education

A combination of education and good experience is very important for those wishing to become Private Investigators and Detectives. There are currently no formal training programs for private investigators of detectives, but due to the highly competitive nature of the field, potential applicants are advised to enroll in specialized courses and programs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 34% of private investigators and detectives earn Bachelor’s degrees, while 8% earn an Associate’s degree. An Associate’s Degree or a Bachelor’s Degree in Police Science or Criminal Justice are both popular degrees which can lead to the highest pay in the profession. In addition to education, a large amount of on-the-job training is very important for successful Crime investigation careers.

Financial Investigators should expect to require an accounting, business administration or other related degree for their work. Crime Scene Investigators who work in the laboratory will generally require at least an Associate’s degree in a field such as Chemistry, Biology or Bio-Chemistry, or even a forensic science degree.

Overall, Crime Investigation careers are very competitive, and any given position will have a large number of qualified applicants. The majority of states require licensure for investigators before they begin work.

Crime Investigation Career & Salary Outlook

Salary expectations for Private Investigators and Detectives vary widely depending on their geographic location and their field of particular expertise. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, median annual salaries of private detectives and investigators were $33,750 in May of 2006. The lowest 10% earned $19,720 and the upper 10% earned more than $64,380.

Financial and Corporate Investigators can potentially earn much more, but this is dependent on who they work for—an investigator who typically works for large companies has a much larger earning potential than one who commonly works for the police. Depending on their level of experience and their rank within the police force, Detectives may earn a salary of $40,000 to $80,000. Crime Scene Investigators can expect a salary of $30,000 to $60,000 depending on their level of expertise and experience. Crime Investigators should expect the higher end of the salary spectrum with a higher level of criminal justice degree.

The US Department of Labor predicts that employment in these careers will remain at an average level for the next five to seven years. However, jobs in Crime Investigation turn over relatively quickly due to the fact that law enforcement officers may retire after 25-30 years in many cases.

Career Fields/Specializations

Detective Career

Detectives work within the police force as plainclothes investigators who collect evidence for criminal cases, typically to determine who is responsible for a crime that has been committed. The job often involves attending crime scenes to gather information, interviewing suspects and witnesses, documenting evidence, carrying out surveillance on suspects, and participating in arrests. Detectives often specialize in particular areas of crime such as juvenile crime, homicide, drug trafficking, fraud or other areas. They are generally assigned cases by a supervisor and work the case until an arrest and conviction is made, or until the case is otherwise dropped or closed.

Detective work may often be both stressful and hazardous due to the necessity for dealing with and confronting potentially dangerous criminals. Detectives often work long hours while investigating a case, and will often be required to work on weekends and holidays depending on the demands of the job.

Financial Investigator Career

Like Private Investigators, Financial Investigators may work as freelancers and be hired by members of the public, by a company, or by police or attorneys in the criminal justice system. However, Financial Investigators may also work full-time or part-time within the police force, or they may work in a role that does not involve crime at all.

A Financial Investigator who works for companies might be hired to investigate the financial profile of a company or individual that may be a potential merger partner or acquisition. When working with the police, they may investigate people or companies for evidence of fraud or embezzlement, or to recover damages awarded by a court.

The Financial Investigator should be well-educated in accounting, book-keeping, auditing and other financial fields. They should also have excellent analytical and observation skills, and be highly detail-oriented.

Private Investigator Career

Private Investigators typically work either for the public or the criminal justice system to investigate a variety of different crimes, or to ascertain the facts of a case that is not crime-related. The job description of the Private Investigator varies according to the specific needs of their clients. A case may involve carrying out background checks, making phone calls, meeting with people involved in the case, carrying out surveillance, locating missing persons, documenting evidence of a crime, and searching public legal records and databases.

Due to the nature of their work, Private Investigators often work irregular hours, and may work early in the morning or late at night, on weekends or on public holidays. They may work both in an office and outside it, depending on the nature of the case they are working on.

A career as a Private Investigator requires certain personal qualities more than it does education or qualifications. They should be able to think and react quickly in unexpected situations, have good communication and interpersonal skills, and should be able to handle confrontation and difficult situations without undue stress. In addition, a Private Investigator should also be able to focus on the details of a case and still be able to see the big picture, and should be able to think analytically and make connections between details that might seem irrelevant at first glance.

Crime Scene Investigator Career

Crime Scene Investigators examine crime scenes and collect and analyze evidence that might indicate who committed the crime. A Crime Scene Investigator may work either in the field gathering evidence at the scene of the crime, or in the laboratory, analyzing the evidence that is collected.

Within this field, a Crime Scene Investigator can specialize in one or more of several different aspects of investigation such as latent fingerprint examination, forensic photography, handwriting and document analysis and other areas. Often an Investigator will begin their career as a more general technician before specializing.

Crime Scene Investigators should be able to work very well in a team of people, and have excellent written and verbal communication skills. They should have good organizational skills, be able to prioritize their work, and have an excellent eye for detail, as well as good analytical and problem-solving skills.