Criminal Investigator Information

Criminal investigators must have information gathering and communication skills.

Criminal investigators determine the scope, direction and timing of investigations, according to Career Planner, Internet-based career testing company. The criminal investigator's work might involve organized crime, financial crime, public corruption, civil rights violations, kidnapping, extortion or other violations of federal and state laws. Criminal investigators must meet several skills and education requirements to do their job effectively.

Duties

Criminal investigators are responsible for developing relationships with informants to retrieve information related to cases as well as examining records to identify connections in strings of evidence. Criminal investigators interview suspects and witnesses and can use search and arrest warrants. They also can serve subpoenas. In addition, they determine what evidence is required in a particular case based on the complaints, allegations or charges associated with that case. These professionals also are able to perform undercover assignments, monitor authorized wiretaps, analyze evidence in the field or laboratory setting and prepare reports that explain their findings. Criminal investigators additionally might collect fingerprints and compare them to those on file to identify perpetrators. They manage security programs to protect facilities, personnel and government officials.

Knowledge

Criminal investigators must be well-versed in the laws, court procedures, legal codes and precedents of the area in which they work. They also should know government regulations, agency rules and executive orders and should be privy to the nation's political process. In addition, these professionals should understand strategies to promote security operations at the national, state or local levels to help protect individuals, institutions, information or property.

Skills

Criminal investigators must be able to use computers and other equipment such as cameras and photocopy machines. They also must have strong public speaking skills, as they sometimes must testify before grand juries about criminal investigations. In addition, criminal investigators must be socially perceptive and good critical thinkers. These professionals also need strong writing skills and should know how to interpret and apply new information to a situation. They have to be able to detect patterns and communicate with peers and supervisors.

Education

Individuals who are interested in beginning in the criminal investigation field usually pursue a bachelor's degree in forensic science. Coursework in this type of degree program includes criminal evidence, criminal law and procedures, computers and technology, organic chemistry, and human science. These individuals also can pursue a master's degree in forensic science to have more career and growth opportunities as crime scene technicians, fire investigators, toxicologists, medical examiners or even fingerprint classification specialists. In addition, aspiring criminal investigators can consider degrees in criminal justice, crime scene investigation, sociology and psychology, according to Legal Criminal Justice Schools. The nature of a criminal investigator's work depends on the concentration area chosen.

Outlook

Employment of detectives and forensic science technicians is projected to jump 10 to 20 percent through 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average criminal investigator salary in 2010 was $69,000, according to the search engine for jobs Indeed.

References

• Education Portal: Crime Investigation
• Career Planner: Criminal Investigator
• BLS: Police and Detectives
• BLS: Science Technicians
• Legal Criminal Justice Schools: Criminal Investigator