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Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.

What you’d do

  • Prepare reports that detail investigation findings.
  • Obtain and verify evidence by interviewing and observing suspects and witnesses or by analyzing records.
  • Preserve, process, and analyze items of evidence obtained from crime scenes and suspects, placing them in proper containers and destroying evidence no longer needed.
  • Obtain facts or statements from complainants, witnesses, and accused persons and record interviews, using recording device.
  • Record progress of investigation, maintain informational files on suspects, and submit reports to commanding officer or magistrate to authorize warrants.
  • Analyze completed police reports to determine what additional information and investigative work is needed.
  • Note, mark, and photograph location of objects found, such as footprints, tire tracks, bullets and bloodstains, and take measurements of the scene.
  • Secure deceased body and obtain evidence from it, preventing bystanders from tampering with it prior to medical examiner's arrival.

Skills that matter

  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Critical Thinking
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Complex Problem Solving

How to get there

Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree

Also called

  • Criminal Investigator
  • Detective
  • Investigator
  • Police Detective
  • CSI (Crime Scene Investigator)
  • Fugitive Detective

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