Criminal Investigator Job Description & Career Outlook
One job in the field of criminal justice that offers a great deal of variety is that of criminal investigator. The nature of the work of a criminal investigator depends on education, experience, and the area of concentration chosen. Although the work of criminal investigators has been glamorized on television and in the movies, it is a difficult job; on television shows, the crime is always solved, but that is not the case in real life. At any rate, the job of the criminal investigator is to attempt to solve each case that comes his or her way.
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Criminal investigators may begin their career doing entry-level type tasks. These include examining written records, helping to prepare evidence for trial, investigating both felony and misdemeanor crimes, and offering testimony in court about the evidence that was obtained. Specifically, one of the main contexts in which a criminal investigator works is crime scenes. The investigator is charged with studying the scene and determining what may have occurred based on the evidence observed and collected at the scene. Read More +
How to Become a Criminal Investigator
To become a criminal investigator, it is best to obtain a degree in criminal investigations, or in some other area of criminal justice. It may be helpful to pursue courses in crime scene investigation, forensics, psychology, and sociology. Although a college is not an absolute requirement in every situation, it provides the best path into this job.
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In addition to education, there are many skills or traits that a criminal investigator must possess. One of these is the ability to pay careful attention to even the smallest of details. Another is the ability to conduct independent research. He or she needs to be able to carefully examine and evaluate every piece of evidence (including physical evidence and information gained from interviews) to determine a possible motive for the crime. Therefore, an investigator must have strong interpersonal skills and well-developed reasoning and critical-thinking skills.
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Criminal Investigator Salary
The annual salary for criminal investigators depends on education, experience, and geographic location. In 2008, the annual salary range was $40,000 to $75,000. Future jobs in the area of criminal investigations include fraud investigator (due to the online nature of society today), police detective, and supervisor of police and detectives.
Criminal Investigator Degrees from Accredited Criminal Justice Schools
Everest University Online
Popular Degrees:
- Associate's in Criminal Justice
- Bachelor's in Criminal Justice
- Associate's in Homeland Security
- Bachelor's in Homeland Security
- Associate's in Criminal Investigations
Kaplan University
Popular Degrees:
- A.A.S. in Criminal Justice
- B.S. in Criminal Justice/Forensic Psychology
- B.S. in Criminal Justice/Corrections
- M.S. in Criminal Justice/Corrections
- B.S. in Criminal Justice/Crime Scene Investigation
- B.S. in Criminal Justice/Computer Crime
Rasmussen College
Popular Degrees:
- Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice
- Associate of Science in Criminal Justice - Corrections
- Associate of Science in Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice - Homeland Security
- Associate of Science in Criminal Justice - Psychology
Saint Leo University
Popular Degrees:
- Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
- Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
- Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice - Homeland Security Specialization
- Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice - Criminalistics Specialization
Grantham University
Popular Degrees:
- Associate of Arts - Criminal Justice
- Bachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice
- Bachelor of Arts Criminal Justice - Homeland Security
- Certificate of Learning Computer Forensic Investigations
- Certificate of Learning Criminal Investigation
- Certificate of Learning Juvenile Justice
American InterContinental University
Popular Degrees:
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (BSCJ) - Special Populations
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (BSCJ) - Law Enforcement
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (BSCJ) - Forensic Science
South University
Popular Degrees:
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice - Cyber Crime
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice - Crime Scene Investigation
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice - Corrections
Ashford University
Popular Degrees:
- BA/Social and Criminal Justice
- BA/Social Science - Psychology
- BA/Organizational Management - Homeland Security
- BA/Homeland Security and Emergency Management
- BA/Environmental Studies
Walden University
Popular Degrees:
- Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Homeland Security Policy and Coordination
- Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) - Homeland Security Policy
- M.S. in Psychology - Terrorism and Security
- B.S. in Criminal Justice - Computer Information Systems and Security
- M.S. in Forensic Psychology - Psychology & Legal Systems
- Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Homeland Security Policy and Administration
- B.S. in Psychology - Criminal Justice
- PhD in Public Policy/Admin - Terrorism/Mediation/Peace
Tiffin University
Popular Degrees:
- Master of Science in Criminal Justice - Homeland Security Administration
- Master of Science in Criminal Justice - Justice Administration
- Master of Science in Criminal Justice - Crime Analysis
- Master of Science in Criminal Justice - Criminal Behavior
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