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Criminal investigators study and analyze crime to catch criminals and prevent future crimes. Education determines the type of work a professional is suited to perform, such as laboratory analysis or crime scene investigation. Private investigators may choose their own cases and work with law enforcement, while expert witnesses offer professional opinions in court.
A criminal investigator is a professional who participates in the study and analysis of crime in order to catch criminals and prevent future crimes. There are many different types of criminal investigator jobs, which allow both public investigators and law enforcement officers to build their careers around their personal education. Criminal investigator jobs can range across all areas of the criminal justice system, from laboratory analysis to testifying as an expert witness.
Education can determine what type of criminal investigator work a professional is suited to perform. Those with a background in biological chemistry may be drawn to jobs that require them to scientifically analyze evidence. This work can help determine the presence of DNA or the chemical composition of substances such as drugs or explosives. Working as an analyst may not sound as glamorous as chasing criminals through moonlit streets, but it’s the critical step that helps turn raw evidence into a criminal case. Criminal investigator jobs that focus on laboratory or forensic analysis may be available through law enforcement agencies or private companies.
Private criminal investigators may also be called private detectives or private eyes and have the advantage of choosing their own clients and cases. Many offer services such as background checks, surveillance, and missing persons tracking. While there may not be a necessary educational background for private criminal investigator jobs, many regions have specific licensing requirements, including written tests. Private investigators are often retired law enforcement employees, and many work closely with law enforcement operations to conduct surveillance and stings.
A crime scene investigator visits locations where crimes are believed to have occurred and looks for important details that may provide evidence. These professionals often have a background in criminal justice and must have a keen sense of analysis to look for important details and ignore trivial ones. Crime scene investigator jobs also require a professional to follow all the necessary legal guidelines that pertain to the handling and examination of evidence. If evidence is contaminated, illegally obtained or improperly handled, it may be deemed inadmissible by the court and result in the dismissal of important cases.
Private investigators and those affiliated with law enforcement may have additional work as expert witnesses. This allows them to act as paid consultants brought in by attorneys to offer a professional opinion or testify based on an independent analysis of crime scene data. Expert witnesses need to have a long history of experience and an excellent reputation for their opinion to be taken into account by the court.
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