Detectives and Criminal Investigators

What Does a Detectives and Criminal Investigators Do?

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

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• 1Check victims for signs of life, such as breathing and pulse.
• 2Obtain facts or statements from complainants, witnesses, and accused persons and record interviews, using recording device.
• 3Secure deceased body and obtain evidence from it, preventing bystanders from tampering with it prior to medical examiner's arrival.
• 4Record progress of investigation, maintain informational files on suspects, and submit reports to commanding officer or magistrate to authorize warrants.
• 5Prepare reports that detail investigation findings.
• 6Prepare charges or responses to charges, or information for court cases, according to formalized procedures.
• 7Preserve, process, and analyze items of evidence obtained from crime scenes and suspects, placing them in proper containers and destroying evidence no longer needed.
• 8Obtain summary of incident from officer in charge at crime scene, taking care to avoid disturbing evidence.

Required Skills

• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Critical Thinking
• Reading Comprehension
• Active Learning
• AccessData FTK
• Adobe Photoshop
• Case management software
• Computer aided composite drawing software
• Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
• Crime mapping software
• DataWorks Plus Digital CrimeScene
• DeChant Consulting Services iWitness
• DesignWare 3D EyeWitness
• Digital Image Management Solutions Crime Scene

Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary