Do you have
Communication skills, Good judgment and Perceptiveness? You may consider a
career as a criminal investigator. The Occupational Outlook Handbook describes the field of criminal
investigation as the following.
“Detectives and criminal investigators, who sometimes are
called agents or special agents, gather facts and collect evidence of possible
crimes. Law enforcement officers’ duties depend on the size and type of their
organizations.”
SAMPLE DUTIES
“Detectives and criminal investigators typically do the
following:
- Investigate crimes
- Collect evidence of crimes
- Conduct interviews with suspects and witnesses
- Observe the activities of suspects
- Arrest suspects
- Write detailed reports and fill out forms
- Prepare cases and testify in court”
WORK SCHEDULES
“Uniformed officers, detectives, agents, and inspectors
usually are scheduled to work full time. Paid overtime is common. Shift work is
necessary because protection must be provided around the clock. Because more
experienced employees typically receive preference, junior officers frequently
work weekends, holidays, and nights. Some police officers chose to work off
duty as security for restaurants, retail stores, and other establishments.”
JOB OUTLOOK
“Employment of police and detectives is expected to grow by 7
percent from 2010 to 2020, slower than the average for all occupations.
Continued demand for public safety will lead to new openings for officers in
local departments; however, both state and federal jobs may be more
competitive.”
Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH),
Police and Detectives.
Learn more about
the field of criminal investigations by visiting OOH, at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/police-and-detectives.htm#tab-1)
or by speaking with the following employers at the Criminal Justice Career
& Internship Fair (www.Careers.umd.edu/CJFair),
March 6, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Baltimore City Police Department
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF)
- Drug Enforcement Administration
- Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia
- U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
- U.S. Secret Service
