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Career Details :: Criminal Investigators and Special Agents
Description
Investigate alleged or suspected criminal violations of federal, state, or local laws to determine if evidence is sufficient to recommend prosecution.
Experience
A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Education
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Training
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Tasks
- Obtains and verifies evidence or establishes facts by interviewing, observing, and interrogating suspects and witnesses and analyzing records.
- Testifies before grand juries.
- Serves subpoenas or other official papers.
- Photographs, fingerprints, and measures height and weight of arrested suspects, noting physical characteristics, and posts data on record for filing.
- Reports critical information to and coordinates activities with other offices or agencies when applicable.
- Presents findings in reports.
- Maintains surveillance and performs undercover assignments.
- Develops and uses informants to get leads to information.
- Compares crime scene fingerprints with those of suspect or fingerprint files to identify perpetrator, using computer.
- Obtains and uses search and arrest warrants.
- Searches for evidence, dusts surfaces to reveal latent fingerprints, and collects and records evidence and documents, using cameras and investigative equipment.
- Examines records to detect links in chain of evidence or information.
- Assists in determining scope, timing, and direction of investigation.
- Analyzes charge, complaint, or allegation of law violation to identify issues involved and types of evidence needed.
Related Careers
- Child Support, Missing Persons, and Unemployment Insurance Fraud Investigators
- Fire Inspectors
- Fire Investigators
- Government Property Inspectors and Investigators
- Immigration and Customs Inspectors
- Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates
- Police Detectives
- Private Detectives and Investigators
- Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs
- Transit and Railroad Police
Important Abilities
General Work Activities
- Getting Information Needed to Do the Job
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Communicating With Other Workers
- Judging Qualities of Things, Service, People
Important Skills
Frequent Work Context
- Job-Required Social Interaction
- Importance of Being Sure All Is Done
- Consequence of Error
- Objective or Subjective Information
- Frustrating Circumstances
Related Majors
| Major | Add to XapPack |
|---|---|
| Administration of Justice |  [ add ] |
| Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement | [ add ] |
| Law Enforcement | [ add ] |
| Pre-education | [ add ] |
| Pre-electrical Engineering | [ add ] |
Institutions Offering Related Majors
No institutions found.