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Career Details
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Career Details
33-3021.00 - Detectives and Criminal Investigators
33-3021.00 - Detectives and Criminal Investigators
Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.
Key Facts

Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
116,700
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
115,300
Estimate
Change in Employment
-1,400
Estimate
Change in Employment %
-1.2%
Estimate
Tasks

Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
- Check victims for signs of life, such as breathing and pulse.
- Obtain facts or statements from complainants, witnesses, and accused persons and record interviews, using recording device.
- Secure deceased body and obtain evidence from it, preventing bystanders from tampering with it prior to medical examiner's arrival.
- Record progress of investigation, maintain informational files on suspects, and submit reports to commanding officer or magistrate to authorize warrants.
- Prepare charges or responses to charges, or information for court cases, according to formalized procedures.
- Preserve, process, and analyze items of evidence obtained from crime scenes and suspects, placing them in proper containers and destroying evidence no longer needed.
- Obtain summary of incident from officer in charge at crime scene, taking care to avoid disturbing evidence.
- Note, mark, and photograph location of objects found, such as footprints, tire tracks, bullets and bloodstains, and take measurements of the scene.
- Prepare reports that detail investigation findings.
- Examine records and governmental agency files to find identifying data about suspects.
- Secure persons at scene, keeping witnesses from conversing or leaving the scene before investigators arrive.
- Provide information to lab personnel concerning the source of an item of evidence and tests to be performed.
- Analyze completed police reports to determine what additional information and investigative work is needed.
- Obtain and verify evidence by interviewing and observing suspects and witnesses or by analyzing records.
- Prepare and serve search and arrest warrants.
- Question individuals or observe persons and establishments to confirm information given to patrol officers.
- Identify case issues and evidence needed, based on analysis of charges, complaints, or allegations of law violations.
- Participate or assist in raids and arrests.
- Organize scene search, assigning specific tasks and areas of search to individual officers and obtaining adequate lighting as necessary.
- Summon medical help for injured individuals and alert medical personnel to take statements from them.
- Notify command of situation and request assistance.
- Testify before grand juries concerning criminal activity investigations.
- Block or rope off scene and check perimeter to ensure that entire scene is secured.
- Notify, or request notification of, medical examiner or district attorney representative.
- Search for and collect evidence, such as fingerprints, using investigative equipment.
- Determine scope, timing, and direction of investigations.
- Maintain surveillance of establishments to obtain identifying information on suspects.
- Collaborate with other offices and agencies to exchange information and coordinate activities.
- Perform undercover assignments and maintain surveillance, including monitoring authorized wiretaps.
- Examine records to locate links in chains of evidence or information.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge

Knowledge
The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools

Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology

Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications

Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing

Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs

Online Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.
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