What Do Criminal Investigators Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

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Job Description, Daily Responsibilities, and Work Life

Criminal Investigators and Special Agents

Criminal Investigators and Special Agents investigate alleged or suspected criminal violations of Federal, state, or local laws to determine if evidence is sufficient to recommend prosecution.

Salary
$89300
Becoming One
Medium
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth
Low

Personality
Interest Match



Job Description

Job Description

Criminal Investigators investigate alleged or suspected criminal violations of Federal, state, or local laws to determine if evidence is sufficient to recommend prosecution. They also prepare reports that detail investigation findings.

Other tasks include:

  • Obtain and verify evidence by interviewing and observing suspects and witnesses or by analyzing records.
  • Identify case issues and evidence needed, based on analysis of charges, complaints, or allegations of law violations.
  • Investigate organized crime, public corruption, financial crime, copyright infringement, civil rights violations, bank robbery, extortion, kidnapping, and other violations of federal or state statutes.
  • Record evidence and documents, using equipment such as cameras and photocopy machines.
  • Obtain and use search and arrest warrants.
  • Testify before grand juries concerning criminal activity investigations.

We asked Criminal Investigators how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

Job satisfaction

74%

How meaningful is this job

78%


74% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 78% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.



Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Criminal Investigators determine scope, timing, and direction of investigations. They identify case issues and evidence needed, based on analysis of charges, complaints, or allegations of law violations.

A typical day for a Criminal Investigator and Special Agent will also include:

  • Prepare reports that detail investigation findings.
  • Obtain and verify evidence by interviewing and observing suspects and witnesses or by analyzing records.
  • Record evidence and documents, using equipment such as cameras and photocopy machines.
  • Collaborate with other authorities on activities, such as surveillance, transcription, and research.
  • Collect and record physical information about arrested suspects, including fingerprints, height and weight measurements, and photographs.

We asked some Criminal Investigators a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job? 100% said yes
How important is it to work in a team in this job? 62% said very important
Do you have group discussions everyday in this job? 75% said yes
Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job? 66% said yes
Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job? 37% said yes
Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job? 61% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Criminal Investigators also obtain and use search and arrest warrants. They may also compare crime scene fingerprints with those from suspects or fingerprint files to identify perpetrators, using computers.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Criminal Investigators Analyze evidence in laboratories or in the field. They might also Administer counterterrorism and counternarcotics reward programs.

In addition, they Serve subpoenas or other official papers.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Testify before grand juries concerning criminal activity investigations.

To some Criminal Investigators, it is also their responsibility to Investigate organized crime, public corruption, financial crime, copyright infringement, civil rights violations, bank robbery, extortion, kidnapping, and other violations of federal or state statutes.


Working life

Working hours

More than 40 hours per week

Working schedule

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Criminal Investigator and Special Agent, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Do Criminal Investigators work in an office-style work environment?

Every day
56%


Never
19%


Do Criminal Investigators work outdoors?

Every day
43%


Once a week
30%



Is this right for me

Best personality for this career

The Entrepreneurs and The Thinkers

People who are suitable for this job tends to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business..

They also like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

You can read more about these career personality types here.



Learn more about Criminal Investigators and Special Agents

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Related to Criminal Investigators and Special Agents Job Description

Criminal Investigators and Special Agents job description, what do Criminal Investigators and Special Agents do, typical day for Criminal Investigators and Special Agents, what is it like to work as a Criminal Investigator and Special Agent, how many hours do Criminal Investigators and Special Agents work, day to day work of a Criminal Investigator and Special Agent

Additional resources

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/protective-service/police-and-detectives.htm
https://www.bja.gov/
http://www.theiacp.org/
http://www.dhs.gov/


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