2 answers
Lakiriaha
Student
Miami Gardens, Florida
9
Questions
Asked
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Can someone tell me the training or background as a criminal investigator?
I want to know more about the work history or expertise. #career-counseling
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2 answers
Thomas Sutherland
Associate Continuity and Recovery Specialist, CBCP
207
Answers
Detroit, Michigan
Updated
Thomas’s Answer
"Steps to Become a Criminal Investigator
Students who are interested in this career path would do well to complete the following steps:
Meet Educational and Experience Requirements
Local, state, and federal agencies prefer to hire criminal investigators who have the right combination of relevant education and law enforcement experience. Former law enforcement officers and members of the military often meet the latter requirement. In some states, applicants who have worked as parole, probation, or corrections officers may also have sufficient law enforcement experience to qualify.
Although some agencies will accept applicants who have a high school diploma, others seek out candidates who have earned an associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree in a related course of study. Relevant majors include criminal justice, psychology, a foreign language, or computer science, according to the law enforcement news website PoliceOne.
An online degree in criminal justice from Maryville University, for instance, can help provide graduates with a competitive edge. Its curriculum is designed to help students enhance their understanding of criminality, the law and the legal profession, and law enforcement. Throughout the program, students gain exposure to criminal law, criminal procedures, and criminal theory, along with an understanding of how to research, analyze, and present findings.
Students who are enrolled in Maryville’s criminal justice program and have successfully completed training through select police academies may receive up to 13 hours of credit toward completion of the major.
Complete Training
Training requirements for law enforcement jobs vary depending on the agency and the position. Successful completion of an academy or other training program is typically required to become a law enforcement officer, and additional on-the-job training may be necessary to qualify for a criminal investigator job.
Academy training typically includes education modules on apprehension and arrests, incident reporting, traffic control, and radio operation, according to PoliceOne. It also includes weapons training, coursework on negotiation techniques, and classes on criminal psychology. In addition to classroom-based learning, some states mandate that certain physical requirements must be met. If this is the case, students may need to complete timed physical fitness tests related to sprinting, distance running, and climbing, although specific requirements vary by program.
Many agencies require academy applicants be at least 21 years old. Applicants also need to provide proof of citizenship and must be able to pass physical and psychological exams. Drug tests, background checks, and lie detector tests are also typically administered.
Seek Promotion to a Criminal Investigator Position
Officers who aspire to become criminal investigators typically must seek promotions to advance to higher ranks. Candidates may be required to pass a promotions exam and complete a probationary period before moving on to complete additional local, state, or federal requirements for advancement."
Source: https://online.maryville.edu/online-bachelors-degrees/criminal-justice/careers/criminal-investigator/
Students who are interested in this career path would do well to complete the following steps:
Meet Educational and Experience Requirements
Local, state, and federal agencies prefer to hire criminal investigators who have the right combination of relevant education and law enforcement experience. Former law enforcement officers and members of the military often meet the latter requirement. In some states, applicants who have worked as parole, probation, or corrections officers may also have sufficient law enforcement experience to qualify.
Although some agencies will accept applicants who have a high school diploma, others seek out candidates who have earned an associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree in a related course of study. Relevant majors include criminal justice, psychology, a foreign language, or computer science, according to the law enforcement news website PoliceOne.
An online degree in criminal justice from Maryville University, for instance, can help provide graduates with a competitive edge. Its curriculum is designed to help students enhance their understanding of criminality, the law and the legal profession, and law enforcement. Throughout the program, students gain exposure to criminal law, criminal procedures, and criminal theory, along with an understanding of how to research, analyze, and present findings.
Students who are enrolled in Maryville’s criminal justice program and have successfully completed training through select police academies may receive up to 13 hours of credit toward completion of the major.
Complete Training
Training requirements for law enforcement jobs vary depending on the agency and the position. Successful completion of an academy or other training program is typically required to become a law enforcement officer, and additional on-the-job training may be necessary to qualify for a criminal investigator job.
Academy training typically includes education modules on apprehension and arrests, incident reporting, traffic control, and radio operation, according to PoliceOne. It also includes weapons training, coursework on negotiation techniques, and classes on criminal psychology. In addition to classroom-based learning, some states mandate that certain physical requirements must be met. If this is the case, students may need to complete timed physical fitness tests related to sprinting, distance running, and climbing, although specific requirements vary by program.
Many agencies require academy applicants be at least 21 years old. Applicants also need to provide proof of citizenship and must be able to pass physical and psychological exams. Drug tests, background checks, and lie detector tests are also typically administered.
Seek Promotion to a Criminal Investigator Position
Officers who aspire to become criminal investigators typically must seek promotions to advance to higher ranks. Candidates may be required to pass a promotions exam and complete a probationary period before moving on to complete additional local, state, or federal requirements for advancement."
Source: https://online.maryville.edu/online-bachelors-degrees/criminal-justice/careers/criminal-investigator/
Judye Byrum
Teaching/Counseling
7
Answers
Tucson, Arizona
Updated
Judye’s Answer
Hi there. The advisor before me gave a very thorough and detailed answer to your question. If you have the internet handy, you can search this topic yourself. The other thing you may want to do is find someone in the field and ask to "interview " them. Have all your questions and concerns ready before hand and record the answers with your phone - with permission, of course. The more information you have the better decision you can make.