If you are intrigued with police work and like to watch shows like CSI, then
a criminal justice career might be just the thing for you. According to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers in the field of criminal justice are
expected to grow 10% between 2008 and 2018.There are many careers available to
those that carry a criminal justice degree including: A crime scene
investigator who gets to be in the middle of the action at a real crime scene; A
criminalist who gets to review important evidence and help agencies like the FBI
catch and prosecute criminals; Or, a private investigator who performs jobs such
as surveillance on a cheating spouse or investigates insurance claims for an
insurance company.
Crime Scene Investigator
Responsible
for carrying out strategic and highly complex investigations, a crime scene
investigator keeps a crime scene secure, initially evaluates the scene, and
collects evidence from the scene to send to the forensics lab for further
testing. After testing and evaluating the crime scene thoroughly, the crime
scene investigator then organizes and writes a detailed report of their
observations and findings. The crime scene investigator then turns their
reports over to the law enforcement agents in charge of the
investigation.
Many of the crimes overseen by a crime scene
investigator include home burglaries, property crimes, armed robberies and
homicides. The largest portion of a crime scene investigator’s job is taken up
processing the crime scene, securely transferring evidence, viewing autopsy
photos and being present at briefings with all cooperating police agencies. To
work as a crime scene investigator you must have a Criminal Justice degree. Some
have found a fast diploma from RealisticDiplomas.com
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degrees.
Criminalist
In charge of examining physical evidence and using
on the job experience and investigative skills, criminalists work at state and
regional law enforcement agencies, forensic labs, sheriff’s offices, medical
examiner’s offices and even at FBI labs. It is critical that the criminalist
sorts, identifies and compares evidence in a way that will be accurate and
useful in court or for an investigation. The criminalist’s work may support a
witness’ testimony in court or assist in identifying the circumstances
surrounding the committing of the crime.
To become a criminalist, you
must have an associates diplomas or a Bachelors
degree in forensic sciences or criminal justice. Certification for a
criminalist is not mandatory, but many criminalists choose to get certified by
the American Board of Criminalists.
Private
Investigator
Through use of special surveillance equipment and the
employment of different investigation procedures, the private investigator
deduces the facts of a situation so they can report their findings back to the
client who hired them. Private Investigators offer a wide variety of services
such as physical surveillance, background profiles and premarital
screenings. Physical surveillance is a skill that is learned through
watching a specified location for hours on end without being seen. Many
detectives specialize in one type of investigation such as insurance, marital
and premarital, and store surveillance. Private investigators usually are from a
police background or have a Criminal
Justice degree.
Criminal justice careers are exciting and intriguing
for those who can work long hours, have the patience to comb through a
crime scene or don’t mind seeing dead bodies up close. Individuals who
choose these careers are dedicated public servants who want to see justice
served. There are many opportunities out there for those who have an
Associate’s diplomas or Bachelor’s
degree transcripts in criminal justice.