- Homicide detectives are police officers who investigate killings committed in the area of their precinct. They work locally within the jurisdiction and precinct they are assigned to, usually a city or town precinct. Homicide detectives work only cases that involve a death that is suspected to be a homicide and they work on cases until they are solved or dropped. Unsolved, undropped cases are called cold cases. Homicide detectives gather evidence on their cases by examining crime scenes for physical evidence, talking to witnesses and following and interrogating suspects.
- Criminal investigators, unlike homicide detectives, explore illegal acts of many different natures, such as drug-related crime and thefts, not just homicide. Investigators can work on the state level with the state police, on the federal level or with any agency requiring investigative services. The main job of a criminal investigator is similar to that of a homicide detective in that she gathers evidence of all types with the ultimate goal of catching and prosecuting the responsible party.
- To become a homicide detective, you will need a high school diploma and a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. If your goal is to climb higher in the ranks of the police department faster, a master's degree will help you achieve this. You must also receive training with a police academy in the area in which you wish to work. From there, you will need to prove yourself as an outstanding candidate to your superiors while serving as a uniformed police officer.
- If you are interested in becoming a criminal investigator, you can substitute a higher education degree with experience in fields like private investigation or police and military work. Without previous experience, an associate's or bachelor's degree in criminal justice can substitute for some experience, but you will have to put time in to build up your experience. No formal training exists for criminal investigators like the police academy for homicide detectives, but experience is key if you're looking for an investigator job. Additionally, if you are looking to go into more specialized criminal investigation, a bachelor's or master's degree can help you achieve that goal. For example, someone interested in forensic investigation might have a higher degree in science.
- Though they are different, the pay bracket is the same for homicide detectives and criminal investigators. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May of 2009 estimated the yearly income for criminal investigators and detectives at $65,860. Local industry and federal employment were the top two sectors where detectives and investigators are utilized, but the top-paying sector for these jobs is the postal service.
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