The Roles of a Criminal Investigator

• Criminal investigators sometimes engage in covert investigative techniques. Ryan McVay/Digital Vision/Getty Images

  Criminal investigators are specially trained law enforcement officials who specialize in crime scene investigation or some other aspect of investigative law enforcement. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that the number of new jobs for detectives will increase by 10 percent from 2008 to 2018. Knowing the different roles of a criminal investigator can help you determine if this career could be the right choice for you.

Investigative Roles

• The primary role of the criminal investigator is to plan and carry out criminal investigations. Criminal investigators work at both the scene of the crime and in the field as needed in order to carry out other aspects of an investigation. The criminal investigator performs a number of different duties when conducting investigations. They interview witnesses, suspects and even the victims whenever it is possible to do so. Criminal investigators can work on a variety of different types of cases that include not only murder cases, but also cases involving robbery, kidnapping and even white-collar crime.

Surveillance

• In conjunction with ongoing investigative techniques, criminal investigators also perform various surveillance techniques to bring the investigation to its conclusion. The type of surveillance conducted often depends upon the criminal investigators employer. For instance, those working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) may be involved in more elaborate forms of surveillance such as wire taps. Other types of surveillance duties can include taking photographs of suspects and criminals engaged in illegal activity, going undercover to find incriminating information and tracking stolen property.

Analysis Roles

• Criminal investigators examine the information they have collected and attempt to draw the most logical conclusions. Criminal investigators may work in crime laboratories analyzing evidence as well. A good portion of their time may be spent trying to piece together small strands of evidence of information linking the evidence to the criminal or crime. Criminal investigators who specialize in cybercrime may spend a good portion of their time analyzing data found in computer databases and electronic documents.

Reporting Roles

• Criminal investigators also play roles related to documentation and reporting of the results of their investigations. Criminal investigators document their findings through written reports that can later be used in the prosecution of criminals. They also report to other departments or agencies what the results of their findings happen to be. This is done in order to provide a collaborative effort between different law enforcement agencies that can bring an investigation to a swift conclusion. Criminal investigators may also be called upon to report their findings to grand juries by serving as key witnesses on certain cases where the investigator's work has yielded incriminating evidence.