TEN DIFFERENT DETECTIVE TYPES
If you enjoy applying your analytical thinking and problem-solving skills, think about pursuing a career as a detective. Once you come here, you may choose from a variety of specializations. Understanding exactly what is expected of you in each specialization may help you decide on your next course of action.
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Table of Contents
What is the job of a detective?
Often called an investigator, a detective typically works for a law enforcement agency, gathering information and evidence to handle various criminal cases. Using this evidence, they attempt to identify the offender and reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to, during, and following a crime. Until the court drops charges, the police make an arrest, or the trial is complete, detectives typically concentrate on one case at a time. They often focus on a certain type of crime.
Although a detective’s specific duties may vary depending on their field of expertise and the organization they work for, they may have several requirements in common. A detective’s primary duties might include:
gathering data and physical evidence at a crime scene to help solve a case
creating and evaluating official reports
monitoring the activities of alleged offenders
carrying out inquiries and capturing suspects
conducting a criminal inquiry with departmental resources
interrogating suspects, informants, and witnesses to gather missing information, leads, alibis, timeframes, and potential suspects
interrogating individuals in order to get more details for a case or to identify the criminal
testifying in court as a witness or offering an explanation of the evidence
Ten investigative teams
Each expert will have specific duties, even if the majority of investigators wish to gather evidence to support a criminal inquiry. Knowing the differences between these investigations may help you choose a career path that best fits your goals, interests, and abilities. Examine the following 10 types of investigators:
1. A murder detective
Detectives looking into killings investigate deaths and track down and apprehend any offenders. To help solve a case, they could do walkthroughs, record the event with photos and videos, talk to victims and witnesses, examine crime scenes, and collect evidence. Homicide investigators may also collaborate with other detectives and their criminal science investigation teams to exchange information, put together the case’s events, and identify a suspect.
2. An investigator for the police
Police detectives investigate property crimes, robberies, murders, and arson. They are occasionally called criminal investigators. A police investigator’s area of expertise may be one of these specific types of crimes.
3. A detective with forensic training
Using their knowledge of biology, physics, and chemistry, forensic detectives—also known as forensic investigators—examine and assess evidence from crime scenes. By determining the incident’s date, time, and manner, they aid in criminal investigations. Using a variety of scientific methods, forensic investigators analyze samples and evidence and collect physical evidence from crime scenes. To support the specifics of the offense, in-depth analysis and real-world references could also be included. Forensic investigators may submit their conclusions and testify before a jury and court.
4. A criminal detective who uses a computer
A computer crime investigator uses computers and computer networks to look into crimes. They are occasionally called “computer crime investigators” or “forensic investigators.” They support resolving problems like computer hacking and copyright violations that are connected to cybercrime. Some computer crime investigators are qualified to testify in court as well as assist in retrieving computer data for use as evidence. Decrypting encrypted files, improving system performance, evaluating systems, testing software for flaws, and obtaining computer-related data are some of the other duties of a computer crime investigator.
5. Narcotic Investigators
To learn more about the illegal sale and purchase of drugs, narcotics investigators examine into drug-related offenses at the local, state, and federal levels. Their objective is to track down, eliminate, and capture people who operate illicit drug businesses. In an attempt to apprehend suspects, drug detectives sometimes go undercover to get insight into the inner workings of these organizations and obtain information without revealing their true identities as law enforcement officers.
6. Cold case investigators
Cold case investigators investigate criminal cases that have not been resolved. They often take up homicide cases that no longer have a team investigating them due to a number of factors, such as an officer’s retirement or a lack of evidence. Cold case investigators have access to original case data, including early statements, in addition to interviewing the case’s first detectives and speaking with all parties involved. Sometimes, cold case detectives might use previously collected evidence to break a case thanks to technological developments.
7. Curious spy
Clandestine investigations are carried out by undercover detectives to get evidence of suspected or confirmed crimes. While working on the case, they take on a new persona to avoid being perceived as police enforcement. They take on a phony persona in order to interact with suspects in illegal activities—like buying an illicit commodity or service—without giving rise to suspicions about the suspected criminal. Covert cameras and recorders are frequently used by undercover detectives, whose investigations may take months or even years to finish.
8. A private detective
A private investigator (PI), also referred to as a private detective (PI), is a subject-matter expert who works independently from law enforcement. Private investigators (PIs) are frequently used by witnesses, victims, and loved ones of criminals to assist gather more evidence for their cases. They could do surveillance, run criminal background checks, and look up information on certain individuals or groups. Depending on the circumstances, a private investigator’s responsibilities may overlap or replace those of a police detective.
9. The Investigator for Missing Persons
People I’m missing Investigators often start working on a case when someone calls the police to report someone missing. Families, other law enforcement personnel, and possible witnesses may be able to provide information about the missing individual. They could also provide the local media with the search warrant. In addition to investigating potential leads, missing person investigators may follow up on leads by tracking down mobile phone signals or contacting nearby businesses on possible sightings or security camera video.
10. A fraud investigator
An investigator who focuses on looking into fraudulent activities for the government or private companies is known as a fraud detective. They may look into cases of fraud that happen both inside and outside of companies, gathering information to aid in the problem’s resolution. To ascertain how the crime happened, fraud investigators often carry out interviews, look at transactions and documents, interact with individuals involved, and undertake surveillance. To present their findings and give testimony in court, they could work with lawyers and other experts in criminal justice.
