Career Of An Investigator

Many people watch the media or television programs about investigators. Most think the job is only about collecting evidence, or arresting the perpetrator. There is more to being an investigator than just the field work. There are many other factors and specializations in the career to being successful. “The success of criminal investigations depends to a great extent on the investigator's ability to make the correct decisions at the correct time. Unfortunately, investigators face a number of obstacles to optimal decision making, including time pressure, emotional involvement, and expediency-promoting occupational norms, all of which have been shown to debilitate investigator’s ability to objectively process case-relevant information and evidence.” …show more content…
These investigators are in charge of any case that involves a homicide, or planned death of a person. A well trained investigator once said, “You can’t restore life, but you can right the wrong. It is an awesome burden … life is the most precious right given by God.” (Sewell, 1994, p. 566) The burden of righting the wrong of someone else can be detrimental. Homicide investigators generally have lighter caseloads. It is the consistent on call status that adds pressure. Acute stress levels for these investigators are high due to never having a dull case. There are always going to be a person whose life is cut short with media and emotions following every second of the case. Homicide investigators endure long work hours, chaotic crime scenes, and major responsibility during their careers. (Dabney, Copes, Tewksbury, & Hawk-Tourtelot, 2013, p. 812-813) Being a homicide investigator can be eventful while bringing closure but also can cause deleterious effects on the detective on the …show more content…
Missouri's Louis Grey once said, “To combat arson, it is absolutely essential to have cooperation among all groups concerned with the problems. The three most important are the fire fighters, the law enforcement officers, and the prosecutors.” (Armstrong, 1978, p. 110) Being an arson investigator works strongly with fire departments. Arson investigators are part detectives and part fire scientists. Being able to understand how a fire was started before putting a motive to the crime is essential. This particular crime is considered the coward’s crime. It is also the most unreported and least understood crime in the country next to rape cases. (Bartlett, 1990) Knowledge is the investigator's key to solving an arson case. To be able to effectively examine and evaluate a fire scene, it is important to have detailed knowledge about the chemistry and behavior of fires and their effects. (Fire