Homicide Detective Research Paper

Improved Essays
Homicide Detective
Homicide detectives are employed by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies throughout the United States. Depending on the size and geographic location of the agency, the detective’s jurisdiction may cover the entire agency’s jurisdiction or a sector of the area under that agency’s scope. The nature of the work can be very dangerous and stressful, so the detective must be mentally and physically prepared for the tasks performed. Responsibilities of a homicide detective include gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, conducting background checks on victims and possible suspects, identifying the responsible party, preparing cases for court, and assisting in the successful prosecution of offenders. Working conditions
…show more content…
However, average annual salary can vary widely based on location; detectives and criminal investigators in Washington DC, for example, earn an annual average salary of $119,280. The media, politicians, and the general public often put pressure on law enforcement, including detectives, to find the culprit and solve the case quickly like they see on television. Unfortunately, homicide investigations take time and require methodical work to avoid mistakes and to secure a conviction of the right individual. Homicide Detectives must be prepared to work whenever they are called. Homicides take place at all times of the day and the night, which requires a homicide investigator to be on call and prepared to leave for the crime scene at a moment’s …show more content…
Unfortunately, homicide investigations take time and require methodical work to avoid mistakes and to secure a conviction of the right individual. The biggest disadvantage would be that this job is very time demanding time demand there is a lot of pressure. It is said that if you can’t solve the homicide within the first 48 hours then it cuts the chances of you solving it at all. So with the first 48 rule in place, there is a lot of pressure on you. Even though homicide detectives are time consuming they can also be stressful crimes happen day and night. If you work in a busy metropolitan area, you might get called to a crime scene several nights a week and on weekends. The actual work constantly involves being at crime scenes and trying to find small traces of DNA or other evidence. You often face pressure from other law enforcement professionals to complete your analysis in short

Related Documents

  • Superior Essays

    They work for local. The pay can differ depending on the amount of education obtained and location of work, with the average pay being $56,320 per year or $27.08 per hour (bls.gov). There are three branches of forensic science: field science, laboratory science, and medical science. Field scientists are involved in crime scene investigations and are the one normally we see depicted on TV. They are responsible for collecting evidence, preventing contamination of the scene and any evidence taken from the scene, and create an account of the…

    • 1469 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    This change in the procedure allows for two (2) detectives to be fully active at the onset of the investigation, while the 3rd partner handles the processing of the crime scene. While it is not necessary for all three (3) detectives to be present at each step of the investigation, all three (3) should remain active and knowledgeable of the status of the investigation. This should provide for improved investigative coverage while allowing additional flexibility in manpower decisions. This step should actually reduce overtime while increasing the opportunity to solve investigations. This also increases the probability of an original detective remaining active in an investigation should it continue for an extended…

    • 752 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Crime Analyst Data

    • 201 Words
    • 1 Pages

    Crime analysis, including the collection, collation, analysis and dissemination of data related to criminal activity is the responsibility of the Department’s Crime Analyst. The Crime Analyst position is data-driven, relying on the accuracy of agency data. This position shall primarily use departmental reports, CAD and RMS systems along with its related data, but not limited to these resources when conducting analysis. RMS and CAD data are the primary type of data used in the statistical analyses; therefore, there are many considerations the Agency must take into account, especially when RMS data or records indexing changes are anticipated as data decisions can affect the selection and interpretation of subsequent statistical analyses.…

    • 201 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Decent Essays

    As a watcher of crime solving shows like: Law & Order SVU: Special Victims Unit and Rosewood, I would think that solving a murder would take 30 minutes as it is portrayed in these 60 minutes’ television shows. However, I know it takes a lot more time and effort, along with concentration to solve any crime. The "CSI Effect" was initially portrayed in the media as a television shows based on forensics and crime. This kind of effect impacts members of the jury to have misleading expectancy of real life forensic science in a criminal trial and influence members of the jury's choices on whether to convict or set free.…

    • 110 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Great Essays

    Crime scene investigation is one of the most media glorified activities that a police officer will ever partake in. Many people may think they know all there is to know about crime scene investigation. From a media stand point, a detective is called and brought on to the newly produced crime scene and immediately goes to work on collecting evidence. It even goes as far as to glorify detectives, such as “Sherlock Holmes”, and their “magical ability” to analyze something as universal as a shoe marking and to be able to know exactly who committed the crime within a few seconds, following with an explosive and dramatic arrest by the said detective.…

    • 1795 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The purpose of the following presentation is to provide useful information regarding the inherent legal concerns and constraints involved in working as a crime scene investigator. As future crime scene investigators, you will be required to know and avoid the possible procedural errors that may occur in order to properly mitigate potential threats that could damage or derail a criminal case. By being aware of these legal constrains, you will be able to proficiently process a crime scene with minimal error and without violating the rights of the suspects. We will discuss the legal constraints innate to searches of a crime scene, the importance of a secure crime scene perimeter, and the importance of practicing in mock trials in order to hone…

    • 924 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Since crimes happen during the day and night, long hours are the norm. The stress level of a crime scene investigator can be anywhere from completely relaxed to extremely intense. You are often faced with the pressure from other law enforcement professionals to complete your analysis in a timely matter. Repeatedly witnessing the horrors of crime scenes can take a toll on your mind. Crime scene investigators must be skilled at handling the emotions that accompany seeing horrific scenes.…

    • 1112 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    They can speak upon how an individual, or many, were killed and how that may affect the case. The verdict that a coroner gives can determine who may have killed someone, how, or why and if it tied in with the case at hand, possibly creating more reason to prove someone guilty or non-guilty beyond a reasonable doubt (Sacramento County, 2016), (History of Mediological System). The criminal justice system is reliant on coroners with the increasing availability in technology to show numerous amounts of evidence to be used in tried cases (Sacramento County, 2016). Coroners are also the ones who are able to make sure that evidence was not tampered with by researching it when comes into the office and making sure the chain of evidence is followed. The coroner’s do all of their work inside their office, but their vast amount of information is essential in the courts for a cohesive…

    • 1371 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    An undergraduate degree in forensic science or a natural science is required for work in crime laboratories, with extensive coursework in mathematics, chemistry, and biology. Forensic Science is a wide field that includes various parts of science. Forensic scientists might be experts in a wide assortment of zones, including biology, chemistry, firearms, pharmacology, and toxicology. All in all, scientific researchers explore crime, fire, accident, and explosion scenes while searching for confirmation that may clarify the cause and individuals involved. Legal researchers additionally assess money, passports, and other imperative archives for misrepresentation and can recognize suspects of a crime utilizing DNA.…

    • 591 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The investigators gets evidence from the crime scene, and takes to a labortory and multiple tests on the it. Sometimes science aspects don’t always help solve the…

    • 1006 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “Median annual earnings of police detective and criminal investigators were $76,730 in 2012 according to the US department of labor, lowest paid 10% earned $40,110 or less while the highest 10% earned more than $125,320 annually”(Infobase). That would be the median annual pay for the lowest and the highest 10%. There’s also private investigators who are self-employed, work for their own selves. “Private investigators who are self-employed have the potential for making high salaries. ”(Infobase).…

    • 1069 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Crime Scene Investigation

    • 1118 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Introduction Death investigation require strict adherence to guidelines. Investigations must search for clues to determine a death as natural, suicide, or homicide. The investigator is the eyes and ears of the forensic pathologist at the scene. The investigator must do their best to find answers for families who have lost loved ones. (A Guide to Death Scene Investigation.…

    • 1118 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Being a CSI you are held to a high standard of honesty. One properly must follow all procedures, as well as accurately handling and processing evidence. While in most jobs one is held to a high standard, this one is especially important because one could improperly provide incorrect evidence, which could convict the wrong person of the crime (Crime Scene Investigator Career…

    • 1708 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    People might think when they hear about an investigation on a criminal case or any type of investigation it might sound quiet easy but it real life is not that easy due to the things you have to follow through to have a successful investigation and find everything you need. By conducting a successful preliminary investigation is what will make the investigation to start processing. Preliminary investigation is what is the most appropriate step to follow when the crime is committed. Everything starts when the officer is dispatch with the information that the dispatcher gathered once the first responder officer is dispatch to the scene. Once the first responder officer arrives to the scene fist thing he needs to do when he approach the scene is look around the area where the crime happened and keep his eyes open to see anything that is happening around the activity that looks suspicious while he on the scene or even when he is on his way to the scene.…

    • 1278 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    For this piece of work, I will produce a self-evaluation of myself as a criminologist in this academic year and a reflection of my time and workload management. The time and workload management was a key issue for me to perform as well as I have desired to in the beginning of the academic year. to begin me reflection on my time management I had to arrange my personal life and arrange my daily schedules to flexible times that wore suitable for me. Personally I enjoyed learning about criminology and particularly about white collar crime how ever having lectures on a Friday and seminars on Monday was difficult for me to fit all extra work that I was given from my other modules also as my weekend job, attending lectures and seminars Monday to Friday.…

    • 481 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays

Related Topics