Introduction
On the face of it, the world of homicide detection and criminal justice in general, seems to be full of excitement. Every witness statement is critical and every little piece of evidence is significant in solving a case. It is the homicide detectives in the US who have unraveled the most complex and heinous criminal cases and held the responsible parties accountable for their acts.
As a homicide detective, you will be leading from the front, working diligently to solve criminal cases and bring justice to the victims and families so they can have closure. However, solving cases is not all there is to becoming a homicide detective. It is a proper career path that requires resilience, perseverance, acumen, and a deep sense of empathy and compassion. If pursuing a career in homicide detection appeals to you, this article is for you. Read on as we delve into how to become a homicide detective and highlight the steps and requirements to pursue this career path.
What Do Homicide Detectives Do
The job of a homicide detective starts at the crime scene where they work with CSIs (crime scene investigators) to analyze the crime scene, conduct witness interviews, and collect evidence. They also work with medical examiners and forensics to examine evidence and identify suspects through interrogations and evidence via surveillance cameras.
As the case proceeds, homicide detectives detain the suspects and interview them along with individuals who may have some information about the victims. They then present their reports and documentation to facilitate court proceedings and may even testify in courts when required to describe the evidence and give their expert input. Throughout a specific case, they work with the victims’ families for information and provision of support.
Steps to Becoming a Homicide Detective
Now that you have an idea of all that a homicide detective does, let’s look at the steps required to become a homicide detective. It is important to note that one becomes a homicide detective after years of experience in criminal justice and the first step in this career path is becoming a police officer. Here is a curated account of the steps involved in pursuing homicide detective careers.
Step 1- Meet the basic prerequisites
To pursue a homicide detective career, you must first meet the basic requirements; i.e. be a US citizen, have a valid driver’s license, and have a high school diploma or equivalent like GED. While most states do not mandate a college degree as an education requirement for a career in law enforcement, earning an associate degree in a field like criminal justice or forensic science can be helpful in career advancement. Once you meet the basic prerequisites, you can be considered for a career in homicide.
Step 2- Get experience in law enforcement- attending the police academy
The majority of homicide detectives’ career begins with becoming a police officer so as to get the essential law enforcement experience before they consider specializing in homicide. Every state has its own set of requirements for enrolling candidates and many require candidates for police officers to attend a police academy in their jurisdiction, the period for which is roughly six months.
The experience lays the groundwork for them by equipping them with the knowledge and skills instrumental for a job in homicide.
Step 3- Meet qualification requirements- passing the police exam
As stated earlier, some law enforcement agencies in the US depending on their nature and jurisdiction require specific qualifications before a candidate is deemed fit to become a police officer and later a homicide detective. These include passing a written exam and their physical evaluation, along with a medical examination including psychological assessment before they are considered fit for the role.
Step 4- Aim for promotion and complete dedicated homicide detective training
Once a candidate becomes a police officer, they spend some years getting experience in the field after which they can appear for a detective exam and interview to be considered for a promotion as a homicide detective.
Upon passing the exam and interview, the next step is completing specialized homicide detective training that includes techniques for investigation, collecting evidence, and understanding forensic sciences and legal technicalities. Candidates are trained in external programs or by the employing agency itself.
Step 5- Gain relevant experience
The training is followed by gaining experience in homicide investigation. This may include homicide detective internships whereby the aspiring candidates assist in investigations to gain practical experience and guidance from expert homicide detectives.
Skills Needed To Become a Homicide Detective
Besides education and training requirements to become a homicide detective, you must also have a specific skill set to become a competent homicide detective. Your education and training will equip you with a deep understanding of how the legal system works, but your skills will be instrumental in helping you advance in your career as a homicide detective.
A few skills that can help you get ahead in your career as a homicide detective include:
- Astute analytical skills for analyzing crime scenes, evaluating evidence, and reviewing witness statements
- Strong Critical thinking to identify patterns or connect dots to make sense of clues
- Effective communication skills to interview and interrogate victim families, witnesses, and suspects
- The temperament to tackle different high-stress situations and make decisions quickly
- Ability to adapt to different situations, think on feet, and cope with dynamic and rapidly evolving situations- as a part of a team or independently
- Give attention to the tiniest details to analyze every piece of evidence and document thoroughly
- Strong nerves to cope with the most horrific homicide cases
- Have knowledge of the legal procedures and regulations relevant to different kinds of cases
While it is important to have strong nerves and maintain a strong composure in even the most stressful situations, homicide detectives must also have the ability to show compassion and empathy, particularly toward victims and their families.
As a homicide detective, you will also be required to maintain documentation and prepare reports; hence it is important that your management and organization skills are on point. In some situations, homicide detectives may also be counseled for media management, depending on the nature of their role or the case they are assigned to.
Homicide Detective Career Path & Opportunities
As suggested earlier, homicide detectives begin their careers by working as police officers where they work their way up, while gaining valuable expertise and experience that is useful from a future perspective.
They can work in different law enforcement agencies including federal, state, or local agencies. As a homicide detective, you may be employed in different departments, offices, or state or federal agencies like the DEA or FBI. Alternatively, you may get to work in a particular unit within any of these agencies like cold case department or homicide squads etc.
Career Advancement
As a homicide detective, you can leverage advancement opportunities depending on your performance and track record, and get promoted to higher ranks like sergeants, lieutenants, or captaincy. While these promotions translate into more responsibilities and an increase in the complexity of the job, they also imply a higher salary.
You also have the opportunity to specialize in other law enforcement areas like undercover work, intelligence, or forensics. Opting for such a career path can lead to more lucrative career opportunities for you. If you opt out of working with a law enforcement agency, you can work as a consultant privately or as a part of a private investigative firm.
As you can see there are multiple career paths and opportunities that become available when you pursue a career as a homicide detective.
Homicide Detective Job Outlook
According to the US Bureau of Labor & Statistics, the median annual salary for detectives and criminal investigators in May 2022 was $86,820, which is fairly above the median salary for all workers at $46,310 in May 2022. Thus while the job is challenging, the compensation is well above the average.
The stats by the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics also suggest that the overall employment of homicide detectives and police officers is estimated to grow by 3% between 2022 and 2032. For every an average of 64,500 job openings is forecasted as the majority of openings will most likely be intended for replacement of existing workforce who will either retire, exit by choice, or get transferred to a different field.
However, it is worth mentioning that these forecasts are contingent on the respective hiring budgets of different states and an increase or decrease in crime rates in the respective states.
Final Thoughts
Each step involved in becoming a homicide detective as mentioned in this post is important and paves the way for you to pursue a successful career while the skills strengthen your position and ensure professional success.
Becoming a homicide detective can be rewarding and exciting and if you have the passion to contribute to your community, this career gives you the best opportunity. While a career in law enforcement or criminal justice is not without risks, it can be highly gratifying and opens many avenues for you to explore.