Criminal Justice and Legal Degrees
Find Schools your Area:
Home List of Careers Online Schools Schools by State Complete List of Schools
Online Schools
Degree Types
Canadian Schools
Schools By State
Paralegal Schools By State
Paralegal Schools
Selected Cities

Private Criminal Investigators Lead Lives of Crime-Fighting Intrigue

Career Overview
Are you a quick-thinking individual attracted to the field of law enforcement who doesn't mind taking risks in order to get to the bottom of a mystery? If so, you may want to consider training to become a private criminal investigator.

Criminal investigators often work for law firms or lawyers. They assist in gathering and interpreting facts, serving legal documents, locating witnesses, interviewing police and informants, and preparing criminal defenses. A private criminal investigator may also collect information on litigants and testify in court. They must be always mindful of the law when conducting investigations, respecting privacy laws and collecting information in a manner admissible in court.

Educational & Salary Information
Private criminal investigators arrive at their occupation from all kinds of backgrounds, and there exists no minimum educational requirement for those employed in the field. Many have previous experience as paralegals or in some military/government intelligence/law enforcement capacity, while others enter the field right out of college. Regardless of your background, know that successful private criminal investigators share a few things in common:
  1. College degrees. Most have one, and a bachelor's is the most typical.
  2. Licensure. Currently, 43 states and the District of Columbia require private criminal investigators to be licensed.
  3. Extensive on-the-job experience. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that this is the single-greatest source of an investigator's training.


If you decide to pursue formal education, the BLS recommends obtaining a degree in criminal justice, political science, computer science, or law. 2008 BLS reports indicate that private criminal investigators earn a mean annual wage of $46,480.
Find Schools your Area:
Programs
Articles
Career Information