Assignment 4
Law enforcement has been a prominent profession in communities for centuries. Law enforcement has been an exceptional area of profession for people who want to protect other people. It takes a certain type of person to be able to handle all levels of law enforcement. Police work involving criminal investigation is a key component to solving cases that occur. If criminal investigation was not present there would be a lot more crime, and many cases unsolved.
The history of law enforcement had not consisted of the different divisions and programs that we have today. The program we have today allow police work, and investigation to be done easier than 100 years ago. The criminal investigation division is consistent with criminal cases that are unsolved. The investigation department of crime can collect evidence, and build a case as to what type of crime was committed. They can also determine by looking at evidence if there is any detail that could shine light on what caused the crime, and who may have committed it.
Criminal investigators had not been around as long as other divisions. Many years ago the criminal investigations were ran by police who were on duty. There has not always been an investigation department to handle the crimes that were committed. Before there was a division for crime investigation; police would collect the evidence, assess the scene, and question people to find out more leads to solving the crime.
Police departments were not as established as they are today. The end of the industrial revolution was the start of police force departments. This had made it easier for officers’ to come together and work to solve crime. The police had not had a big force to help in those types of situations in the past. There were not many officers in an area that were able to assist in an investigation case. In that time period police were more hands on, and handled many aspects of investigation, and solving crime. Officers were not as busy dealing with criminals as they are in today’s time period.
Centuries ago there have been people who would investigate a case, and use the only resources they had at the time. The task of solving a crime, and finding out what happened in that crime can take a lot of time and effort. An investigator who wanted to solve cases would have to look at a fingerprint by hand, and compare them to other fingerprints one at a time. It took a long time to compare fingerprints, and there was no guarantee that they would find a match.
“In England around the 18th century was the first police force established” . The police force had been a controversial issue in England, and people did not let it pass at first; because society thought it would be a bad idea. The need for police was desperate due to crime rising in the country. When the act was signed and the police force was allowed to form in the early 1800’s it was helpful. The new police force had only worked at night because the most crime was committed at nighttime.
The Bow Street Runners were people who would go after criminals and apprehend them for the police. The Runners were like Bounty Hunters who were paid by the community with every capture they brought to justice. Later they had their open Police Department and continued apprehending criminals and protecting society.
In history an investigator would work many long hours, and have numerous leads to follow- up on. It took a lot more patients and time to gather this information than it does today. There would need to be a lot of dedication to whom the investigator was, and for the course of action he had chosen in solving cases. Today’s technology has opened a new world in regards to forensics, analysis, and record lookup. In history there were not many records to check, and tools to analyze DNA evidence. The DNA would have been packaged and kept with the case until years went by and the DNA was able to be tested.
The first person on record as a criminal investigator occurred in the mid 1200 century. It was proved that this was wrote in the Cod of Hammurabi. The message was displays that the accused person, and the person accusing can present any evidence of fact to determine guilt.
Another investigator who would assist in solving crime scene cases was in the mid to late 1700s. The investigator would assess a crime, and look for evidence that may have been left by the criminal. “There was not any technology in that era, and the job of solving crime was more complicated” . The hands on experience an investigator had to use was a good way to exceed the expectations of crime solving. It takes a special kind of skill to work crime scenes, and solve them with no technology that we are used too.
Criminal Investigaton Hiring Process
Criminal investigators can be hired on by local law enforcement for government law enforcement. There are criminal investigators who work for the federal government and analyze crimes that are more intense or related. The types of investigations for criminal cases depends on the type of law enforcement that is assisting in the case. If it is a local crime then the local county investigator will be the one to go collect the evidence, and solve the crime.
If the crime is on a Federal level then a more proficient and highly trained individual will come to assist on the case. These types of investigators have the same amount of college education in today’s society, and testing is required to show the knowledge is able to be utilized properly. Once this has occurred and the tests, and college degree is obtained then the person can start applying for criminal investigation positions. A law enforcement agency will perform the interview and hiring process for this position. If the qualifications are met, and the interview goes well then a criminal investigation position could be your new profession.
Criminal investigators have made a positive impact in regards to law enforcement. When criminal investigators was not a recognized position the police officers had to do all the investigating their selves. The need for criminal investigators had flourished over the last 50 years because of the high crime rates, and numerous unsolved cases. “The need for investigators had become a provision in the law enforcement industry” . Before the investigators were an open position in law enforcement; it would take police a long time to solve crimes. Only one man can do so much, and there were times the police did not have the tools to thoroughly investigate a case, or they did not have the time that was needed on the case.
Over the years crime has increased over the years, and the need for investigators to work cases that were unsolved. It was a necessity for a criminal investigator to be hired. The investigator can take the unsolved cases, and work on solving them. The police can use their time to serve and protect the community. They help reduce the work of law enforcement, and assist in putting closure to unsolved criminal cases.
Law enforcement agencies who hire criminal investigators have had a positive experience with the solving of cases. The hiring of investigators also took the work load off of the police force. Investigators are very helpful in taking the time and training to solve cases effectively, and use the resources they have to get it done correctly. The investigators have increased the power of law enforcement, and the numbers of cases solved. They can take their time and look at a case effectively to determine the scenario that had occurred. Police officers had not had that time to thoroughly investigate, and handle hire crime rates.
Criminal investigation has taken a new approach and category to the police force in our country. The asset of criminal investigators have been a huge success, and has shaped the way police solve crimes. The future has improved enormously since investigators became more familiar to the police force. It has changed the past of police work, and will continue to grow in the future of police work.
Criminal Investigations Bring Change
The initiation of criminal investigations have positively brought a great outcome on the police field. They have taken on cases that had occurred 30 years ago, and have been able to go back over the evidence, and solve that case. It may have been from the time the criminal case occurred, but it was finally solved because of the criminal investigator doing their job accurately. The police force would not be able to survive without the criminal investigators, and the investigation that they preform to put the cases to rest, and give family answers in the process.
The criminal investigator has come a long way with the technology that has advanced everything in regards to analyzing cases. The tools and resources that are available in todays’ era are way more advanced than they ever were in the beginning of investigation took place.
A criminal investigator has different qualifications for the position. The difference in the qualifications relate to the positon being held on a federal level or a state level. Federal government investigators are highly skilled because of the different areas of investigation they will need to work. Federal investigators have a high amount of education, training, and needs to have the ability to handle different types of cases, and work effectively on a Government level.
One example of a federal investigator position would be with Homeland Security. The Homeland Security Investigator will handle many different aspects of investigating. “The criminal investigator can utilize all the techniques and qualified training tools to solve cases in the federal field” . The investigators may work with terrorists in regards to finding information and preventing an unwanted terrorist attack. There will also be work in targeting suspects, locating fugitives of justice, protecting the boards from crime, and dealing with evolving high profile crimes.
Criminal Investigation Training Requirements
The education requirements to work as a Criminal Investigator is to have a graduate degree. The GPA required is at least a B average. Experience required is training in the criminal justice processes, and procedures that are needed. Being able to apply and use the laws of civil and criminal cases in all court levels. It is crucial that the investigator can apply the proper language, and format for report writing in the criminal justice field. The person should be able to properly adapt and work the areas of investigation. The investigation process should be easy to complete, and experience in the investigation process is required. The need to be able to do adequate research, and analyzation regarding data and document records lookup. It is preferred that the person has experience in interviewing witnesses, taking statements, process those statements, and asking the proper questions. These qualifications and education requirements may be combined for this position. The requirements for the criminal investigation positon can hold both experience and education as a means of being eligible to apply.
In the state and local investigation field of crime there is qualifications and education requirements that also need to be met. The lower level of criminal investigation is not as complicated as federal investigations. To meet state requirements for criminal investigation education of a four year degree is required. Although a graduate degree would be accepted as well and could compensate for experience. Criminal investigations are to be conducted and processed according to state regulations. The investigator applying for a state position can use experience and education as a combination of requirements. Many of the same expectations that the federal government has is similar to the qualifications the state has regarding knowledge and skill.
The individual who applies for a criminal investigation position should have experience or knowledge of writing reports, taking statements, asking the proper questions, following up on leads, and collecting and maintaining evidence of the case. The person should meet the requirements before applying for this position.
Conclusion
Criminal Investigations had been around for centuries, but was not a necessity for law enforcement as it is today. The investigators have made an enormous impact in the criminal justice field, and has made extensive progress in solving criminal cases. The training and qualification of criminal investigations is needed for this type of position. Investigations have come a long way as technology as improved. This has helped improve solving cases. The positon has a positive impact on law enforcement and the community.
Reference
HS. (2016). Become a Criminal Investigator. Homeland Security, 1-4.
Morgan, S. (2016). Criminal Investigator. Legal Path, 1-3.
Swanson, C. (2011). Origins of the Modern Police and the History of Criminal Investigation. Criminality, 1-8.
Turner, A. (2007). The History of Criminal Investigation. Foundation of Criminal Justice, 1-16.
