Are you inspired from Sherlock Holmes?  Do you want to solve mysteries hidden in cases?  Is it your dream job to be involved in investigations and enjoy different scenarios? Do you want new experiences with brain storming? Than homicide detective job is surely for you.

A homicide detective is a detective in law enforcement institutions and solve different cases through investigations and evidence analysis.

Facts About Homicide Detective

The homicide detectives work for law enforcement agencies on murder cases. During the process of investigation the homicide detectives use various techniques and conduct interviews. The detective might also work on evidence and fingerprints at the crime scene in order to have more accurate results about the suspects.

The job of homicide detectives is quite interesting as the detectives have to deal with different kinds of situations every day. In this article we will be go through some interesting facts about the job of homicide detective.

Daily routine

A homicide detective usually has to work for nine hours a day and the weekends are off. The working hours also depend on the state in which a detective works and the case he’s currently dealing. However the senior detectives like homicide detectives supervisor are always on call.

The crimes usually do not happen during business hours. They usually happen between 10 PM to 3 Am. Upon the report of crime, the homicide detective reaches the crime scene and asses if more detective are to be called.

The tasks of a homicide detective on crime scene are:

• Locating and interviewing the witnesses.
• Re-canvassing the crime scene for additional witnesses and evidences
• Locating and downloading surveillance footage
• Searching through criminal data bases
• Meeting with other law enforcement officers who have expertise in the area where crime was committed.

A good day for a detective is when he has collected enough evidence and processed it in such a way that he can catch the suspect or file a case against him. The homicide detectives interview the suspects and bring him or her to a point where he admits his or her crime. The homicide detectives feel special about these days because they have satisfactory answers for the families whose loved one were murdered.

What has changed over time for homicide detectives

The biggest change that took place in the past two decades for the homicide detectives is technology. In early 1990’s the detectives did not had computers. All the paper work had to be done by hand.

Initially there was just blood typing but now the detectives have the DNA testing, which is handy tool in identifying the suspects. The surveillance camera’s is another technological advancement that has made the job of homicide detectives much easier.

Difficult aspects of the job of Homicide detectives

The homicide detectives are dedicated personals in law enforcement agencies. They work hard to get the cases solved. Yet the bitter reality is that they cannot solve the cases without the help of community.

The homicide detectives are often being criticized for not being able to solve the cases. It is true that every murder case is not solved but it does not mean that work has not been done on it. Every year the detectives solved up to sixty percent of the cases.

Working in the field

The homicide detectives work on crime scene and look for evidence. The homicide detectives have the ability to look for small details. The detectives find leads in such things that are often being ignored by normal person. So when working on crime scene, the homicide detectives are in search of clues and lead which they can use to take the case in a certain direction.

Working in Office

The homicide detectives work in office too. The prepare reports which can be used in court of law. The detectives also have write ups which help them in determining the suspect by using the leads that they have collected from the crime scene.

Collaborating with the experts

The homicide detectives need the help of experts in solving the case. Therefore they collaborate with the experts from different fields.

A homicide detective will need the help of following experts for analyzing the evidence:

• DNA specialist
• Medical examiners
• Ballistic experts
• Forensic Anthropologists
• Entomologists

These experts conduct the tests on the samples that were collected from the crime scene. Thus having strong collaboration with these experts will help a homicide detective in solving the case.

A homicide detective collect information on cases through investigation,  interviewing witnesses , collecting evidence and than analyzing it. They collect data on cases, make reports and try to find facts about the case.

The investigation of homicide detective can lead to arrest of convicted person and he may assist the proceedings of case in court to make sure that case is well followed and justice is provided.

Conditions can be tough during investigation so a homicide detective must be prepared for any situation.

A homicide detective must be very skilled person. You need to put not only physical but also mental efforts in investigations. A person with rational thinking and excellent communication skills can be best suited for the job.

Homicide detectives are employed by federal, state or local law enforcement agencies all over US.

The geographical locations of agency decides whether the detective will cover the jurisdiction of whole agency or only area of it.

Detective must be fit to perform duties and tasks as this work requires both emotional and physical strength.

Before you can become a homicide detective there are several stages in your career you must go through. You need minimum high school diploma or an associate degree and experience as sworn law enforcement officer to become homicide detective.You may also join after bachelor’s degree for better future and career growth.

Homicide detectives may also be called

Police detectives

Homicide detectives

Criminal investigators

Mostly police officers are promoted as detectives. A detective must receive training of police officer,  crime scene investigators and sheriff. The job requires all these skills combined in one person.

Training gives you better learning of field experience and how to tackle the tricky situations.

Some initial training is necessary to know the basics of job and further training may be provided for extra skill enhancement.

Training in police academies may varies in different states but the techniques must be learned for better knowledge

Other than degree,  few additional skills will be helpful in job.

Strong Communication skills are important for homicide detectives as they have to interview different people. And it requires confidence along with questioning skills. Handling different people can be tricky.

Patience is a key to success. Sometimes your stamina is tested again and again and you have to remain patient. Investigation and surveillance may also need lot of time.

Strong emotional stability is highly needed in job. A person must be able to handle stress and emotional ups and down. You must have to act rational and remain objective.

Being realistic is very much required in homicide detective job. You can’t solve cases quickly or you can’t be judgmental on the basis of pressure from homicide victim’s relatives and friends. You have to remain in boundaries and set realistic goals and targets to solve the cases.

Military experience can be of great benefit.

According to bureau of labor statistics homicide detectives earn annual wage of $82,000 approximately.

Their salary also depends on their geographical location.

Educational degree, experience and skills also add up in promotion and salary of an individual.

More than 53,000 vacancies are going to be introduced in US in coming decade. And job growth is expected to increase by 7% in next 5-6 years.

States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State	Employment	Employment per thousand jobs	Location quotient	Hourly mean wage	Annual mean wage
Texas	15,930	1.32	1.84	$38.44	$79,950
California	11,250	0.66	0.93	$51.50	$107,120
New York	8,880	0.95	1.32	$43.87	$91,250
Florida	6,600	0.77	1.07	$36.81	$76,560
Arizona	5,810	2.08	2.91	$39.33	$81,810

States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State	Employment	Employment per thousand jobs	Location quotient	Hourly mean wage	Annual mean wage
District of Columbia	3,050	4.28	5.98	$58.87	$122,460
Arizona	5,810	2.08	2.91	$39.33	$81,810
New Mexico	1,610	1.98	2.77	$37.45	$77,890
Texas	15,930	1.32	1.84	$38.44	$79,950
New York	8,880	0.95	1.32	$43.87	$91,250

Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Metropolitan area	Employment	Employment per thousand jobs	Location quotient	Hourly mean wage	Annual mean wage
Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ	870	26.99	37.76	$37.75	$78,530
Laredo, TX	1,270	12.76	17.85	$39.08	$81,280
El Centro, CA	620	10.56	14.78	$40.97	$85,210
Las Cruces, NM	590	8.44	11.81	$39.76	$82,700
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX	770	5.57	7.79	$40.55	$84,340
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	1,400	5.36	7.50	$37.10	$77,160
El Paso, TX	1,620	5.30	7.41	$40.45	$84,140
Tucson, AZ	1,740	4.71	6.59	$39.87	$82,930
Brunswick, GA	190	4.42	6.18	$57.82	$120,260
Bellingham, WA	290	3.24	4.54	$48.98	$101,880

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2018 wage data  and 2018-2028 employment projections . “Projected growth” represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2018-2028). “Projected job openings” represent openings due to growth and replacement.

This Job requires a lot of time and if any one is not ready to give full time to this job,  he should probably not even think about joining it.

Apart from duty hours, homicide detective job can demand tough routine to solve cases. A person may have to spend hours in investigation and countless sleepless nights to solve the mysteries of case.

If any one is not willing to give their hundred percent to this job. Than we doubt , you should not even consider it as a career choice.

A person having keen interest and required skills will enjoy doing this job for sure.

If anyone is interested in homicide detective job,  following career choices must be considered

Additional Resources:

Top Ranked Police Academies in United States

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME POLICE OFFICER ? FULL GUIDE

How to Become A Private Investigator Salary Career 2020 FULL GUIDE

Top 15 Most Useful Criminal Justice Major Full Guide Requirements, Salary, Jobs, Internship, Top Colleges.

References:

• International Homicide Investigators Association
• National Homicide Investigators Association
• Southeastern Homicide Investigators Association

 Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, Police and Detectives: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/police-and-detectives.htm