If you are thinking about whether a career in the criminal justice field would be right for you, you might feel overwhelmed by the number of career options out there. Due to the nature of this field, most careers along this path require rigorous study, training, and qualifications to ensure you are the best at what you do when it comes to helping prevent crime and implementing justice.
A crime analyst is just one example of the great many rewarding career options in this field. If you have been wondering whether a career as a crime analyst would be right for you, read on.
What Are The Top Crime-Related Careers You Can Go Into?
If you are wondering whether a crime analyst position would be suited to you simply because it is crime-related, take a look at some of the top options for working in the criminal justice system. The following are some of the highest-paid or most in-demand positions in addition to the role of a crime analyst.
-
Lawyer
-
Private Investigator
-
Police Officer
-
Forensics Analyst
-
Federal Marshal
-
Probation Officer
-
Paralegal
-
Corrections Officer
5 Key Personality Traits Of Individuals Working In Criminal Justice
With every job, a certain set of personality characteristics are best suited to it, and a crime-related role is no different. It can be a demanding career field, naturally, when solving or preventing crime and seeking justice.
Certain personality traits would best complement this career field, so if you already have these, it can be a great sign that you are off to a good start in wanting to work within the criminal justice field.
-
Courage. Some criminal justice roles may see you needing to be more courageous than others, especially if working on the frontlines, such as a police officer or detective. Many criminal justice roles will also see you putting yourself in danger of moving into unknown situations to protect and serve, so having the courage to do your duty no matter what will be necessary. Even roles unrelated to the frontlines, such as a lawyer, require some fortitude to deal with difficult people or cases.
-
Patience. Some areas of criminal justice can be very monotonous. Focus on the tiniest details can be vital for some roles, and also specific procedures, cases, or investigations may take a very long time without gleaning any results. Therefore patience is key for someone wanting to work within the criminal justice field.
-
Empathy. Many roles within this field will see you working with many people and protecting other people daily. Due to the nature of this field, it is likely these people will also be suffering, in need of support, or potentially in danger. Empathy is crucial to understanding those you’re working with, especially if working as a detective and needing to understand people better and be sensitive to a wide variety of situations.
-
Logic. There is no doubt that any criminal field requires a lot of logic and a keen mind. This doesn’t only mean intelligence but also means the ability to assess a situation in the best way and think logically about everything you do, whether it’s with data as a crime analyst or with evidence as a detective. Logic also means thinking about a situation without bias and surveying the situation as a whole.
-
Honesty. You will be working in a field that relies on doing the right thing, after all, so honesty and integrity will be essential. You need to maintain a good sense of right and wrong and apply that to everything you do to follow the law and strict procedures.
If you do not have all of these personality traits, it does not mean that a career in the criminal justice field would not be suitable for you. It may be that some of these traits can be developed over time with experience, though you may want to look into how you can build or grow certain areas of your personality to prepare yourself for such a role.
What Does A Crime Analyst Do?
It is important to understand the day-to-day life of a crime analyst to know whether it is the right role for you. Of course, you can research the overview of what a crime analyst is responsible for, but it is only through experiencing the day-to-day activities that you will understand what you can expect from this role.
You may be thinking you will be on the scene and within the action of a crime scene or within locations where crime is taking place. However, crime analysts focus more on data, which means you should have an interest in data and statistics as well as serving the legal system and helping to solve crimes.
Crime analysts are responsible for gathering and compiling data from crime reports and then analyzing them to understand trends and relevant information. This provides relevant information and conclusions for other law officials to do their jobs in an improved way and reduce crime overall.
Advantages Of Becoming A Crime Analyst
Use Of Modern Technology
The advancement of modern technology, online systems, and the internet means that the role of a crime analyst is more relevant than ever. You are supported by advancing technology and assuring yourself within a field that is needed due to the development of this technology and its relevant data and statistics. As modern technology is only growing and getting bigger, there is no doubt that your role working with this kind of data will not become obsolete.
You Will Be Helping People
Just because this role does not see you on the frontlines protecting those in need does not mean you will not be providing an integral role in reducing crime and people’s safety overall. This role is vital in helping the community become a safer place, so you’ll know that everything you do is for a better and safer world.
It Is Secure
A role like this will see you with job security because it is such an essential role. So, if you can gain the relevant qualifications and experience, you can work productively within this career field knowing that your job is a secure one and there’s a potential for development, if that is what you want in the future.
Disadvantages of Becoming a Crime Analyst
Involves Working With A Large Volume Of Data
You would have to be sure that you are confident, comfortable, and happy working with large volumes of data daily. For those who are not thrilled by the idea of sitting at a computer or working with technology and data all the time, this may eventually become tedious or even difficult. Even if you are qualified in data analytics or a relevant qualification, you might not realize how much data you are working with until you sit down every day to do this job. Be sure you are confident in working with large volumes of data and understanding patterns.
It May Be Demanding
Any career within the criminal field will naturally be demanding, with extended hours combined with the pressures of wanting to fight and solve crime or protect others. As a crime analyst, you may be working long hours, or feel inordinate amounts of pressure to interpret data and get the results you want and need.
You Will Need A Degree
This is not necessarily a disadvantage, but it is something important to think about if you are considering a career switch or you are considering becoming a crime analyst at a later stage in life. This career path requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, and returning to education to earn one could be a disadvantage for some working full time or later in life facing the prospect of returning to education.
For a successful journey, you will need to be sure you can commit the time to earn a related degree for this career field and then go on to developing your skills and searching for an available role.
The Field May Be Competitive
Lots of crime-related roles will be competitive because they are important, secure, and well-paid roles. This means that even with a relevant degree, you may be up against a lot of competition when it comes to seeking out and earning a position as a crime analyst. So, be sure you are prepared for a competitive job market.
To know whether a career as a crime analyst is right for you, you need to first consider your personality traits and ideals regarding the criminal justice system. Being able to cope with stress, demanding situations and work with integrity, patience and honesty are crucial. You also need to be sure you can commit to the time and study required to train for this role and understand what a crime analyst specifically does daily to know whether this is the right working environment for you.
