Description
Conduct criminal investigations into suspected violations of law; gather and analyze evidence, interview victims, witnesses, and suspects, coordinate with forensic specialists and prosecutors, and prepare cases for prosecution.
- • Assess victims for signs of life and urgent medical needs.
- • Interview complainants, witnesses, and suspects; record statements.
- • Secure deceased victims and preserve evidence until the medical examiner arrives.
- • Document case progress, maintain suspect and case files, and submit reports to support warrants.
- • Prepare charging documents and case materials per legal procedures.
- • Collect, preserve, and process evidence; maintain chain of custody and manage disposition.
- • Obtain an incident briefing from the officer in charge without disturbing evidence.
- • Identify, mark, photograph, and measure scene evidence such as prints, tracks, blood, and bullets.
- • Write detailed investigative reports and case summaries.
- • Search agency and government records to identify and locate suspects.
- • Control the scene; separate and hold witnesses.
- • Coordinate with forensic labs on submissions, testing, and results.
- • Review police reports to determine additional leads and follow-up work.
- • Corroborate facts through interviews, surveillance, and records analysis.
- • Draft, obtain, and serve search and arrest warrants.
- • Re-interview or observe subjects to verify statements provided to patrol officers.
- • Define case issues, offense elements, and required evidence.
- • Participate in arrests and assist with tactical operations as assigned.
- • Lead systematic scene searches and assign tasks to team members.
- • Request medical aid for injured persons and facilitate collection of medical statements.
- • Notify supervisors of the situation and request additional resources.
- • Testify before grand juries and in court on investigative findings.
- • Establish and maintain scene perimeters and entry/exit logs.
- • Notify the medical examiner or prosecutor's office as required.
- • Locate, collect, and process latent prints and other trace evidence.
- • Plan investigation scope, priorities, and timelines.
- • Conduct physical and electronic surveillance to identify suspects and activities.
- • Liaise with local, state, and federal partners to share intelligence and coordinate actions.
- • Conduct undercover operations and monitor authorized intercepts.
- • Analyze records to link people, places, and events in the chain of evidence.
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
