Expert: Robin Sexton - 5/1/2008

Question
hello; there i have always been interested in detective work & the law. But i have chosen homicide; how many years of schooling do i have to go threw? && what kind of training is there?

Thanks so much!

Answer
Ashlee,

So you have decided on a career that is frustrating, exhausting, stressful and will age you pretty fast.  Congratulations !!

If you look back through the questions in this field from all the Experts you will see this is a very common question.  The basics are pretty straight forward.  A four year degree is pretty standard for all agencies.  The major is pretty much your choice, anything will pretty much suffice it doesn't just have to be criminal justice.  Generally to be strictly a Homicide detective you would have to work in a major urban area.  All agencies that I am familiar with require all investigators to begin as patrol officers,a very important part of the training.  You learn a lot from working patrol.  Homicide investigators  are just a subset of the investigation field.  If selected you will receive a lot of training sponsored by your department.  Then of course the most important part is experience.  The best tool for being an investigator is being able to talk to people, victims, witnesses, suspects.  So pick a major in college you are interested in and excel in that.  Decide what area of the country you want to work in and research the departments in that area and find out what they are looking for in their recruits and apply.

any more questions please feel free to write back

Good Luck

Robin