Changing Careers to Crime Analysis

I recently decided to start a new career in crime analysis.  In hopes that it may help others who are considering a similar path, I am going to share my experience with changing careers.

After having been home for several years raising my children, I decided I was ready to jump into a career again.  However, this time I wanted to switch directions and work in a field that had always interested me . . . Criminal Justice.  I spent ten years working at a software company testing financial software, assisting with training documentation and working with clients.  My motivation to switch to crime analysis was a desire to develop a career in which I could build on my existing education and skills as well as spend time doing something I enjoy that is worthwhile and productive.

Crime Analysis

My interest in criminal justice and law enforcement stems from my family background.  A few of my family members work in the criminal justice arena (police force and legal system) and a few landed on the wrong side of the law.  This family history has always intrigued me, which naturally led me to my choice in becoming a crime analyst. Crime analysis is the systematic study of crime and disorder problems along with police-related issues such as sociodemographic, spatial, and temporal factors, to assist police in criminal apprehension, crime reductions, crime prevention and evaluation.

My interest in crime, trends, numbers and statistics, plays to my analytical side and my problem solving skills.  It’s like constantly working on putting puzzle pieces together (unlike the forensic focus on television shows such as CSI: Miami).

Now, how do I get there?  I began by researching this career online to find some detailed information such as training requirements, growth potential, etc.  Here are a few websites I found to be helpful:

• Legal Criminal Justice Schools
• Bright Hub
• Massachusetts Association of Crime Analysts

Once I gathered enough information regarding this career choice, I decided to the best place to start was to begin with my education.

Education

I enrolled in a local community college’s Crime Analyst Certification program.  I also decided it would be beneficial to volunteer at a local police district while in school to obtain hands on experience.  The Denver Police Department provided such an opportunity.  After stressing my interests and goals during my interview, the officer in charge of volunteers placed me directly in their Data Analysis Unit where I immediately gained experience mapping crimes.

Crime analysis is a fairly new field, and training in the field is not widely available. Many criminal justice programs focus on police work and offer courses focusing on problems in law enforcement. I found just a few colleges offering certification programs, one of which was offered online.  However, the programs I found differed in the courses they offered, adding to my confusion as to exactly what is required to become an analyst.  I overcame this hurdle after discovering the International Association of Crime Analysts (IACA).  The IACA provides a wealth of information regarding available training, the certification requirements, software, conferences, etc. The Colorado Crime Analysis Association (CCAA) is another helpful site on the local level.  I was able to join both associations through the Denver Police Department.  My joining CCAA has enabled me to network with various agencies and become involved in future training needs.

Experience and Skill Requirements

Researching current crime analyst job postings was another great way to get a handle on education and skill requirements.  Simply Hired is very helpful.  Typically crime analysis involves some familiarity with law enforcement terminology, applied statistics, social science and geographical mapping. This may include subjects such as psychological profiling and intelligence analysis.  Although the education requirements vary slightly from posting to posting most prefer a bachelor’s degree with emphasis on social sciences, criminology, statistics or a related field.  Just a few of the postings mention certification.  As far as experience requirements, most postings are looking for 1-2 years professional level experience in law enforcement environment analyzing crime data and mapping with Geographical Information Systems (GIS).  GIS is a software tool used to modify, visualize, query and analyze geographic and tabular data.  The skill requirements include knowledge of computer data systems, statistical analysis and mapping software programs; ability to identify and organize data for analytical purposes and present data; and proficiency in the use of personal computers in a Window, MS Office operating environment.

Salary & Growth Potential

I found PayScale to be a helpful site that runs compensation surveys.  It estimates a yearly salary range of $30,000 to $80,000 for crime analysts.  The large range may be due to the fact that law enforcement salaries are linked to civil service salaries.  In some areas of the U.S. civil service salaries are low, but in major metropolitan areas, where law enforcement may want and need civilian technical support, salaries are higher.  Indeed reports that the average annual salary for crime analysts is $57,000 while research done by  Legal-Criminal-Justice-Schools found that crime analyst salaries range from $28,000 to well over $66,000 a year depending on experience, education, location and related factors.  Based on twenty-three IACA postings within the last five years, the average salary range for a crime analyst is $48,589 – $64,317.  According to Legal-Criminal-Justice-Schools.com, the job outlook for crime analysts is promising with demand for formally educated crime analysts increasing over the last decade. The focus on the recession has created skepticism around certain career fields, but crime is prevalent in any economy and the need for law enforcement professionals and those who can help fight crime will continue to be in demand.

Now What?

I stumbled on an internship opportunity with Bair Software through IACA and am thoroughly enjoying it.  I’m gaining valuable hands-on experience while learning a new suite of applications specific to crime analysis.  Working with others who have a law enforcement background, develop software and train is incredibly beneficial as I learn invaluable bits of information on a weekly basis that wouldn’t be part of formal classes.  I’m on a strong path and look forward to developing this career as a crime analyst.