A crime analyst is a member of the criminal justice system who is responsible for collecting, analyzing and interpreting data related to crime and criminal behavior. Often, criminal analysts will identify patterns and trends that can assist law enforcement officials in solving crimes or even preventing them. You might be wondering how to become a crime analyst. Here’s more insight into how a passion for problem-solving and an interest in criminal justice can ladder up to a rewarding career.
What is a crime analyst?
A crime analyst is part data scientist, part investigator and part community advocate. Analysts gather data of all sorts, like crime and arrest reports, information from public records, and other inputs found in law enforcement databases. Crime analysts also provide support to law enforcement officials in investigating crimes as they unfold — like helping to identify potential suspects, patterns of behavior and linking crimes together. Additionally, crime analysts serve their communities by helping law enforcement communicate with citizens in a transparent, collaborative manner.
What does a crime analyst do?
When considering how to become a crime analyst, know that there’s no set structure in the day-to-day work schedule for most analysts. Routines may vary, but generally and broadly speaking, crime analysts provide law enforcement agencies and public policymakers with the data and insights that improve and enhance public safety operations. Through statistical analysis, data science and data visualization, crime analysts develop strategies that help law enforcement agencies enhance crime prevention initiatives, community engagement and public policy.
Skills of a crime analyst
A crime analyst should master many skills — technical, analytical and interpersonal — to be successful in their role. Being able to think strategically and critically to understand data and solve problems is critical. Because so much is on the line with this job, a crime analyst must have strong attention to detail — an oversight can be a costly mistake. Because crime analysts work across departments and with many different types of people, having good written and verbal communication skills is very useful. And of course, a solid foundation and understanding of how the criminal justice system operates is a must-have for this role.
Requirements to be a crime analyst
When considering a career in crime analysis, a great place to begin is by obtaining a bachelor’s or master’s degree in criminal justice, criminology, sociology, data analytics or a related field. Throughout their degree program, students gain hands-on experience and receive instruction from seasoned experts in the field. Depending on the location and particular role, some agencies may require past experience in law enforcement, while others may provide on-the-job training to qualified candidates.
Types of criminal analysis jobs
Because the criminal justice field is wide-ranging, there are similarly many different types of jobs to choose from when considering how to become a crime analyst. Each job has its own type of specialization, but they all require candidates with sharp skills and an ability to lead and help others. Some types of criminal analysis jobs include: crime research analyst, cybercrime analyst, crime scene investigator, homeland security and border security analyst and criminal intelligence analyst.
How to get experience in crime analytics
When it comes to getting experience in crime analytics, there are a few approaches. One option is to work in law enforcement, starting at the entry level and gaining experience over time. Another option is to obtain a bachelor’s or master’s degree, which provides rich opportunities for internships, hands-on learning and network building, and provides an enduring foundation to build a career upon.
Summary
Because crime analysts play a critical role in assisting both law enforcement and the judiciary, the need for professionals in this field continues to increase. For example, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that demand for forensic science technicians is expected to grow 13 percent by 2032, which is much faster than average across all occupations. As technology evolves and agencies take a more data-driven approach to solving challenges within criminal justice, the need for skilled crime analysts will only grow.
Tiffin University is a great place to begin a career as a crime analyst. Here, students can earn a degree in criminal justice, criminology, sociology, psychology and data analysis — all programs that are highly valuable in this career. Earning a degree enhances your qualifications and levels up the career prospects for crime analysts.