Violent Crimes: Picking an Investigative Field

Picking an Investigative Field: Violent Crimes When it comes to the selection of an investigative field, we all have a wide range of fields to choose from. These include, but they are not limited to, violent crimes, property crimes, sex crimes, narcotics, etc. If I were to pick one of these, I would settle on violent crimes.

Violent crimes are, as elucidated in the UCR (Uniform Crime Reporting) Program, and as described by the FBI (2015), "are those offenses which involve force or threat of force," and they include sex offenses, suicide, assault and battery, robbery with violence, as well as homicide. As would be the case in any other career field, the relevance of adequate preparations in this particular investigative field cannot be overstated. Personally, I would prepare for this job by, amongst other things, understanding the nature of violent crimes -- i.e.

what violent crimes entail. On this front, I would focus on gaining deeper and broader understanding of such crimes as firearm violations, serious assaults, and suicides. I would also do a lot of preparation by teaching myself how to handle intense pressure and stress. This is particularly the case given that the real life job of a violent crimes investigator is not as fun-filled as has been portrayed in the movies. The job is likely to involve long working hours and intense investigative moments.

Other skills I would be keen on developing include report writing, record keeping, as well as good communication skills. In my own opinion, violent crimes investigation is extremely important for the sake of not only the country's internal security, but also for purposes of the maintenance of law and order. Data released by the FBI indicates that although violent crimes have been on a downward trend during the last one decade, instances of violent crime still remain high.

For instance, crime data from the FBI indicates that "an estimated 1,246,248 violent crimes occurred nationwide" in 2010 (FBI, 2015). That figure, in my opinion, is too high. The investigative specialty I have selected would come in handy in reducing such insane figures associated with violent crime. This is particularly the case given the impact violent has on victims -- with some of those who fall victim to this kind of crime being killed or maimed. I am of the opinion that investigators should specialize. Specializing allows investigators to refine.