Q&A for How to Be a Detective

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  • Question
    If I'm a detective in one state can I move to another?
    Saul Jaeger, MS
    Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department
    Saul Jaeger is a Police Officer and Captain of the Mountain View, California Police Department (MVPD). Saul has over 17 years of experience as a patrol officer, field training officer, traffic officer, detective, hostage negotiator, and as the traffic unit’s sergeant and Public Information Officer for the MVPD. At the MVPD, in addition to commanding the Field Operations Division, Saul has also led the Communications Center (dispatch) and the Crisis Negotiation Team. He earned an MS in Emergency Services Management from the California State University, Long Beach in 2008 and a BS in Administration of Justice from the University of Phoenix in 2006. He also earned a Corporate Innovation LEAD Certificate from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 2018.
    Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department
    Expert Answer
    Normally, no. Every state has their own laws, and it's your job to be familiar with the laws if you're in law enforcement. It may be easier to become a detective in another state if you've already worked as a detective somewhere else, but I it won't be automatic.
  • Question
    What if I am 8 years old?
    Community Answer
    Just practice observing people, and take a lot of notes. That way you'll have experience when you're finally old enough to be a professional.
  • Question
    How can an innocent person fail a lie detector test?
    Community Answer
    The lie detector test goes off of a person's heart rate. If someone is nervous or excited during the test, their heart rate might be faster, thus causing them to fail.
  • Question
    Is it easy to become a detective?
    Community Answer
    You would need permits and training. You also need work, perhaps for the government or something closely related. Don't give up though! If you really want to be one go ahead and look into it with research and seek advice from a careers counselor. You could also talk to real life detectives to ask how they became one and what the work is like.
  • Question
    How long does a detective study?
    Community Answer
    It depends. One could be an amateur or professional. You need skills, not degrees!
  • Question
    Can I become a detective without being a police officer beforehand?
    Community Answer
    You can become a private detective, but police force detectives are promoted from within.
  • Question
    Does gender matters in this type of career choice? What if a female wanted to work in the force?
    Community Answer
    No, gender does not matter in this or almost any career choice, at least in most developed countries. If your country is more restrictive of women, consider moving somewhere else to pursue your career.
  • Question
    Can I be a detective if I have biology as my subject?
    Community Answer
    It depends on the hirer's opinion. More than likely, to play it safe you should earn another degree such as criminal justice.
  • Question
    Do I need science as a subject in 12th grade to become a detective?
    Community Answer
    The subjects you take in high school don't really matter, as long as you fulfill your high school's graduation requirements and go to college afterward.
  • Question
    Do I need to be good at math to be a detective?
    Community Answer
    It's probably a good idea if you know math at least decently. Being a detective is more about human interaction though rather than any mathematics.
  • Question
    How a child can be a detective?
    Community Answer
    A child cannot be a detective, but you can practice skills that will help you become a detective when you are an adult.
  • Question
    How many years do you have to go to college to become a detective?
    Community Answer
    A bachelor's degree normally takes four years to complete.
  • Question
    What do I need on my resume for a detective position?
    Community Answer
    To become a detective, you must have experience as a patrol officer first.
  • Question
    Can a person from another country become a detective in the United States?
    Community Answer
    Yes, as long as that person is legally allowed to work in the U.S.
  • Question
    Can I start practicing if I have an A+ in all subjects?
    Community Answer
    You have to be an adult to be a detective, and you have to complete all of the requirements. It's great that you have good grades, but you still have to complete the rest of your education, and then job-related training, before you can get a career.
  • Question
    Are courses in law and finance helpful for becoming a detective?
    Community Answer
    Sure. Psycology and human behavior classes can be helpful, too.
  • Question
    Is a detective career a stressful job?
    Community Answer
    It is. Being exposed to corpses on the crime scene and losing sleep as you try to solve cases can be very stressful.
  • Question
    Can I use something else for taking fingerprints?
    Community Answer
    You can also use talcum powder to take fingerprints, but it shows prints on glass objects only.
  • Question
    Do you have to be physical fit to become a detective?
    Community Answer
    You need to be a police officer before you can become a detective, so you'll need to graduate from the police academy. You'll need to be physically fit to get through police academy, and it is recommended that you stay in shape as both a police officer and a detective.
  • Question
    Do you have to be a police officer to be a detective?
    Community Answer
    Detectives are usually a branch of your local police department. They are in charge of investigating crimes.
  • Question
    How can I become a private detective?
    Community Answer
    Read this: https://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Private-Investigator
  • Question
    Do I need to be good at science?
    Community Answer
    In some cases yes, but in others no. It definitely can help you to be a better detective, but you can still be a good one if you are not the best at science.
  • Question
    What personality traits are needed to be a detective?
    Community Answer
    You have to be very logical and good at critical thinking, intelligent, persuasive, and diplomatic. You have to know how to talk to different kinds of people to get the information you want.
  • Question
    Is being a detective a dangerous job?
    Community Answer
    It depends on the type of work you'll be doing as a detective, but generally speaking, being a detective can sometimes put you in dangerous situations.
  • Question
    How much would I make from this job?
    Community Answer
    It majorly depends on where you are currently living and planning on pursuing this career. In the US, an average detective earns around $60,000 to $65,000 dollars per year.
  • Question
    Are police considered detectives?
    Community Answer
    Police can gather information to help detectives, and can even think about cases themselves, but are not on the same level as detectives, who are given more power and resources with which to work.
  • Question
    Does graphology apply to observation skills?
    Community Answer
    Actually, graphology has already been tagged as a pseudo-science, so while interesting, it is not useful. Simply observing people's body language would be better.
  • Question
    If I have glasses, can I still become a detective?
    Community Answer
    Yes, your glasses should not be a hindrance in pursuing your career as a detective.
  • Question
    How old do you have to be?
    Community Answer
    As you have to be out of college and with a degree in criminal justice, your minimum age is probably about 20 or older.
  • Question
    Is science important for being a detective?
    Community Answer
    Yes, especially if you are becoming a detective who handles cases like big murders. Things like forensics, ballistics, and other sorts of analysis rely heavily on science.
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