Federal Criminal Investigators by Ramon Blas
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What Does a Federal Agent Do?
A federal special agent within the FBI is charged with investigating federal, high-profile, and heinous criminal violations such as kidnapping, bank robberies, white collared crimes, organized crimes, and corruption. Special Agents obtain and verify evidence by interviewing and observing suspects and witnesses. Special Agents maintain constant surveillance on a person of interest. A Special Agent obtain warrants to further investigate suspects. Arrest alleged suspects of criminal violations and testify before grand juries concerning criminal activity investigations.
A federal special agent within the FBI is charged with investigating federal, high-profile, and heinous criminal violations such as kidnapping, bank robberies, white collared crimes, organized crimes, and corruption. Special Agents obtain and verify evidence by interviewing and observing suspects and witnesses. Special Agents maintain constant surveillance on a person of interest. A Special Agent obtain warrants to further investigate suspects. Arrest alleged suspects of criminal violations and testify before grand juries concerning criminal activity investigations.
Qualities to have
Law enforcement is a mixture of blue collared and white collared job duties. There are important qualities to have in the world of law enforcement such as courage, and leadership.
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Education Requirements
Most local law enforcement agencies require their police officers to only have a high school diploma; However, their hiring process is very selective. For example, the Los Angeles Police Department only require a high school diploma, background history of lawful conduct, and U.S residency. However, the FBI require for Special Agents to have a bachelors degree within a range of the following list: Accounting, Finance, Computer Science/Information, Technology Expertise, Engineering Expertise, Foreign Language(s), Intelligence Experience, Law, Law Enforcement/Investigative, and Physical Sciences.
Many people who are interested in Special Agents as a career choice decide to study Criminal Justice. However, it is recommended not to earn a degree in Criminal Justice because a Criminal Justice Degree is not a good back up plan. It may not
Most local law enforcement agencies require their police officers to only have a high school diploma; However, their hiring process is very selective. For example, the Los Angeles Police Department only require a high school diploma, background history of lawful conduct, and U.S residency. However, the FBI require for Special Agents to have a bachelors degree within a range of the following list: Accounting, Finance, Computer Science/Information, Technology Expertise, Engineering Expertise, Foreign Language(s), Intelligence Experience, Law, Law Enforcement/Investigative, and Physical Sciences.
Many people who are interested in Special Agents as a career choice decide to study Criminal Justice. However, it is recommended not to earn a degree in Criminal Justice because a Criminal Justice Degree is not a good back up plan. It may not
Possibly Earned Wages
All white collard federal employees are paid according to the General Schedule pay scale provided by the Office of Personnel Management. The General Schedule starts a GS-1 and has a maximum of GS-15. A Special Agent trainee starts at a GS-10, step 1 pay scale with locality pay and availability pay. Locality pay is the compensation for the relocation, and availability pay is a 25% increase due to their requirement to average a 50-hour work week over the course of the year. Once a trainee finishes the academy he or she can promote according to the GS pay scale. |
Benefits
1) By working for the federal government, you can relocate to different places across the United States or even the world. Not only does the job allow you to relocate, you are given government benefits such as sick days, long vacations, and a pension. In the private sector, not every company gives you a pension. Majority of the time a worker in he private sector must invest in a 401K, and if the 401K does not succeed then he or she is at risk of losing their money.
2) As a special agent you directly help people by arresting those who cause harm to our society. Many people accuse their local law enforcement of not doing a good enough job of arresting gangsters and criminals, despite the police trying the best to their ability. Special agents, or Criminal Investigators, investigate cases like organized crime and try to minimize and deter crime.
3) As a special agent there is a lot of room for job growth. A special agent can transfer to a different department within an agency and live a different career because the agent chose to. A special agent can also transfer to a different agency to enforce federal laws on a different focus. Each federal agency has its own special focus but can collaborate together to investigate any violation.
4) Being a special agent is very unique. A special agent's job is never the same on a day to day bases because special agents investigate current events that are important. One day you can be investigating organized crime such as gangs and the next day be investigating politicians.
5) As a special agent you have an area of expertise that many other people will never achieve. An agent will learn how become the highest level of professional that can solve crimes. A special agent is a well rounded person who can deal with situations that may affect national security, or the well being of the population.
6) Being a special agent is well respected. Many people look down upon law enforcement because it is a blue collard career, however being a law enforcement officer is a challenging career. Special agents are white collared jobs that require an extreme amount of professionalism, and education.
Drawbacks
1) When special agents serve search warrants or make any type of arrest, there is a high risk of danger. Special agents deal with people who hate law enforcement, live criminal lives and make wrong decisions. Special agents lives are in danger.
2) Because special agents work for the federal government, the government can place agents where they are needed the most. For example, if a person has a family and is living in Los Angeles but the government needs to relocate you to Boston. The government will pay for your cost of relocation but your are required to relocate.
3) Special Agents have white collard jobs that require you to be in cubicles most of the time. Being a special agent is not all about flashing badges and guns, and zooming into a smudged fingerprint like in Criminal Minds or Law & Order to find a suspect. This is a drawback because many people have false perceptions of special agents.
1) By working for the federal government, you can relocate to different places across the United States or even the world. Not only does the job allow you to relocate, you are given government benefits such as sick days, long vacations, and a pension. In the private sector, not every company gives you a pension. Majority of the time a worker in he private sector must invest in a 401K, and if the 401K does not succeed then he or she is at risk of losing their money.
2) As a special agent you directly help people by arresting those who cause harm to our society. Many people accuse their local law enforcement of not doing a good enough job of arresting gangsters and criminals, despite the police trying the best to their ability. Special agents, or Criminal Investigators, investigate cases like organized crime and try to minimize and deter crime.
3) As a special agent there is a lot of room for job growth. A special agent can transfer to a different department within an agency and live a different career because the agent chose to. A special agent can also transfer to a different agency to enforce federal laws on a different focus. Each federal agency has its own special focus but can collaborate together to investigate any violation.
4) Being a special agent is very unique. A special agent's job is never the same on a day to day bases because special agents investigate current events that are important. One day you can be investigating organized crime such as gangs and the next day be investigating politicians.
5) As a special agent you have an area of expertise that many other people will never achieve. An agent will learn how become the highest level of professional that can solve crimes. A special agent is a well rounded person who can deal with situations that may affect national security, or the well being of the population.
6) Being a special agent is well respected. Many people look down upon law enforcement because it is a blue collard career, however being a law enforcement officer is a challenging career. Special agents are white collared jobs that require an extreme amount of professionalism, and education.
Drawbacks
1) When special agents serve search warrants or make any type of arrest, there is a high risk of danger. Special agents deal with people who hate law enforcement, live criminal lives and make wrong decisions. Special agents lives are in danger.
2) Because special agents work for the federal government, the government can place agents where they are needed the most. For example, if a person has a family and is living in Los Angeles but the government needs to relocate you to Boston. The government will pay for your cost of relocation but your are required to relocate.
3) Special Agents have white collard jobs that require you to be in cubicles most of the time. Being a special agent is not all about flashing badges and guns, and zooming into a smudged fingerprint like in Criminal Minds or Law & Order to find a suspect. This is a drawback because many people have false perceptions of special agents.
Works Cited
"California CareerZone." Announcements RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2014.
"Classification & Qualifications General Schedule Qualification Standards." U.S. Office of Personnel Management. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2014.
"Federal Bureau of Investigation." Federal Bureau of Investigation. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
"California CareerZone." Announcements RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2014.
"Classification & Qualifications General Schedule Qualification Standards." U.S. Office of Personnel Management. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2014.
"Federal Bureau of Investigation." Federal Bureau of Investigation. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.