How To Become a Crime Analyst

Skills & Personality Traits of the Successful Crime Analyst

Crime analysts must be detail-oriented, curious, and work well under pressure. They have to be able to make connections and see patterns in what may otherwise look like a sea of information. The top traits that employers look for in crime analysts include the following:

Finding Patterns

Crime analysts review police reports daily to identify patterns as they develop. They need to recall data easily and determine links between crimes that may be days and miles apart. Patterns are quickly reported to police officers to help them maintain public safety. While some patterns may be in the type of crime, such as a type of business being robbed, they can also be in hot spots where all crime increases.

Communication Skills

Crime analysts are typical law enforcement team members and must communicate clearly and accurately. Patterns discovered through analysis are communicated to police officers, supervisors, and detectives in person, by phone, or by email. Sometimes, crime analysts must write detailed reports outlining their findings to present to elected officials or publish in public statements.

Research and Analysis

Crime analysts need to look at the data they are presented with daily, but they must also relate that data to historical data to determine patterns. Crime analysts must be able to research quickly and effectively and synthesize large amounts of data in a short period.

Time Management

Crime analysts often must work under strict time constraints with large amounts of data. Therefore, they must be efficient at prioritizing their work and staying on task to complete analyses and reports promptly.

Curiosity

Staying curious is essential to being an excellent crime analyst. Often something may seem off, but there is no apparent reason why. Crime analysts need to have flexible thinking that considers out-of-the-box ideas as to why things are happening the way they are. They can determine patterns that otherwise may not have been detected when they can do that.

Crime Analyst Specializations

Place of employment typically determines specialization for crime analysts. Most crime analysts work in local, county, or state law enforcement offices, while some may work for government agencies or nonprofits. While most crime analysts are civilians, some may be trained and sworn-in law enforcement officers. The five main types of specializations are:

Intelligence Analysis

This type of analysis relates to organized crime. Crime analysts working in intelligence look for patterns in drug trafficking, prostitution, fraud, and gangs. Analysts review data, including surveillance completed by law enforcement, wiretaps, reports from informants, and work completed by undercover cops.

Criminal Investigative Analysis

Popular TV shows such as Criminal Minds and Mind Hunter are based on criminal investigative analysis. Analysts in this field profile criminals and seek patterns in behavior, murders, and crime scenes to help law enforcement identify the perpetrator.

Tactical Crime Analysis

Tactical crime analysis looks at a crime’s who, what, when, where, why, and how. By carefully analyzing all those aspects, crime analysts look to identify leads to help solve the case. This systematic analysis involves detailed reviews of police reports, crime scene photos, and interview transcripts.

Strategic Crime Analysis

Crimes that occur over an extended time, or even long-term patterns in police behavior, are investigated under strategic crime analysis. Unfortunately, this particular form of criminal analysis can be daunting, as the number of records professionals must examine can be astronomical. As a result, crime analysts in this field often utilize machine learning or other software tools to help them comb through mountains of data.

Administrative Crime Analysis

Information gathered and evaluated by crime analysts often must be synthesized into reports. Many of these reports inform law enforcement agencies about patterns of crime, how enforcement has impacted established practices, and where there is more work to be completed. Other reports are for citizens, command staff, government officials, or the media. Administrative crime analysts are specialists at creating these reports from data they have analyzed or from data other crime analysts have examined.

Steps to Becoming a Crime Analyst

There are several paths crime analysts can take to enter this field. Here is one of the most common courses:

Step 1: Graduate from High School (Four Years)

Completing high school is the first step toward becoming a crime analyst. Students should endeavor to do well in all classes, as a strong GPA may be required for admission to competitive undergraduate criminal justice programs. Courses that can give students a head start include statistics, biology, and psychology. Students can also work to gain work or volunteer experience in local law enforcement through community programs or part-time employment.

Step 2: Get a Degree in Criminal Justice, Criminology, Sociology, or a Related Discipline (Two to Four Years)

Crime analysts can earn either a certificate, associate’s, or bachelor’s in criminal justice, criminology, sociology, or related field. Other degrees for professionals in this field can include statistics, public administration, or psychology. Gaining work experience in law enforcement while in college is critical, as many employers require applicants to have already worked in the field in some capacity. Students can fill many part-time civilian roles in law enforcement, including entry-level criminal analyst jobs. Some programs offer student certification upon completion of their program.

For example, the California Department of Justice has partnered with the California University system to offer certificate programs at California State University, Fullerton, the University of California, Riverside, Pierce College, and California State University, Sacramento. Graduates of these programs are certified by the Law Enforcement Intelligence Units (LEIU) and are ready to step into crime analyst roles across the state. Most of these programs can be completed in 12 to 18 months.

Courses that criminal analyst students must complete provide a solid foundation in criminal analysis theory, research theories, criminal behavior, and intelligence analysis. This program also emphasizes writing and presentation skills, so analysts will have the tools to convey their conclusions.

Step 3: Obtain Certification (Optional, Timeline Varies)

Certification for crime analysts is optional, although highly recommended. Holding a certificate demonstrates to employers a high level of competency in the field and can help established professionals with career advancement.

Some programs, such as those recognized by the California Department of Justice, award certification upon program completion. Other certifications must be earned through testing.

The two primary certifications analysts earn through testing are the Certified Law Enforcement Analyst (CLEA) through the International Association of Crime Analysts (IACA) and the Criminal Intelligence Certified Analyst (CICA) through the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts (IALEIA).

To qualify for the CLEA certification, applicants must pass an exam with a 75 percent or better score.

To qualify for the CICA certification, applicants must:

• Be members of IALEIA in good standing
• Hold a certificate of completion from a qualifying intelligence course (or current certification as a Basic Analyst)
• Be employed full-time in a criminal intelligence or analysis position
• Have either a bachelor’s degree and three years of work experience, an associate degree and five years, or no degree and seven years
• Send a completed application and a copy of their official job description
• Pass an exam with at least a 70 percent score

Keep reading for exemplary online crime analyst programs, or see our guide to Crime and Intelligence Analysis Programs.

Online Crime Analyst Programs – Degrees & Certificates

Online Associate Degree Program

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) offers a fully online criminal justice associate’s degree. Courses in this 60-credit program include cultural awareness in criminal justice, policing in the United States, and the United States correctional system. Students in this program can easily transfer credits earned to the online SNHU bachelor’s degree program in criminal justice. Graduates from this program are prepared for careers that require collecting evidence, presenting it to legal and public forms, and examining laws and regulations as they apply to public safety.

• Location: Manchester, NH
• Duration: Two years
• Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
• Tuition: $320 per credit

Online Bachelor’s Degree Program

Utica College’s bachelor of science in criminal justice specializing in homeland security or related fields prepares graduates for crime analysis careers. Based in Utica, New York, this 120-credit online degree program can be completed in as little as four years. Graduates are prepared to sit for the CipherTrace Certified Examiner (CTCE) to analyze and trace cryptocurrency fraud and loss. Other specializations include cyber criminology and policy, legal issues in criminal justice, public policy and leadership, and white-collar crime.

• Location: Utica, NY
• Duration: Four years
• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• Tuition: $450 per credit

Online Graduate Certificate Program

Seattle University in Seattle, Washington, offers an online graduate certificate in crime analysis that students can complete in just one year. Graduates will know how to identify patterns, make correlations, and analyze various data. Courses in this 25-credit program include advanced criminological theory, advanced research methods in criminology and criminal justice, and statistical analysis. Students can choose to graduate with a professional certificate or transfer 10 credits of courses to a master’s degree in criminal justice at Seattle University.

• Location: Seattle, WA
• Duration: One year
• Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
• Tuition: $1,183 per credit

For more information about crime analysis education, please see our Best Forensics and Criminal Justice Degrees list.