What do homicide detectives do on a daily basis?

Homicide detectives spend a significant part of their day conducting interviews. These can be with witnesses who might have seen something at the time of the crime or with suspects who are believed to be involved in the murder. During these interviews, detectives must demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills to extract crucial information.

A key part of a homicide detective's job is gathering and analyzing evidence. They often visit crime scenes where they meticulously search for clues, such as weapons, fingerprints, or DNA samples. They also work closely with forensic scientists to interpret this evidence and build a picture of what happened.

In addition, homicide detectives must complete a lot of necessary paperwork. They have to document every step of their investigation in detail, from the crime scene examination to the interviews they conduct. This is crucial because it forms the basis of the case they present to the prosecutor.

Lastly, homicide detectives often meet with prosecutors and attend court hearings. They may be called upon to testify about their findings in court. Because of this, a good understanding of the law and excellent public speaking skills are also important for this role.