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What does an investigators assistant do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
Quoted expert
John Lajoie CLI

As the name entails, the job of an investigator's assistant is to perform office duties and field jobs to support investigations into criminal justice and criminal cases. Typical duties will include processing legal documents and reports such as subpoenas and complaints, collecting fingerprints, police reports, and background checks, and interviewing victims and witnesses. Additionally, as an investigator's assistant, you are responsible for reviewing criminal background checks and conducting research on new social trends. You will also be responsible for preparing payroll and delegating and coordinating multiple projects under a tight deadline.

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Investigators assistant responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real investigators assistant resumes:

  • Utilize SharePoint and Accutrac to convert information, by ensuring constant communication with department records coordinator and project leads.
  • Maintain strong working knowledge of both OPM and CBP/ICE contracts.
  • Review of case materials and pre-review items for OPM investigations.
  • Communicate with the public through outreach presentations on EEOC laws.
  • Research, interpret and apply EEOC laws to assist with case determinations.
  • Document all patrol activities and occurrences, maintain records and prepare reports.
  • Serve subpoenas and deliver confidential legal documents.
  • Prepare and verify payroll and make simple arithmetic calculations.
  • Provide backup coverage for department payroll when administrator is absent.
  • Perform security alarm checks of containment structures to meet DEA federal regulatory requirements.
  • Review subpoenas for accuracy, proper formatting for legal compliance when used in financial investigations under the federal jurisdiction.
  • Perform subject interviews for personnel security investigations in order to determine whether DEA security clearance waivers should be grant.
  • Investigate and open cases on customers and non-customers who have potentially engage in activity which goes against federally mandate BSA/AML regulations.
  • Work in accordance of FAA regulations.
  • Confirm documents meet FAA and international compliance approval.

Investigators assistant skills and personality traits

We calculated that 10% of Investigators Assistants are proficient in Background Checks, Physical Evidence, and Law Enforcement Agencies. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Empathy, and Good judgment.

We break down the percentage of Investigators Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Background Checks, 10%

    Performed background checks using statewide databases for criminal and civil investigations.

  • Physical Evidence, 9%

    Assisted case investigators to obtain records, and physical evidence by authorization or subpoena from records custodians.

  • Law Enforcement Agencies, 8%

    Research using investigative websites including those used my local law enforcement agencies.

  • Data Entry, 8%

    Completed Data entry on investigations.

  • Background Investigations, 7%

    Maintain both manual and computerized investigative case files and related record materials as the background investigation develops or additional information received.

  • Subpoenas, 6%

    Reviewed subpoenas for accuracy, proper formatting for legal compliance when used in financial investigations under the federal jurisdiction.

"background checks," "physical evidence," and "law enforcement agencies" are among the most common skills that investigators assistants use at work. You can find even more investigators assistant responsibilities below, including:

Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for an investigators assistant to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "police and detectives must be able to speak with people and to express details in writing about an incident." Investigators assistants often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "resulted in 60% reduction in manual data entry and increased communication between departments. "

Empathy. Another essential skill to perform investigators assistant duties is empathy. Investigators assistants responsibilities require that "police officers need to understand the perspectives of a variety of people in their jurisdiction and be willing to help the public." Investigators assistants also use empathy in their role according to a real resume snippet: "created an mou (memorandum of understanding) with irs to review suspicious criminal banking transactions. "

Good judgment. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of investigators assistants is good judgment. This skill is critical to many everyday investigators assistant duties, as "police and detectives must be able to determine the best way to solve an array of problems." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "attended court proceedings; participated with arraignments, jail pleas, dispositions, and judgments. "

Physical strength. A big part of what investigators assistants do relies on "physical strength." You can see how essential it is to investigators assistant responsibilities because "police officers must be strong enough to physically apprehend suspects and to assist people in precarious situations." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical investigators assistant tasks: "assisted case investigators to obtain records, and physical evidence by authorization or subpoena from records custodians. "

Most common investigators assistant skills

The three companies that hire the most investigators assistants are:

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Compare different investigators assistants

Investigators assistant vs. Detective

A detective is responsible for conducting in-depth investigations for criminal activities, potential threats, and other law-violating incidents, coordinating closely with law-enforcement agencies and crime intelligence analysts. Detectives often work on the field, gathering data and related evidence to support claims and connect the timeline of events. They keep an organized record of their findings for further validation before reporting it to the authority. A detective must have excellent investigative and critical-thinking skills, especially on solving puzzles and security solutions.

We looked at the average investigators assistant salary and compared it with the wages of a detective. Generally speaking, detectives are paid $13,298 higher than investigators assistants per year.Even though investigators assistants and detectives are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require background checks, physical evidence, and law enforcement agencies in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an investigators assistant are more likely to require skills like "provides administrative support," "data entry," "database searches," and "conduct interviews." On the other hand, a job as a detective requires skills like "patrol," "insurance fraud," "public safety," and "child abuse." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

On average, detectives reach similar levels of education than investigators assistants. Detectives are 1.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 1.6% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Investigators assistant vs. Deputy

The duties of a deputy vary on their line of work or place of employment. In law enforcement, a deputy is primarily in charge of conducting investigations on crimes and arresting criminals, performing regular patrols on streets, responding to calls of distress, and assisting citizens in calamities, disasters, accidents, or any forms of threat. There are also instances when a deputy must serve court documents, transport detainees or suspected criminals, and monitor courtrooms. Furthermore, a deputy reports to higher-ranking officers such as a sheriff.

A career as a deputy brings a higher average salary when compared to the average annual salary of an investigators assistant. In fact, deputies salary is $8,996 higher than the salary of investigators assistants per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both investigators assistants and deputies have skills such as "law enforcement agencies," "subpoenas," and "criminal cases. "

Each career also uses different skills, according to real investigators assistant resumes. While investigators assistant responsibilities can utilize skills like "provides administrative support," "background checks," "physical evidence," and "data entry," deputies use skills like "patrol," "public safety," "transport inmates," and "emergency situations."

In general, deputies achieve similar levels of education than investigators assistants. They're 3.2% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 1.6% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for investigators assistants in the next 3-5 years?

John Lajoie CLIJohn Lajoie CLI LinkedIn profile

National Director, President of Lajoie Investigations, Inc, of MA, NALI - National Association of Legal Investigators

Remote computer applications; cybersecurity; cell phone applications that do just about anything work-related and track locations; and advances in hardware and wireless applications. Any technology that will help employers and employees become faster and better communicating and selling will be significant. The biggest will be in the social media arena, as working from home creates a void for in-person social interaction. So the next best thing to many is electronic social media.

Investigators assistant vs. Police officer

Police officers are responsible for keeping peace and security in a community. They uphold and enforce the law. They ensure that people in their assigned community follow the law. They also ensure that proper sanctions are given out to anyone who does not follow. Some police officers are assigned in the field, meaning they work outside of police stations. Those assigned to police stations are responsible for maintaining administrative matters as well, aside from maintaining peace and order. Police officers are expected to be trustworthy, to work with honor, and to keep their integrity intact.

An average police officer eans a higher salary compared to the average salary of investigators assistants. The difference in salaries amounts to police officers earning a $7,952 higher average salary than investigators assistants.investigators assistants and police officers both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "law enforcement agencies," "subpoenas," and "criminal cases," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, an investigators assistant is likely to be skilled in "provides administrative support," "background checks," "physical evidence," and "data entry," while a typical police officer is skilled in "patrol," "public safety," "emergency situations," and "field training."

When it comes to education, police officers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to investigators assistants. In fact, they're 3.1% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.7% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Investigators assistant vs. Loss prevention analyst

A loss prevention analyst designs and develops loss prevention programs, typically for retail establishments. They are in charge of providing analytical services primarily to avoid or resolve cases of theft and fraud. Among their responsibilities include gathering and analyzing financial and inventory data, inspecting alarm systems and protocols, performing research and analysis to identify the best practices, determining the strengths and weaknesses of current loss prevention techniques, and implementing solutions against vulnerable areas. Furthermore, a loss prevention analyst must maintain an active communication line with managers and loss prevention officers for a smooth and efficient workflow.

Loss prevention analysts average a lower salary than the annual salary of investigators assistants. The difference is about $6,002 per year.While both investigators assistants and loss prevention analysts complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like law enforcement agencies, management system, and police reports, the two careers vary in some skills.While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "provides administrative support," "background checks," "physical evidence," and "data entry" are skills that commonly show up on investigators assistant resumes. On the other hand, loss prevention analysts use skills like loss prevention, customer service, data loss prevention, and camera surveillance on their resumes.In general, loss prevention analysts hold lower degree levels compared to investigators assistants. Loss prevention analysts are 5.5% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 2.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of investigators assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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