What Does a Criminologist Do?

What Does a Criminologist Do? Roles and Responsibilities

When you hear “criminologist,” do you picture Sherlock Holmes piecing together clues at a crime scene? Or do you see someone in a lab, poring over DNA evidence and fingerprints? If so, you’re not alone, TV and movies have blurred the lines between police work, forensic investigation, and criminology.

So, what does a criminologist do? Unlike detectives or lab analysts, criminologists don’t solve individual cases. They study crime itself by analyzing patterns and criminal behavior to understand why crimes happen and how they can be prevented.

Criminology isn’t just about studying serial killers and violent crime. Criminologists analyze everything from organized crime and drug offenses to cybercrime and fraud. They even study the social factors behind petty vandalism so they can help shape policies that reduce crime at every level. 

If you’re interested in studying crime from a big picture perspective and developing strategies to prevent it and shape public policy, criminology might be for you. We’ll go through what it takes to be a criminologist, their roles and responsibilities, and some of the challenges that come with the territory. You’ll learn how this growing field makes a meaningful difference for communities and the people in them.

Table of Contents

• What is a Criminologist?
• Roles and Responsibilities of a Criminologist
• Key Skills and Qualities for a Criminologist
• How to Become a Criminologist
• Career Outlook for Criminologists
• Challenges of Being a Criminologist
• Conclusion

What is a Criminologist?

While many envision criminologists as detectives or crime scene investigators, their real work focuses on understanding crime, criminal behavior, and how it impacts society. They look at the causes and patterns of crime to understand why people break the law and find solutions. Criminology research helps shape policies that prevent crime and address the social and economic consequences. With this in mind, you’ll find criminologists have more in common with sociologists than they do with law enforcement or forensic scientists.

Crime is a complex phenomenon that can’t be fully understood through any single perspective, which is why criminologists take an interdisciplinary approach. Their work examines crime and criminal behavior through three lenses:

• The social lens explores how factors like poverty, education, cultural norms, and family dynamics influence crime rates
• The psychological lens looks at individual behavior with a focus on mental health, personality traits, and cognitive factors that may contribute to criminal behavior
• The legal lens analyzes how laws, law enforcement, and the legal system shape crime and affect outcomes

A degree in criminology doesn’t lock you into any single career path. It opens opportunities for roles in research, policy, and academia. Depending on their skill set and interests, criminologists typically work in:

• Academic institutions: Teaching courses in criminology and related subjects or researching crime trends and criminal behavior
• Government agencies: Assisting in shaping policies, developing crime prevention programs, and analyzing crime data
• Law enforcement: Serving as crime analysts and consultants to help investigative teams understand criminal behavior and trends
• Research organizations: Conducting studies on crime to advise policymakers on effective prevention strategies

Criminologists can also branch out on their own and work as consultants within the private and public sectors. Here, they provide services like risk assessment, expert court testimony, fraud prevention, or security management.

Roles and Responsibilities of a Criminologist

Criminologists may not chase criminals, but their work has led to measurable reductions in crime rates through evidence-based interventions. Their success comes from a combination of research and analysis, policy development, profiling and behavioral analysis, community engagement, and educational contribution.

Research and Analysis

Criminologists study crime statistics and trends to identify patterns and apply these findings to policies. Conducting qualitative and quantitative research on criminal behavior provides a comprehensive understanding and better informed, evidence-based strategies.

An example of this in action is how the Santa Cruz Police Department implemented a predictive policing model to allocate resources more efficiently. Inspired by earthquake prediction, they used an earthquake aftershock algorithm on verified crime data to predict future offenses within 500-square-foot locations. This effort resulted in an initial 4 percent decrease in motor vehicle theft and, after six months, a 19 percent decline in burglaries.

Policy Development

Criminologists use their research to advise lawmakers and law enforcement agencies on crime prevention strategies and policies. These policies help address the root causes of crime and lower recidivism rates. For example, studies on Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) have shown it is a practical tool for preventing repeat offenses by addressing criminal thinking patterns and behaviors. The National Institute of Justice has found that CBT is effective in deterring crime, rehabilitating offenders, and supporting victims, making it a valuable tool in modern crime prevention efforts. 

Profiling and Behavioral Analysis

There are so many misconceptions around the role and reality of profiling that the FBI included a section about it on their special agent FAQ. Despite what Hollywood portrays, profiling doesn’t involve walking into a crime scene and instantly deducing details about a suspect.

Real profiling and behavioral analysis are time-consuming and research heavy. Criminologists analyze data from a variety of sources to identify patterns, motivations, and possible traits to create a probabilistic profile law enforcement can use to narrow down their suspect pool.

Community Engagement

Criminologists have made important strides in working with communities to develop research-based crime prevention strategies. Travis Hirschi’s social bond theory, which emphasizes the importance of strong social connections in deterring delinquency, has paved the way for early social interventions like positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) and mentorship programs.

Programs rooted in this theory, such as Big Brother Big Sister (BBBS), have demonstrated success in reducing delinquency. For example, youths in BBBS programs were 54 percent less likely to be arrested and 41 percent less likely to use substances when compared to their peers in a control group.

Educational Contribution

Many criminologists go beyond studying crime to teach, mentor, and inspire future professionals in the field. Their students go on to shape law enforcement, policy, and make important contributions of their own through research. And sometimes these students even try to solve real cases.

In 2018, Tennessee high school students in a sociology class were given an ambitious assignment, solve a decades-old cold case involving a potential serial killer who targeted redheaded women. The students worked over the semester to analyze the case and speak with investigators to piece together the identity of the killer. In the end, the students helped identify more victims and came up with a theory on the killer’s identity. While no charges have been filed, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has agreed with the students’ findings.

Key Skills and Qualities for a Criminologist

Criminology attracts a diverse range of people, but those who thrive in the field generally share certain skills and qualities. Individuals who pursue criminology have the following traits and abilities:

• Analytical thinking: Ability to interpret data and draw meaningful conclusions
• Strong communication: Skilled in presenting findings clearly to diverse audiences
• Attention to detail: Precision in analyzing complex crime patterns and statistics
• Cultural awareness: Understanding how societal factors influence crime and justice
• Empathetic reasoning: Ability to understand another’s perspectives and reasoning to identify root causes for behavior

Criminologists are required to have a bachelor’s degree, which is usually in criminology, sociology, psychology, or a related field. Advanced degrees, such as a master’s or doctorate, are for specialized roles, academic careers, or policymaking roles.

How to Become a Criminologist

Becoming a criminologist is a multistep professional journey. It requires earning relevant degrees, getting practical experience, developing key skills, professional certifications, and industry networking.

Step 1: Earn a Relevant Degree

Start with a bachelor’s degree in criminology, sociology, or a related field. If you’d like a more advanced or specialized role in criminology, you’ll pursue advanced education for a master’s or doctorate. Here’s a sampling of roles that require or prefer graduate degrees:

• Policy analyst
• Forensic psychologist
• Criminology professor or researcher
• Intelligence analyst
• International crime specialist

Step 2: Gain Experience

Build hands-on experience through internships with law enforcement agencies, forensics labs, or research institutions while earning your degree. You can also look for volunteer opportunities with victim support groups, juvenile justice centers, or organizations working with ex-offenders. Lastly, entry-level roles in the criminal justice system provide practical exposure to sharpen your skills.

Step 3: Develop Key Skills

Statistical analysis and research methodologies are critical skills for interpreting crime data and trends. You can refine these skills by taking courses in criminology or data science and by practicing with real-world crime data. Strong communication and report-writing skills are also essential for clearly conveying information to broad audiences. You can improve these skills through writing-intensive courses, analyzing relevant research papers, and summarizing policy briefs.

Step 4: Certifications and Networking

Join criminology or criminal justice associations for networking and career development. Looking into the American Society of Criminology (ASC) or the National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA) is a good place to start. You should also seek professional certifications, if applicable, in your region.

Career Outlook for Criminologists

The demand for criminologists will continue to grow as governments and law enforcement need professionals to address crime prevention and policy development. The average salary ranges from $40,000 to $70,000 per year, with higher earnings for advanced roles (source: PayScale). Job growth is strong in research, law enforcement, and public policy due to increasing societal focus on crime reduction and rehabilitation.

Challenges of Being a Criminologist

Criminologists investigate the dynamics of crime by analyzing vast data sets, identifying behavioral patterns, and adapting to evolving criminal tactics. Their work requires resilience, adaptability, and a keen mindset to keep up with emerging challenges.

Modern criminologists face several challenges that make their work increasingly complex, including:

• Data Overload: Interpreting large datasets with accuracy and objectivity is an ongoing challenge. As digital footprints expand, criminologists must develop new methods for analyzing online behaviors, social media activity, and cybercrime patterns.
• Emotional Toll: Criminologists often deal with disturbing cases involving violence, abuse, and exploitation. The mental strain of examining crime trends and their consequences can lead to burnout if not managed properly.
• Rapidly Evolving Crime Trends: Criminals continually adapt their methods, making it difficult for law enforcement and researchers to keep up. The rise of cybercrime, AI-driven fraud, and anti-forensics tactics requires criminologists to stay up-to-date and technologically savvy.

Conclusion

Criminologists help society understand crime and develop policies that prevent it. Unlike their fictionalized, crime-fighting TV counterparts, criminologists study crime on a broader scale — analyzing patterns, behaviors, and psychological factors to find evidence-based solutions. From influencing policy to guiding law enforcement strategies, their work has a measurable impact on public safety.

As crime continues to evolve, especially with the rise of cybercrime, the need for skilled criminologists will continue to grow. Those entering the field need a strong foundation in research, communication, and data analysis, along with the resilience and mental fortitude to take on complex issues.

This content has been reviewed and approved by the National University Editorial Advisory Board. Learn more about our editorial process.