About Crime Investigation Department (CID) Officer

CID officer is one of a popular career choice among many aspirants who wish to make their career in the field of criminal justice. Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is a crime detection agency that comes under the Government of India. A CID officer investigates the specific cases that are entrusted by the government. To choose a career as a CID officer, one must be a problem solver with strong interpersonal skills and have well-developed reasoning and critical-thinking skills to solve matters pertaining to crime, investigation, prosecution and collection of criminal intelligence.

The job of CID officers includes investigation of major and complicated crimes like rape, murder, serious assault, communal riots, and frauds. They perform investigative duties such as gathering facts and collecting evidence for criminal cases and fraud, keeping detailed reports of the investigative process, attending autopsies, exchanging information and coordinating activities with other agencies and ensure that the investigation process is completed in a comprehensive and thorough manner, leaving no stone unturned.

Eligibility to become Crime Investigation Department (CID) Officer

There are many posts available for candidates in the CID. To become a CID officer one should require to have at least two years experience as a uniformed officer. After that, you can apply for the transfer to CID office post where you will be trained. The minimum qualifications required for a candidate who wishes to join the crime investigation department are mentioned below:

Types of Job Roles Crime Investigation Department (CID) Officer

To be in this profession, one can match his/her particular interests up with different federal law enforcement agencies. For CID officers there are a variety of job profiles that one can target on the basis of their interest areas. Some of the job profiles that can be opted are listed below:

Fraud Investigator: He/she investigates fraud by obtaining statements of fact, depositions or confessions from complainants, employers and witnesses. A fraud investigator also researches records and obtain, analyze, and appraise evidentiary data and oversee the development and implementation of fraud prevention, detection and resolution strategies.

Police Officer: Police officers respond to incidents and complaints, document interactions, and collect evidence. They arrest offenders and suspects, collect evidence, and testify about cases and deter criminal activity as well as monitor any threat to public safety.

Investigative Officer: The job of investigative officers is to conduct inquiries to discover who committed crimes and to gather evidence to prosecute and convict suspects. They write reports based on the findings and are often called upon to appear in court to explain the results of their investigations.

Criminologists: They conduct research, develop theories, investigate crime scenes, and compose reports. They use their analytical backgrounds to assist law enforcement in identifying and understanding criminal behavior.

Paralegal: Paralegal investigates facts and laws of cases to determine causes of action and to prepare cases. Most of the time, paralegals work for law offices, corporations’ legal departments or courts. They also assist lawyers in filing materials such as motions, memoranda and pleadings.

Narcotics Officer: A narcotics officer specializes in preventing illegal drug use and distribution. Narcotics officers also might write reports and analyze evidence for cases. They also disseminate information concerning drug prevention within the community.

Employment Opportunities for Crime Investigation Department (CID) Officer

CID officers identify, collect and process physical evidence at crime scenes. They are primarily employed in the government sector, however, they can also be employed by law enforcement agencies. The employment opportunities are also present in several other agencies such as local, state, and federal government agencies, drug enforcement agency (DEA) or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Top Recruiting Agencies for a Crime Investigation Department (CID) Officer

The job of a CID officer in the government sector is to investigate the complex cases under the government of India. Therefore, the government of India is the recruiter that offers job to CID officer, however, one can also work for drug enforcement agency (DEA) or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). There are also several branches which work under CID such as, Finger Print Bureau, CB-CID anti-terrorism wing, anti-narcotics cell and anti-human trafficking & missing persons cell.

As a CID officer gains experience, his or her responsibilities increase and the salary package also varies depending upon the post. Some of the relative salary figures for different job profiles of CID officer are listed below:

Note: The above figures are an estimate and may vary from individual to individual.

Books & Study Material to Become Crime Investigation Department (CID) Officer

Depending on your qualification and by giving entrance exams such as UPSC civil services, you can opt for CID officer post. Hence, there are no specific books or study material that can prepare you for a career as a CID officer. You should be attuned to the current happenings in the society to get a real-world experience. Also, candidates who aspire to join the CID must have certain basic skills, such as communication skills and critical-thinking skills.  

Pros of becoming a Crime Investigation Department (CID) Officer