CPaCE News

In the digital underworld of today’s data-driven landscape, crimes can be committed through a few keystrokes on a laptop. Fortunately, justice can be served the same way. As crime analysts huddle over screens, they dissect raw data to find clues, helping law enforcement to crack cases. This information turns into leads for law enforcement to pursue, so every spreadsheet can potentially help unmask criminals and exonerate the innocent. 

For aspiring investigators who want to track criminals through megabytes of data, the Crime and Intelligence Analysis (CIA) program provides essential training. Through rigorous exercises that closely mimic actual law enforcement settings, the program covers the five steps of the data analysis process: collection, collation, analysis, dissemination, and evaluation. As students gain the precise skills required for this specialized work, they also benefit from a dynamic network of alumni and instructors who pass along internships and other opportunities by word of mouth.

“I had expected the program to teach me the basics of what an analyst does, but it absolutely surpassed my expectations,” said Jamie, a recent graduate of the CIA program who is now a dispatcher for the City of Long Beach. “The class is able to get us that hands-on experience, which I was then able to use as part of my portfolio.”

“My initial expectations were that this course would be focused a lot on studying human behavior and statistics,” said fellow CIA program grad Sebastian, “and we certainly do go over that, but it is also so much more.”

Valuable insights from CIA instructors, who draw upon their day-to-day experiences as professional crime analysts, gave Jamie and Sebastian confidence in their new skills within just a few months. They also credit collaborative and supportive classmates for contributing new perspectives and the encouragement to stretch beyond their comfort zones.

“You have to be able to talk with people, use the correct terminology, and really be on top of all the information that you have,” Jamie continued. “That's something that the class pushed us to do, but it felt like a safe environment where I could try these things. They really give you inside information that you wouldn't be able to get anywhere else.”

While enrolled in the program, Sebastian’s skill set expanded to include specific technologies like ArcGIS geographic mapping software, which can identify where and when crime happens, as well as broader communication skills and a deeper understanding of criminal behavior.

“What would drive a criminal to do what they do?” Sebastian asked. “These sort of things really piqued my interest in this field and it just inspired me to go even further.”

Sebastian soon learned that the field involves a much more diverse range of positions than just academic research. He also realized that his previous experience and education weren’t sufficient to qualify him for the analyst jobs he had been seeking.

“A crime analyst is actually more directly involved with communities, making suggestions to law enforcement about how they can improve public safety, and having a real impact on their environment,” Sebastian explained. “It’s a field where you have to wear multiple hats if you want to be successful.”

Through the connections he made, Sebastian secured an internship for the Los Angeles Police Department before he had even graduated from the CIA program. He credits the program with boosting his confidence and his resume. 

“This course really did help me solidify this sort of career path,” he said. “It showed me that there's just so many opportunities in so many branches of law enforcement, perhaps even the international level. With everything that this program teaches, you can go far with this career.”

Click here to learn more about the Crime and Intelligence Analysis program at CSULB.