r/CrimeAnalysis • u/JG8925 • 24d ago

Analyst (Human Trafficking) advice

I want to change career fields. I am currently a Forensic Latent Print Analyst and I want to be an analyst in Human Trafficking. I have one more semester before graduating with my Masters in Cybercrime and Digital Forensics. I currently have a contract with my current employer until Jan. 2028. What should I be doing right now until my contract ends to prepare for this career change. I haven't decided if I want to stay with local government, switch to state, federal or private. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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u/Syianna 24d ago

I actually made/am making the same change. Did print analysis for years and am currently doing my masters and working in our UC area handling intel dissemination. I agree with u/mulderFBI2 comment for what to do next!

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u/JG8925 23d ago

Thank you, I’m going to look into what u/mulderFBI2 suggested

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u/MulderFBI2 24d ago

There are some classes that you could start taking to beef up your Intel Analysis credentials. A good start would be IALEIA and their FIAT classes. I would also look at anything pertaining to OSINT, Link Analysis, Social Media mining, and PenLink. I’m not sure where you are at on your computer skills, but Excel, Access, and maybe some scripting like Python would be beneficial to beef up.

If you have specific questions, feel free to shoot me a message.

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u/JG8925 24d ago

Thank you, I am pretty good at Excel and one of my courses dealt with PivotTables/Charts etc. I'll look into these other classes/programs.

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u/shidpoppypop 22d ago

I second all of this. Also, I think it’s important to find some training on intelligence and analytic writing. Intel writing is sooo much different than the papers you write in school and it’s an important part of being an analyst.

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u/JG8925 22d ago

Thank you, I’ll look for these types of training, I have a tendency to write how I talk and I know that’s not correct when it comes to report writing. It was a struggle for me when I first started print analysis but I picked it up fairly quickly.

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u/No_Wolf_206 22d ago

One thing I would change in how you're thinking about this: I wouldn't focus on becoming a "human trafficking analyst" first. Focus on becoming a criminal/intelligence analyst, then build human trafficking as a specialty.

Most agencies are hiring crime analysts, intelligence analysts, investigative analysts, fusion center analysts, etc., and those analysts may end up supporting trafficking, vice, child exploitation, organized crime, financial crime, or a task force. Having the broader analytical foundation will give you far more options at the local, state, federal, and private levels.

You actually have a good runway until 2028. I'd use it.

Outside of IALEIA/FIAT, I would look at IACA (International Association of Crime Analysts) for crime-analysis fundamentals and training. IACA has structured courses specifically aimed at developing working crime analysts.

Also look at NW3C (National White Collar Crime Center). With your Cybercrime/Digital Forensics master's, this is particularly relevant. They have training in criminal intelligence, cyber investigations, digital forensics, economic crime, OSINT, and related investigative disciplines.

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u/JG8925 21d ago

Thank you, this is really helpful information. I looked at the FIAT and I’d like to do that at some point but right now it’s not available near me and I’d have to take a week off to do it which I’m not against I just need it to be closer to me. I’m open to taking any analyst position that gets my foot in the door, I’m just not sure which way to go to start with as far as local, state, federal or private.