San Francisco Women Should Investigate A Career In Criminal Justice
A career in criminal justice can be one of the most exciting and rewarding occupations in San Francisco. The Bay Area has one of the nation's highest average salaries in this field, and job seekers can benefit greatly by obtaining advice from leading experts in the industry. One of those experts, Danine Manette, is a highly respected criminal investigator, licensed private investigator, as well as a nightly media pundit and criminal behavioral expert on HLN's "Dr. Drew On-Call Show."
What is your background and level of education?
"I received my bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley in social welfare, and my Juris Doctorate from UC Hastings College of Law. I previously worked as a milieu therapist for emotionally disturbed children, a probation officer at Juvenile Hall and currently as a criminal investigator for Alameda County. Additionally, I am a licensed private investigator, as well as a nightly media pundit and criminal behavioral expert on HLN's 'Dr. Drew On-Call Show.'"
What type of services do you provide?
"I am responsible for gathering whatever evidence is necessary for the adjudication process once a defendant has been formally charged with a criminal offense. My duties include locating witnesses and securing interview statements, gathering medical and autopsy records, photographing and diagramming crime scenes, serving subpoenas, performing neighborhood canvasses, locating and securing video surveillance footage and cell phone records, researching legal documents, extracting evidence from social media accounts, testifying in court when necessary and a host of other essential duties and tasks."
What advice can you share with people interested in entering a career in your field?
"Go into a field of study that sharpens your communication skills. I deal with all sorts of people from different communities and backgrounds daily and often find myself in situations for which my ability to communicate effectively helps keep me safe and able to get my job done. Additionally, I would implore women to pursue this career. Although many might believe this position is more suited for men, women are often able to elicit information from reluctant witnesses and diffuse tense situations more effectively than their male counterparts, thus making them extremely effective in this profession."
Randy Yagi is a freelance writer covering all things San Francisco. In 2012, he was awarded a Media Fellowship from Stanford University. His work can be found on Examiner.com Examiner.com.
