Get on the Mystery Machine: Becoming a High School Private Detective

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By the All Criminal Justice Schools career research team –

Your link to Criminal Justice and Legal Career news, trends and training.

High school is a microcosm of the wider world. These days, high school can be a tough place to navigate. Issues facing young people on a daily basis include exposure to drugs, violence, depression, bullying and dark subcultures.

Things have changed a lot since the heyday of fictional high school private detectives.

Lineage of Fictional High-School Private Detectives

The history of high school private detectives in popular American culture starts back in 1927 with the introduction of Frank and Joe Hardy in the popular Hardy Boys mystery novels.

This opened the door to the creation of a whole family of teenage detective characters such as Nancy Drew, the Scooby Doo Gang, Harriet the Spy and Veronica Mars.

For these kids, becoming a high school private detective wasn't easy. In addition to the everyday trials of attending classes and doing homework, these high-school detectives spend time outside of class solving crimes by gathering evidence, analyzing clues and entering potentially risky situations.

While the Hardy brothers and Nancy Drew used magnifying glasses and notebooks to inspect and record evidence, today's private detectives use much more sophisticated techniques and technology to solve crime.

On the short-lived 2004 television series Veronica Mars, Veronica, a teenage girl who works part-time at her father's investigation agency, used a combination of traditional crime-solving methods along with advanced technologies such as Internet searches, cell phone cameras and more.

Becoming a High School Private Detective

Private detectives need to have a better-than-average knowledge of computers, especially in computer forensics, since much of their work is now done online. Being able to conduct online research such as background checks is an essential skill for the modern private detective.

Having training and experience in accounting is also beneficial when applying for private detective jobs. Many states also require private detectives to be licensed, which may demand a certain number of training hours and/or the completion of a college degree.

If you ever dreamed of becoming a private detective, it's not too late to make your dream come true. All Criminal Justice Schools is the premier online resource for becoming a private detective.

Visit our criminal justice career resource center to learn more about what private detectives do and how to become one. Browse our extensive directory of criminal justice schools to find a private detective program near you. Fulfill your childhood dream of becoming a private detective today!