Ask the Recruiter

First, the good news. Criminal investigation is a very broad field, with a large and diverse group of employers. These employers include local, state and federal law enforcement organizations, private investigators, and security firms. Because of concerns about homeland security, this is expected to be a growing field in the years ahead.

There are, as you suggest, a number of jobs which don't require a four-year degree and so would represent a way to get your foot in the door quickly. However, your long-term career prospects would be enhanced by a bachelor's degree in criminal investigation or criminal justice. Ultimately, the answer to whether it makes sense for you to go back to school depends on your previous experience there.

You mention that you have a few years of college. If your experience there suggests that you could do well academically and readily get your degree if you went back, then that seems a logical course of action. However, if you struggled in school and have no reason to believe anything has changed that would make you more successful, then your best approach might be to forget the degree, and concentrate on getting started in the profession, even if it is with a lower-level job.