Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement
Why Criminal Justice?
What can you do with a degree in "Criminal Justice?"
Criminal justice careers include professional positions in probation
departments, law enforcement agencies, correctional institutions for
juveniles or adults, parole offices or community treatment and service
settings.
Career Paths
- Law Enforcement - positions in city, town, county,
state and federal police departments and agencies.
- Probation Officer - employed in local, state and
federal courts to handle the cases of offenders being brought to the
attention of the courts.
- Institutional Counselor - hired by adult and
juvenile correctional institutions as counselors and social service
providers.
- Custodial Supervisors - work in security
institutions supervising custodial staff and help provide safety and
security of the institution's population.
- Parole Officer - responsible for the supervision of
adult and juvenile offenders released by state or federal agencies.
- Community Correctional Worker - employed in a
variety of community agencies ranging from state community correctional
centers to volunteer, private agencies such as Youth Service Bureaus.
- Investigator - employed by private and public
agencies to investigate civil/tort claims as well as criminal
activities. Opportunities may exist in prosecutor's offices or with
insurance agencies.
- Victim/Witness Advocate - employed in local, state,
and federal agencies to assist victims of crimes and witnesses to crime.
- Asset Protection - employed by business and
corporations to assist in the protection of assets, both from internal
and external forces.
Related Careers
Research personnel in law enforcement agencies and correctional
institutions; auxiliary personnel in specialized fields of communication and
laboratory work; private investigative agencies; counselors; rehabilitation
counselors; staff personnel in private youth agencies such as Big
Brother/Big Sister programs, halfway houses, and residential treatment
centers.
Criminal Justice is an excellent pre-law program for persons planning a
career in public law (prosecution, defense, government legal
representation).
Preparation
The bachelor's degree is required for most state and federal positions
and is becoming increasingly important for municipal and county positions.
Personnel with less than four years of college may still be hired in some
municipal and county agencies, but career advancement may be limited. Civil
service entrance examinations or other specific examinations may be required
on the local, state, and federal levels. Most law enforcement agencies have
a minimum age requirement of 18.
Field Experience
Internships provide an opportunity for full-time work with supervision
provided by the employing agency and the University. Spring and Fall
semester internships are 15 weeks in duration and Summer semester
internships are 12 weeks in duration.
Salaries and Earnings
Salaries tend to vary greatly based on the type of position but starting
salaries tend to be higher in metropolitan areas. Generally, salaries
reported have ranged from $30,000 to $50,000 annually. Federal salaries tend
to be higher.
Additional Information
Career Planning in Criminal Justice by Robert C. DeLucia and Thomas J.
Doyle. Available from Anderson Publishing Co.
Career Paths: A Guide to Employment Opportunities in Criminal Justice by
Gordon M. Armstrong and Sheila C. Armstrong. Available from Prentice Hall
Publishers.
Websites