What Kinds of Criminal Justice Career Paths Are There?
Admit it, you’re a CSI fan. It’s okay - so are a lot of people. In fact, since the show started, there has been a huge increase in the number of applicants to Criminal Justice programs. It’s called the "CSI effect."
Though we have the opportunity to see Criminal Justice depicted on television every day, the reality of life on the streets can be quite different. That’s why it’s very important to be prepared. A degree in Criminal Justice will provide you with both the knowledge and practical skill set to have a successful career in the field. In fact, today, most career paths in Criminal Justice require at least an Associate degree.
The Criminal Justice field can be broken down into a handful of main categories. Federal Law Enforcement includes career paths such as ATF Agent, FBI Agent, Customs Agent, DEA Agent, and US Marshal. State/Local Law Enforcement includes career paths as a local or state police officer, sheriff, loss prevention specialist, fingerprint specialist, insurance and fraud investigator, and many others. Corrections covers jobs associated with the prison system - bailiff, parole officer, probation officer, prison guard, and so on. Forensic Science includes many of the more academic career paths - forensic pathology, forensic psychology, criminology, and others. Listed in the sidebar to the left are links to profiles of some of the most popular criminal justice careers.
The US Department of Labor (Bureau of Labor Statistics) publishes information on average salaries and employment numbers for categories like Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers, Detectives and Criminal Investigators, Private Detectives and Investigators, Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists, and Forensic Science Technicians.
Due to the current economic climate and difficult job market, jobs in the Criminal Justice field can be hard to find. Getting a degree will definitely give you an edge over the competition. This is true across the board, whether you are interested law enforcement, corrections, or any other specialty. In addition, not only will you be a better candidate, but once you get the job, you can earn significantly more (up to $15,000 per year) than someone in the same position without a degree.
