Georgia Criminal Justice Programs

Updated September 25, 2026

Georgia has 68 colleges offering a criminal justice program, from technical-college certificates to a Ph.D. at Georgia State. Lawyers here earn a median $134,830, while patrol officers and detectives earn far less but see faster projected job growth through 2034. Georgia’s post-2013 reforms, including the First Offender Act, have reshaped hiring and funding across law enforcement, the courts, and corrections.

If you’re considering a career in criminal justice, Georgia gives you three distinct doors in: law enforcement, the courts, or corrections. The state overhauled its justice system after 2013, when it had one of the nation’s highest incarceration rates, and that overhaul has reshaped hiring, funding, and reentry programs across all three branches. Below, you’ll find what each branch actually pays, where to study, and what’s changed.

Featured Programs:

Where to Study Criminal Justice in Georgia

Georgia has 68 colleges and universities offering a program in the criminal-justice family, per U.S. Department of Education data, from certificates at technical colleges up through a Ph.D. at Georgia State University. One program, at South University-Savannah Online, is distance-only; every other school below runs an in-state campus. Confirm current enrollment, format, and admission requirements directly with the school before you apply, since program offerings shift between data collection cycles.

Institution	City	Type	Programs Offered
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College	Tifton	Public, 4-year	Criminal Justice (AS, Cert)
Albany State University	Albany	Public, 4-year	Criminal Justice (BS, Cert, MS); Fire Protection (BS); Legal Support Services (AS, Cert)
Albany Technical College	Albany	Public, 2-year	Criminal Justice (AS, Cert); Fire Protection (AS, Cert)
American InterContinental University-Atlanta	Atlanta	Private for-profit, 4-year	Criminal Justice (AS, BS)
Andrew College	Cuthbert	Private nonprofit, 4-year	Criminal Justice (AS)
Athens Technical College	Athens	Public, 2-year	Criminal Justice (AS, Cert); Fire Protection (AS, Cert); Homeland Security (Cert); Legal Support Services (AS)
Atlanta Metropolitan State College	Atlanta	Public, 4-year	Criminal Justice (BS, Cert)
Atlanta Technical College	Atlanta	Public, 2-year	Criminal Justice (AS, Cert); Fire Protection (AS, Cert); Legal Support Services (AS, Cert); Security Science & Tech (Cert)
Augusta Technical College	Augusta	Public, 2-year	Criminal Justice (AS, Cert); Fire Protection (AS, Cert); Legal Support Services (AS)
Augusta University	Augusta	Public, 4-year	Criminal Justice (AS, BS)
Brewton-Parker College	Mount Vernon	Private nonprofit, 4-year	Criminal Justice (BS)
Central Georgia Technical College	Warner Robins	Public, 2-year	Criminal Justice (AS, Cert); Homeland Security (AS, Cert); Legal Support Services (AS, Cert)
Chattahoochee Technical College	Marietta	Public, 2-year	Criminal Justice (AS, Cert); Fire Protection (AS, Cert)
Clark Atlanta University	Atlanta	Private nonprofit, 4-year	Criminal Justice (BS, MS)
Clayton State University	Morrow	Public, 4-year	Criminal Justice (BS, MS); Legal Support Services (AS, BS, Cert)
Coastal Pines Technical College	Waycross	Public, 2-year	Criminal Justice (AS, Cert); Legal Support Services (AS, Cert)
College of Coastal Georgia	Brunswick	Public, 4-year	Criminal Justice (BS)
Columbus State University	Columbus	Public, 4-year	Criminal Justice (AS, BS, Cert, MS)
Columbus Technical College	Columbus	Public, 2-year	Criminal Justice (AS, Cert); Homeland Security (Cert); Legal Support Services (AS, Cert)
Dalton State College	Dalton	Public, 4-year	Criminal Justice (BS)
DeVry University-Georgia	Decatur	Private for-profit, 4-year	Criminal Justice (BS)
East Georgia State College	Swainsboro	Public, 4-year	Criminal Justice (AS); Fire Protection (AS, BS)
Emmanuel University	Franklin Springs	Private nonprofit, 4-year	Criminal Justice (BS)
Fort Valley State University	Fort Valley	Public, 4-year	Criminal Justice (BS)
Georgia College & State University	Milledgeville	Public, 4-year	Criminal Justice (BS, MS)
Georgia Gwinnett College	Lawrenceville	Public, 4-year	Criminal Justice (BS)
Georgia Military College	Milledgeville	Public, 4-year	Criminal Justice (AS); Homeland Security (AS); Legal Support Services (AS)
Georgia Northwestern Technical College	Rome	Public, 2-year	Criminal Justice (AS, Cert); Fire Protection (AS, Cert)
Georgia Piedmont Technical College	Clarkston	Public, 2-year	Criminal Justice (AS, Cert); Fire Protection (AS, Cert); Homeland Security (Cert); Legal Support Services (AS, Cert); Protective Services-Other (Cert)
Georgia Southern University	Statesboro	Public, 4-year	Criminal Justice (AS, BS, MS); Protective Services-Other (Grad Cert, Post-Bacc Cert)
Georgia Southwestern State University	Americus	Public, 4-year	Criminal Justice (BS, Cert)
Georgia State University	Atlanta	Public, 4-year	Criminal Justice (BS, MS, PhD)
Gordon State College	Barnesville	Public, 4-year	Criminal Justice (AS)
Gwinnett College-Lilburn	Lilburn	Private for-profit, 2-year	Legal Support Services (AS, Cert)
Gwinnett College-Marietta Campus	Marietta	Private for-profit, 2-year	Legal Support Services (AS)
Gwinnett Technical College	Lawrenceville	Public, 2-year	Criminal Justice (AS, Cert)
Herzing University-Atlanta	Atlanta	Private nonprofit, 4-year	Criminal Justice (BS); Legal Support Services (AS, BS)
Kennesaw State University	Kennesaw	Public, 4-year	Criminal Justice (BS, MS)
Lanier Technical College	Gainesville	Public, 2-year	Criminal Justice (AS, Cert); Fire Protection (AS, Cert); Homeland Security (AS, Cert)
Mercer University	Macon	Private nonprofit, 4-year	Criminal Justice (BS, MS); Homeland Security (BS)
Middle Georgia State University	Macon	Public, 4-year	Criminal Justice (AS, BS, Cert)
Miller-Motte College-Augusta	Augusta	Private for-profit, 2-year	Criminal Justice (AS); Legal Support Services (AS)
Miller-Motte College-Columbus	Columbus	Private for-profit, 2-year	Criminal Justice (AS); Legal Support Services (AS)
Miller-Motte College-Macon	Macon	Private for-profit, 2-year	Criminal Justice (AS)
North Georgia Technical College	Clarkesville	Public, 2-year	Criminal Justice (AS, Cert)
Oconee Fall Line Technical College	Sandersville	Public, 2-year	Criminal Justice (AS, Cert)
Ogeechee Technical College	Statesboro	Public, 2-year	Criminal Justice (AS, Cert); Fire Protection (AS, Cert)
Piedmont University	Demorest	Private nonprofit, 4-year	Criminal Justice (BS)
Point University	West Point	Private nonprofit, 4-year	Criminal Justice (AS, BS)
Reinhardt University	Waleska	Private nonprofit, 4-year	Criminal Justice (AS, BS, MS)
Savannah State University	Savannah	Public, 4-year	Criminal Justice (BS); Protective Services-Other (BS); Security Science & Tech (BS)
Savannah Technical College	Savannah	Public, 2-year	Criminal Justice (AS, Cert); Fire Protection (AS, Cert); Legal Support Services (AS)
Shorter University	Rome	Private nonprofit, 4-year	Criminal Justice (AS, BS)
South Georgia Technical College	Americus	Public, 2-year	Criminal Justice (AS, Cert); Fire Protection (Cert)
South University-Savannah	Savannah	Private for-profit, 4-year	Criminal Justice (AS, BS, MS); Legal Support Services (AS, BS)
South University-Savannah Online	Savannah	Private for-profit, 4-year (online)	Criminal Justice (BS, MS); Legal Support Services (AS, BS)
Southeastern Technical College	Vidalia	Public, 2-year	Criminal Justice (AS, Cert)
Southern Crescent Technical College	Griffin	Public, 2-year	Criminal Justice (AS, Cert); Fire Protection (AS, Cert); Legal Support Services (AS, Cert); Security Science & Tech (AS)
Southern Regional Technical College	Thomasville	Public, 2-year	Criminal Justice (AS, Cert); Fire Protection (AS, Cert); Legal Support Services (AS)
Strayer University-Georgia	Chamblee	Private for-profit, 4-year	Criminal Justice (AS, BS)
Thomas University	Thomasville	Private nonprofit, 4-year	Criminal Justice (AS, BS)
Toccoa Falls College	Toccoa Falls	Private nonprofit, 4-year	Criminal Justice (AS, BS)
Truett McConnell University	Cleveland	Private nonprofit, 4-year	Criminal Justice (BS)
University of Georgia	Athens	Public, 4-year	Criminal Justice (BS); Homeland Security (Cert, Grad Cert, Post-Bacc Cert)
University of North Georgia	Dahlonega	Public, 4-year	Criminal Justice (BS, MS); Legal Support Services (AS, BS, Cert)
Valdosta State University	Valdosta	Public, 4-year	Criminal Justice (BS, MS); Legal Support Services (BS)
West Georgia Technical College	Waco	Public, 2-year	Criminal Justice (AS, Cert); Fire Protection (AS, Cert)
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College	Valdosta	Public, 2-year	Criminal Justice (AS, Cert); Fire Protection (AS, Cert); Legal Support Services (AS, Cert)

School and program data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, institution file May 2025 and field-of-study file April 2025. Data accessed September 2026.

Criminal Justice Careers in Georgia

The criminal justice system runs on three branches: law enforcement, the courts, and corrections. Law enforcement protects the public and investigates crime. The courts decide guilt or innocence and hand down sentences. Corrections manages people during and after their sentences. Pay and hiring outlook vary sharply across all three, so here’s where each branch actually stands as of May 2025.

Law Enforcement

Officers in local and federal agencies patrol, respond to emergencies, and investigate crime. Some jobs, like patrol, put you on the street; others, like detective work, lean closer to office-based investigation. If you’re good with people, curious, and detail-oriented, this branch is worth a look.

Career	GA Median Wage (May 2025)	GA Job Growth (2024-34)
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers	$58,120	+6.5%
Detectives and Criminal Investigators	$65,430	+1.9%

The Courts

Judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, paralegals, and court reporters keep trials fair and the record straight. Paralegals prepare documents and support trial prep; lawyers argue the cases built on that work.

Career	GA Median Wage (May 2025)	GA Job Growth (2024-34)
Paralegals and Legal Assistants	$62,400	+1.8%
Lawyers	$134,830	+6.5%

Corrections

Jailers, wardens, and probation officers work directly with people who are incarcerated or newly released, managing custody, safety, and reentry.

Career	GA Median Wage (May 2025)	GA Job Growth (2024-34)
Correctional Officers and Jailers	$47,520	-5.0%
Probation Officers	$60,270	+1.8%

May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Police Officers and Detectives, Paralegals, Lawyers, Correctional Officers, and Probation Officers. Long-term (2024-34) job growth projections from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, ProjectionsCentral. Figures reflect state-level data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed September 2026.

Criminal Justice Education Resources in Georgia

If you’re interested in a career in law enforcement, corrections, or the court system, Georgia gives you plenty of options. Here are the state agencies with active job postings, application steps, and pay and training information.

Corrections: Georgia Department of Corrections
Careers include corrections officer, supervisor, and field training officer.
Has information about qualifications, pay and benefits, and training opportunities for applicants and current employees.
Juvenile corrections: Department of Juvenile Justice
Careers include corrections officer, counselor, psychologist, instructor, probation officer, and supervisor.
Has information about types of careers, job fairs and events, salaries, and benefits.
Police officers: Georgia Department of Public Safety
Careers include police officer, cadet, and state patrol officer.
Provides steps for becoming a police officer or highway patrol officer in Georgia.
Justice system: Office of the Attorney General
Careers include deputy attorney general, criminalist, crime analyst, and paralegal.
Discusses how to apply for a job in the Georgia Department of Law and lists job vacancies and application forms.

Innovations in Criminal Justice in Georgia

In 2013, Georgia had one of the highest incarceration rates in the country. Lawmakers created the Georgia Council on Criminal Justice Reform (House Bill 349) to review state practices across sentencing, adult corrections, and juvenile justice, and to better manage the prison population.

Several reforms from that review are now governed by the Department of Community Supervision, including new reentry funding and expanded parole and probation supervision. If you’re entering the field today, expect these changes to shape your work with offenders, victims, and their families:

The First Offender Act: also called the second chance law, this lets nonviolent, first-time offenders serve their sentence, jail time or probation, without a conviction on their record; it’s marked “First Offender Act” instead. That distinction can make it easier to find work after release.
Juvenile Justice Reform: the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2013 (HB 242) reserves jail time for the most violent juvenile offenders, routing nonviolent and minor offenses to community-based rehabilitation instead.

These reforms shift the job market too. More community-based rehabilitation generally means more work for probation officers and counselors and less for correctional officers, a pattern the growth projections above back up: Georgia projects growth for probation officers and a decline for correctional officers through 2034.

Major Georgia Cities

Atlanta

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Main Criminal Justice Governmental Agencies and Entities in Georgia

Administrative Office of the Courts: This agency provides support to the courts, including the hiring of court reporters and other administrative staff. It also publishes information about the courts and works with the legislature to secure judicial appropriations.
Council of Juvenile Court Judges of Georgia: This council of judges oversees the juvenile courts and protects the best interest of juvenile offenders in the state.
Court of Appeals of Georgia: Comprised of 15 lawyers in five divisions, the court of appeals is the intermediate appellate court in Georgia and handles all appellate cases except those involving murder, constitutional questions, or habeas corpus, which are controlled by the Supreme Court.
Georgia Department of Corrections: This agency oversees the state’s prison system and employs corrections officers, parole officers, and counselors statewide.
United States Department of Justice, Georgia: The DOJ office in Georgia enforces federal law in Georgia and represents the government in federal appellate, district, and bankruptcy courts.
Georgia Department of Law: This agency protects consumers and businesses from unlawful, deceptive, and unfair practices in the marketplace. It represents the public rather than the individual. In addition to investigating and enforcing the law, it publishes consumer alerts and educational materials.
State Board of Pardons and Paroles: This five-member parole board grants paroles, pardons, reprieves, remissions, and commutations.

Resources for Criminal Justice Students and Professionals in Georgia

If you’re a student or just getting started in a career in criminal justice, there are a host of state associations and organizations that can help you connect with other professionals and network with potential employers.

Criminal Justice Association of Georgia: This membership-based organization is for students, professionals, and faculty in the criminal justice field. They hold conferences and events and publish educational materials for academic and professional advancement.
Criminal Justice Student Association at Georgia State University: This student-run group connects with faculty, professionals, and the wider community to promote awareness and understanding of criminal justice issues. Members enjoy on-campus events, student networking, and professional networking with local agencies.
Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police: Since 1962, this organization has been committed to building professional relationships, evaluating policing standards, and offering training and education to police executives.
Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers: Comprised of criminal defense lawyers, law school students, and full-time criminal investigators, this membership-funded association has a mission to promote justice through education, public awareness, and support services.
Georgia Association of Paralegals: GAP supports paralegals and aspiring paralegals with regular networking and events, as well as serving the broader community by offering community outreach and pro bono services.
Peace Officers Association of Georgia: Supports police officers in Georgia through training, assistance programs, scholarships, education, and an annual conference.

Featured Programs:

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the three branches of Georgia’s criminal justice system?

Law enforcement, the courts, and corrections. Law enforcement protects the public and investigates crime, the courts determine guilt or innocence and set sentences, and corrections manages people during and after their sentences.

How many schools in Georgia offer a criminal justice program?

Georgia has 68 colleges and universities offering a program in the criminal-justice family, per U.S. Department of Education data, from technical-college certificates to a Ph.D. at Georgia State University. See the full list above.

What does a police officer earn in Georgia?

Georgia police and sheriff’s patrol officers earned a median $58,120 as of May 2025, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the role is projected to grow 6.5% statewide through 2034.

Is the job outlook better for law enforcement or corrections in Georgia?

Law enforcement, by a wide margin. Georgia projects 6.5% growth for patrol officers and 1.9% growth for detectives through 2034, against a 5.0% decline for correctional officers.

What is Georgia’s First Offender Act?

It lets nonviolent, first-time offenders serve their sentence, jail time or probation, without a felony conviction on their record. Their case is marked “First Offender Act” instead, which can make it easier to find work after release.

Key Takeaways

68 Georgia schools offer a CJ-family program – from technical-college certificates to a Ph.D. at Georgia State, per federal education data.
Law enforcement is growing, corrections is shrinking – Georgia projects +6.5% for patrol officers and +1.9% for detectives through 2034, against -5.0% for correctional officers.
Lawyers pay the most on this page – a median $134,830 in May 2025, more than double what patrol officers earn.
Georgia’s 2013 reforms still shape hiring today – the First Offender Act and the Juvenile Justice Reform Act (HB 242) pushed the system toward rehabilitation, which is part of why probation and detective roles are growing while corrections shrinks.

Ready to compare programs? The Where to Study table above lists all 68 Georgia schools with a criminal justice program, sorted by credential level, so you can start narrowing down your options today.