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South Dakota Criminal Justice Degree Programs

State Agency: South Dakota Department of Corrections

Overview

In a country where people are constantly moving and the population is always growing, crime is almost guaranteed. That has never been truer than in South Dakota; Argus Leader reports that violent crime in South Dakota increased 96% between 2005 and 2012, a startling growth.

Crimes that are on the increase in South Dakota are, according to South Dakota officials, often difficult to prevent. Aggravated assault between two people who know each other, forcible rape, and methamphetamine usage are all on the rise. Argus Leader reports that South Dakota legislators have expanded drug courts, probation programs, and awareness programs throughout the state, initiatives that all require more manpower.

Criminal Justice Education in South Dakota

At CriminalJusticePrograms.com, we make it easy for you to find all the criminal justice programs located in your state. Read on to learn more about degrees in this field and contact a school near you!

Criminal justice programs are designed to prepare you to work in any part of the justice process in South Dakota. Certain protocols and procedures must be followed at every step of the process, so they make up a sizable portion of criminal justice education. As a result, most programs are state-specific in what they teach.

While specific classes vary between schools, most criminal justice programs have a lot in common. They include courses that prepare you to work out in the community, in a courtroom, or in a prison. In general, you will be expected to complete coursework in criminal justice ethics, victimology, criminology, criminal law, and law enforcement.

On top of the classes that are required of every criminal justice student, many programs also require you to choose a focused area of study in your criminal justice education. This area of study will dictate which elective courses you take to round out your degree. Areas of study vary significantly from school to school, but common fields include:

  • Crimes Against Children
  • Forensic Science
  • Internet Crime
  • Law Enforcement

Scholarship and grant opportunities for students in the state of South Dakota include the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarships, Scott Mecham BBB Student of Integrity Awards, ACS Youth Scholarship Program and South Dakota Haines Memorial Scholarship. Learn more about scholarships in criminal justice by exploring our financial aid resources page.

Outlook for Criminal Justice in South Dakota

As you prepare for graduation, it is important to think about your job search. Not only do you have to think about what you studied, you must consider what environment you work best in. The 6,200 protective service employees in South Dakota work in a variety of settings.

If you are ready to take on the challenge of working in a jail or prison, there are several different job titles you can pursue. You may choose to work as a jailer or correctional officer. The average salary for these job titles is $31,400 per year, according to O*Net. With experience, you may be able to take on a supervisory role; the average salary for correctional officer supervisors is $55,500 (O*Net, 2012).

Courtrooms are mostly staffed by legal workers, but there are a few criminal justice careers in this setting. Bailiffs play a big role in the courtroom, and they earn an average salary of $18,600 in South Dakota (O*Net, 2012).

Most criminal justice careers require you to work out in the community. As a police officer, criminal investigator, or private detective, you may have to work different routes or neighborhoods. Average salaries for these occupations range from $27,900 for private detectives to $54,700 for criminal investigators (O*NEt, 2012).

Are you ready to take the next step in your life and begin a criminal justice career? Use our easy search feature to find schools close to you and contact them for more information!

South Dakota Criminal Justice Schools

Online programs may not be available in all areas