If you are fascinated by the criminal justice system and want to pursue a career where you can be influential in making the world a safer place, it’s worth considering the various careers that you can pursue with a degree in criminal justice. Whether you want to be on the front lines of the criminal justice system fighting crime, helping rehabilitate offenders and supporting them as they turn their lives around, offering support for victims, working in the legal field or something else, the criminal justice field is vast and filled with many different career opportunities for those who want to make a real difference to others.
While police officers make up the largest portion of professionals who are working in the criminal justice field, there are many other careers to choose from if you are not interested in the idea of being on the front line of fighting crime. There are jobs that you can do from an office, in prisons, within the community and much more. Law enforcement jobs require a variety of skills from communication and people skills to computer and programming skills. Whether you prefer the idea of working directly with the public or working business hours in an air-conditioned office, there is something for everybody as a diverse range of professionals are required in the criminal justice system to keep everything running smoothly.
Police Officer
Working as a police officer is one of the most popular career choices in the criminal justice field, and it can often be used as a stepping stone into many other criminal justice and law enforcement career paths once you have gained some policing experience. The role of the police involves working on the front line to protect communities and fight crime through patrolling public areas, arresting criminals, investigating crime, preventing crime and issuing tickets and fines.
Police officers will also interview suspects and victims to get more information on a crime that has occurred and are often the first responders on the scene in an emergency situation. As a police officer, you will have many opportunities to move up the ladder in your career, from working as a detective to solve more serious crimes to managing teams of police officers or even entire police departments as the chief. You can get into policing with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Central Christian College.
Corrections Officer
Corrections officers are key parts of the criminal justice system, working directly with convicted criminals who have been sentenced to serve time in prison as a result of their crime or crimes. Corrections officers are necessary to keep prisons running smoothly and ensure that all inmates stick to the rules, guidelines and routines that are set in place.
However, there is much more to working as a correctional officer than simply looking after criminals and making sure that they don’t commit more crime in jail. Corrections officers are typically the first port of call for inmates who are having trouble and, in some cases, might be one of the first people in their lives who can make an impact on them by providing the support, help or advice that they need. Corrections officers work to help prisoners be rehabilitated by the time that they are released and can often help inmates with things like staying in touch with family and friends, getting mental health support, getting support for addictions, and facilitating work or education during their time in prison.
Probation Officer
Probation officers are another key professional in the criminal justice system when it comes to offender rehabilitation. Time and time again, research has shown that rehabilitation is always a better approach when it comes to preventing people from going back to committing crime, and probation officers need to be firm yet empathetic to provide support to people who might be feeling particularly lost and are at risk of going back to what they know after being released from prison.
Probation officers will meet with recently released prisoners on a regular basis to conduct drug and alcohol tests, offer support where needed, and get updates on how they are coping back in the real world. Probation officers are often tasked with helping these individuals find employment, education or housing and are often instrumental in helping people get their lives back on track after a brush with the law.
Crime Scene Investigator
CSI professionals will need a strong background in both criminal justice and forensic science. Once a crime is committed, crime scene investigators play an important part in collecting evidence from the scene and analyzing it to find clues that might lead the police to finding out more about the perpetrator and victim. Crime scene investigators may work directly for the police or in some cases work closely alongside them to collect evidence and solve crimes.
As a crime scene investigator, you will need a variety of strong skills including attention to detail, critical thinking, analytical and organizational skills, problem-solving skills, and the ability to stay calm under pressure. You’ll also need a strong stomach, since some crime scenes you’ll visit are not going to be pleasant.
Blood Spatter Analyst
If you are interested in a criminal justice career with a heavy focus on the science, a role as a blood spatter analyst might be an ideal choice for you. These professionals are highly educated and specialized in the area of blood spatter and the evidence that it can prevent in a criminal case. You will need to undergo extensive training in the chemistry, physics and biology of blood that has been spilled or spattered at crime scenes and you will usually be required to have a strong background in science to get into this role. Blood spatter analysts will visit the crime scene to locate and preserve blood samples that are then taken to a lab for in-depth analysis.
This job will often involve conducting experiments to replicate certain blood spatter patterns to get more insight into how the crime occurred. These professionals are often called upon by both prosecutors and defense attorneys to provide expert evidence in court.
Computer Forensics Investigator
If you have an interest in both criminal justice and computer science, this might be an ideal career choice for you, allowing you to combine both fields and use your tech skills to catch criminals and gather evidence. In this field, you will be combining criminal investigation, computer science and forensic science to gather evidence from online and digital activity such as text messages, emails, social media activity and device location.
As tech becomes more and more central to our lives, evidence in criminal cases is often stored on devices like laptops and smartphones or even online. Criminals might try to delete data or destroy devices to get rid of evidence against them, and the job of a computer forensics investigator involves using data extraction techniques to recover or piece information together from devices that are suspected to hold evidence or have held evidence in the past.
State Trooper
State troopers are police officers who are responsible for working on state highways to make sure that all vehicle laws are adhered to. They patrol the highways looking for anybody who might be putting themselves or others in danger by driving under the influence, driving over the speed limit, or driving with license restrictions.
They make sure that drivers are covered by the right insurance and are adhering to all safety rules such as seatbelt use. In addition to protecting drivers on the road, state troopers are also tasked with looking out for other crimes and being vigilant to anything illegal that could be going on including serious crimes such as terrorism and trafficking.
FBI Agent
As an FBI agent, you will be responsible for many different tasks for enforcing federal law. FBI agents are often called upon to assist local and state police with cases where the state boundaries have been crossed or where it’s likely that a criminal is involved who has committed other crimes in different states. Most FBI agents will specialize in the area of law enforcement that interests them the most such as homicide or missing people.
To become an FBI agent, you will need to be prepared for some intensive training. A four-year degree qualification from an accredited school is required, along with almost one thousand hours of specific training for the role. You’ll need to undergo rigorous operations and firearms training, and several case exercises that you will need to pass before you can start work, along with regular testing and exams to keep your knowledge and skills fresh in this role.
US Marshal
The role of a US marshal involves the transportation, management and protection of prisoners and witnesses. You may also arrest wanted criminals and administer the Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Program, which is designed to provide additional funding for law enforcement through the seizure and sale of assets that are the proceeds of crime.
US Marshals are also often responsible for providing protection to judges and juries in high-profile court cases, and often work closely with attorneys. It is a fast-paced and exciting career where you will need to have a strong attention to detail and intensive training in self-defense, protection and firearms use. In addition to this, you will usually be required to have obtained a bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject.
CIA Agent
Specialist agents that work for the Central Intelligence Agency or CIA are responsible for assisting the federal government in investigation crimes and legal violations all around the world. Working as a CIA agent is a more high-profile role at the front line of the criminal justice system and carries a unique set of risks. However, it is an ideal career choice for anybody working in the criminal justice system who is interested in work that allows them to travel around the world along with working in US-based offices.
Many CIA agents work with other law enforcement agencies around the world are often tasked with preventing and fighting crimes of the most serious type such as terrorism. In order to qualify as a CIA agent, you will need at least five years’ experience working in a relevant law enforcement role such as policing. You will also be required to hold a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, forensics, law, or a language.
Secret Service Agent
While most people know Secret Service Agents as being the professionals that protect the US President and other high-profile political figures, there is more to this role than simply providing personal safety to high-level individuals. Secret Service Agents are also tasked with protecting the finances of the US by investigating cyber threats to central banks and financial systems.
They track, investigate and arrest criminals that threaten the financial security of the US and work to remove counterfeit currency from circulation. In addition, they are responsible for investigating high-profile crimes related to telecommunications or computer fraud and document forgery. Secret Service Agents are required to travel frequently, be in excellent physical condition, and hold a relevant bachelor’s degree.
DEA Agent
Drug Enforcement Administration or DEA agents are responsible for enforcing the drug laws in the US and work closely with both police departments and the US Justice Department. They are responsible for using both covert and overt operations to track, investigate and arrest drug traffickers, dealers, and the organizations that they are a part of.
This might include posing as a member of the public to identify drug dealers in the community and investigating further to determine where drugs are coming from and who is providing them. To work in this field, you will usually be required to hold a degree in police science or criminal justice, although more DEA agents with a foreign language degree are also in demand. You will be required to complete eighteen hours of basic training before starting work, which includes fitness tests.
The criminal justice system is made up of a wide range of professionals who all work together to keep our world safe.
Write For Us Education Category also accepted for blogs at Business Glimpse.
