Jobs With A Criminal Justice Degree
Jobs with a criminal justice degree are many and varied. Choosing the career that will be best suited to your interests, skills, and goals requires that you have sufficient information regarding all the opportunities available within the field. Below are job descriptions of some of the more popular entry-level careers that graduates of criminal justice programs typically choose.
Corrections Officer
Corrections officers supervise offenders who are serving sentences in a state or federal penitentiary, local jail, or reform program. They are responsible for preventing escapes, stopping assaults, and resolving conflicts. Their authority is only valid within the facility in which they work.
The majority of correction officers (also known as detention officers) work in state and federal prisons. Others work in police precinct and municipals jails. Some correction officers work for prison facilities run by private corporations and nonprofit groups. Corrections officers are also responsible for supervising those detained by the US. Naturalization and Immigration Service (INS).
While there are no formal educational requirements to become a correction officer, those having an associate’s degree in criminal justice will have a competitive advantage in securing entry-level employment.
Paralegal
Paralegals, also called legal assistants, work under the supervision of licensed attorneys. They offer assistance in carrying out legal research in preparation for court proceedings, prepare notebooks for trials, interview clients and witnesses, compose legal briefs, review and update client files, and draft legal documents. Paralegals must be skilled in the use of computer databases as most legal research is now performed online.
The majority of people who wish to enter this field acquire training from a paralegal training program offered by private business schools, community colleges, and universities.
These programs can take from four months to two years to complete depending on whether you study on a full or part time basis. Coursework at community and four year colleges combines study in liberal arts subject, along with special legal classes. Legal coursework includes Introduction to the Law, Legal Procedure, Legal Research, Civil Law, Criminal Law, and Trust and Estates. You may become a Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) by passing a two day examination administered by the National Association of Legal Assistants.
Police Officers
The primary responsibilities of police officers are to ensure public safety and enforce the law. Police officers apprehend suspects, make arrests, assist people in emergencies, investigate crimes, help prosecute suspects by testifying in courts cases, and write detailed reports of their activity.
Police officers in large cities may specialize in rape, homicide, and traffic. In smaller communities police officers must be able to respond to a wide variety of situations and emergencies.
Many departments in both large and small cities now require a minimum of an associate’s degree for entry-level criminal justice jobs.
Probation and Parole Officers
Probation officers supervise offenders who have been sentenced to a probationary period as ordered by the court. Parole Officers supervise people who have been released from prison but must serve a sentence imposed by the parole board. Both probation and parole officers work in cooperation with social workers to assist clients in accessing such services as education or vocational training, employment programs, housing assistance, and community re-integration support. They are also responsible for preparing reports for the courts attesting to the behavior of clients under their supervision.
Probation and parole officers at the state level are usually required to possess at least a four year degree with such majors as sociology, urban affairs, psychology, or criminal justice. Employment on the federal level also requires a four year degree and, in many cases, a minimum of two years related experience.
Security Guards
Security guards use a wide variety of surveillance equipment to ensure the safety and security of individuals, property, and business locations. Common places of employment include the lobbies of office buildings, department stores, hospitals, and banks. Most security guards work for private security firms, while others may work exclusively for one individual or group of executives from one company.
There are no formal education requirements to become a security guard other than a high school diploma or GED. In general, security guards must be at least 18 years of age, have no record of convictions, and have some education or training in the field. This training may be conducted over several days at the offices of the private security firm or be obtained through more formal training such as in an associate’s degree program. Most security guards are unarmed, and you will need to take advanced certification classes to obtain a license to carry a firearm.
The above occupations are just entry level jobs with a criminal justice degree. Depending on your experience and whether your degree is a bachelor or masters, then more doors will open up to you such as DEA, FBI, detective, crime scene investigation and more. These more advanced roles will also come with higher salaries.
