| Thinking about a career in criminal justice? Perhaps | | | | decade. Career prospects may vary according to |
| you'd like to patrol the streets and arrest | | | | the exact profession. Opportunities in local police |
| suspects, investigate crimes using high technology, | | | | departments, for example, are predicted to be |
| or even help convicted offenders to rebuild their | | | | excellent for individuals who meet personal, |
| lives. In the United States there are a wide | | | | psychological, and physical qualifications. |
| variety of criminal justice careers to choose | | | | Opportunities are also expected to be excellent |
| from:o Private detectives and investigators assist | | | | for qualified computer forensic investigators. |
| individuals, businesses, and attorneys by collecting | | | | Wages and benefits for criminal justice graduates |
| and analyzing information.o Probation officers-in | | | | can be impressive. For example, in the U.S. Bureau |
| some states called community supervision | | | | of Labor Statistics report of May, 2006, police and |
| officers-supervise people who have been placed | | | | sheriff's patrol officers had median annual earnings |
| on probation.o Correctional treatment | | | | of $47,460. Median annual earnings of detectives |
| specialists-also known as case managers-counsel | | | | and criminal investigators were $58,260, while |
| offenders and create rehabilitation plans for them | | | | median annual earnings of police and detective |
| when they return to regular life.o Parole officers | | | | supervisors were $69,310. Not too shabby! |
| supervise offenders who have been released | | | | Criminal justice degree training can help. People |
| from prison on parole.o Pretrial services officers | | | | who want to enter the field of criminal justice can |
| conduct pretrial investigations, which help | | | | often begin their careers after earning associate |
| determine whether persons who have been | | | | degrees or certifications from dedicated criminal |
| arrested should be released before their trial.o | | | | justice schools. The more you study, the further |
| Uniformed police officers have general law | | | | you might go. Criminal justice degrees, both |
| enforcement duties.o Sheriffs and deputy sheriffs | | | | bachelors and masters, are offered through many |
| are county law enforcement officers.o State | | | | online and on-campus schools throughout the |
| police officers-also called state troopers or | | | | country. There are also federal and state safety |
| highway patrol officers-work for a state | | | | training centers that offer ongoing courses to |
| government and patrol highways to enforce | | | | working professionals in counterterrorism, |
| motor vehicle laws and regulations.o Detectives | | | | self-defense, and crowd control. |
| are investigators who gather information and | | | | Many graduates of criminal justice degree |
| evidence for criminal cases.o Fish and game | | | | programs find work as private security |
| wardens enforce state and local hunting, fishing, | | | | consultants for banking institutions, manufacturing |
| and boating laws.o Federal law enforcement | | | | and high-tech companies, and government |
| opportunities include the Federal Bureau of | | | | agencies. With additional training they may go on |
| Investigation (FBI), the Department of Homeland | | | | to other careers, attending law school and |
| Security, Federal Air Marshals, and many others.o | | | | becoming public defenders or prosecutors. |
| Many Federal agencies employ police and special | | | | How do you get started? |
| agents, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs | | | | The best way to research your options is to go |
| Office of Law Enforcement, the U.S. Postal | | | | online to a free college directory website like the |
| Service, the Forest Service, and the National Park | | | | one below. You can enter the search terms that |
| Service.o Many Federal agencies employ police and | | | | are appropriate for you (such as "criminal justice, |
| special agents, including the Bureau of Indian | | | | Miami, Florida," or "online court reporter degrees"). |
| Affairs Office of Law Enforcement, the U.S. | | | | You'll be presented with free information about |
| Postal Service, the Forest Service, and the | | | | the programs that meet your criteria. Compare |
| National Park Service. | | | | features such as financial aid, career services, and |
| What are your prospects? The U.S. Bureau of | | | | flexible schedules. Narrow down your choices and |
| Labor Statistics predicts steady job growth for | | | | make your application. In less time than you think |
| many law enforcement careers through the next | | | | you could be training for a rewarding new career. |