| You've seen the actors on CSI: Miami use | | | | Private Investigator |
| high-tech gadgets to solve crime. Now, meet the | | | | As a private investigator, you use your skills and |
| real-life experts of Miami criminal justice. | | | | training to locate lawbreakers, track missing |
| "Television certainly makes things very simple," Dr. | | | | persons, and collect information for your clients. |
| Joanne Leoni tells South Florida Times, "solving a | | | | Your reputation of success can help earn you |
| crime just by collecting a bit of evidence. There is | | | | new business, and you can have the satisfaction |
| much more to it than that." The reality of a | | | | of a career that rewards your quick-witted skill. |
| criminal justice degree may not be as glamorous | | | | • Recommended Training: Targeted |
| as what you see on television, but training for one | | | | coursework leading to an associate's or bachelor's |
| of these lucrative, challenging careers has its own | | | | degree in criminal justice. |
| rewards. | | | | • Mean Annual Salary (2007): $42,660 |
| Working in Criminal Justice | | | | Security Guard |
| On a recent visit to a Miami youth center, | | | | Security guards monitor armored cars, casinos, |
| Detective Ignacio Vila tried to separate television | | | | and businesses to prevent theft and damage. |
| myth from the reality of working in the Broward | | | | Industries paying above average for private |
| County Crime Scene Unit. "On an education level, | | | | security include natural gas distribution, couriers, |
| it gives them career orientation to criminal justice, | | | | and oil and gas extraction companies. |
| forensics and criminalistics, as they see that police | | | | • Recommended Training: Criminal justice |
| work is more involved than the common police | | | | coursework or certificate programs relative to |
| officer driving down the street." In reality, working | | | | your specialization. |
| in the criminal justice field means choosing among | | | | • Mean Annual Salary (2007): $24,840 |
| careers in private investigation, security, crime | | | | Correctional Specialist |
| scene investigation, correctional treatment, and | | | | Probation officers and correctional treatment |
| more. | | | | specialists ensure that prisoners on parole are |
| Popular Criminal Justice Careers | | | | completing the terms of their release. Many parole |
| Check out some of the top jobs for criminal | | | | officers meet with offenders in their homes, |
| justice graduates, with degree and salary | | | | increasing the level of personal accountability. |
| information provided by the Bureau of Labor | | | | • Recommended Training: A bachelor's degree |
| Statistics: | | | | in criminal justice or social work is suggested by |
| Crime Scene Investigator | | | | the BLS. |
| Your attention to detail and knowledge of the law | | | | • Mean Annual Salary (2007): $47,980 |
| comes in handy at the crime scene, where a | | | | While no career training program can guarantee a |
| single fingerprint can make or break a case. | | | | particular career or salary in the criminal justice |
| Real-life CSIs, also known as forensic scientists, | | | | industry, competitive careers and those with high |
| traditionally work long hours and may specialize in | | | | growth potential are typically targeted by |
| ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, or biochemistry. | | | | graduates of criminal justice degree programs. If |
| • Recommended Training: Most forensic | | | | you hope to enter the rewarding world of criminal |
| science technicians need a bachelor's degree in | | | | justice, formal training in the area may be your |
| addition to specialized criminal justice training. | | | | most logical first step. |
| • Median Annual Salary (2007): $50,310 | | | | |