| A generation ago, pursuing a career in criminal | | | | young life around, but it takes strong a |
| justice usually meant either becoming a police | | | | personality. You need to be a person who can |
| officer or working in a legal field. But today, the | | | | handle the discouragement, as well. |
| criminal justice field offers dozens of different | | | | The criminal justice field is growing rapidly, and |
| opportunities to serve the public. In fact, it can be | | | | college degrees are evolving to keep pace. With |
| very confusing when you discover how many | | | | scientific investigative methods also constantly |
| different degrees are offered. It can be difficult to | | | | improving, new fields continue to emerge. Be sure |
| choose what type of degree to get for the kind | | | | you talk to several schools and find one that |
| of career in which you're interested. | | | | offers a program that's a good fit for you. Some |
| First, determine what kind of criminal justice | | | | of the programs now offered include Criminal |
| career you want to focus on. Perhaps you want | | | | Justice/Forensic Science, which focuses upon |
| to focus on being a police officer or a sheriff. In | | | | collecting and analyzing the forensic evidence at |
| many parts of the country, you can become a | | | | crime scenes. Blood, trace evidence, and gunshot |
| police officer or sheriff by going to a local | | | | residue are examples of these types of evidence. |
| academy without a college degree. However, a | | | | Criminal Justice/Juvenile Justice programs offer a |
| college education will help you earn promotions | | | | thorough base of knowledge in juvenile law, |
| more quickly. If you want to be a state (rather | | | | correctional counseling, and community outreach. |
| than local) police trooper, you may need to get a | | | | The program enables graduates to be juvenile |
| Bachelor's degree before entering the academy. | | | | counselors, probation officers or juvenile social |
| So, it's always a good idea to check the | | | | workers. Criminal Justice/Private Security |
| requirements by talking to officers in your area. | | | | programs focus on discovery, search and seizure |
| There are also several investigative careers that | | | | as well as special investigations with an eye |
| you might enjoy if you have good science skills. | | | | toward becoming part of a private security force |
| These include forensic sciences, behavioral | | | | for a school, government or business. |
| sciences and forensic psychology. Graduates with | | | | The list of programs in which you can major is |
| degrees in these specialties can work for crime | | | | extensive, including various specialties such as |
| labs within police departments at the state and | | | | Homeland Security, Private Investigations and |
| local levels, or work for the federal government | | | | Fraud Examination. Criminal justice workers can |
| through the FBI, CIA or the Bureau of Alcohol, | | | | find rewarding jobs within the government, in the |
| Tobacco and Firearms. | | | | private sector or with a law firm. You'll work |
| If the inner workings of the legal system appeal | | | | closely with others who, like you, respect the law |
| to you, perhaps a career as a probation officer, | | | | and want to contribute to upholding it while also |
| juvenile justice worker or social worker would be | | | | earning a good living. Another perk is that others |
| a good fit. These are all positions where you help | | | | will look at you with respect when they know |
| implement the punishment or rehabilitation aspects | | | | that you've dedicated yourself to a career that |
| of the criminal justice system. As a juvenile | | | | stands for law and order. |
| justice worker, it can be very rewarding to turn a | | | | |