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