Career Possibilities in Criminal Justice

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A degree in criminal justice can be the springboard for virtually any career related to justice and law enforcement. Many criminal justice students opt to continue their education to study law and forensics, or pursue military service, while most dive right into the many career opportunities waiting in the justice field.

Popular criminal justice careers include:

Law Enforcement Agents: Police officers, detectives, sheriffs, and various government agents help comprise the field of law enforcement. Law enforcement personnel are charged with maintaining order and protecting citizens and property. They work to prevent crime, investigate criminal activity, and collect evidence to help prosecute criminal offenders.

Correctional Officers: Correctional officers are responsible for maintaining security and accountability in prisons to prevent escapes, assaults, and other disturbances. They oversee both those who are serving sentences and those awaiting trials.

Probation Officers: Probation officers are responsible for supervising criminal offenders who are serving probation or are on parole and ensure they are compliant with the terms of their sentences and assist with measures such as job placement or drug counseling.

Correctional Treatment Specialists: Correctional treatment specialists work with inmates and those released on parole or probation to ensure proper progress is being made through educational and training programs, anger management classes, and drug counseling.

Careers in criminal justice administration have great outlooks through 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Median annual earnings and job growth expectations for several criminal justice careers include:

  • Correctional officers: $35,760
    Excellent job growth of 16% through 2016
  • Probation officers and Correctional treatment specialists: $42,500 (higher wages in urban areas)
    Employment growth is projected to be 11% throught 2016
  • Detectives: $53,990
    Projected job growth of 17%, with especially high need in urban and other high crime areas;
  • Police officers: $47,460 for local officers, $68,990 for state officers, and $85,170 for Federal government officers
    Police officers have a good to excellent job outlook in most areas, with an anticipated job growth of 11%, due to an increasingly security-conscious society. The most opportunity exists in local police forces, and in urban areas where crime rates are higher and there is greater need.

Federal law provides special salary rates to federal employees who serve in law enforcement. And total earnings for local, state, and special police and detectives frequently exceed the stated salary because of payments for overtime, which can be significant.

Look for jobs in law enforcement, and connect with current law enforcement officers at our sister site, PoliceLink.