Criminal Justice Schools

Reasons To Pursue A Career In Criminal Justice

There are many different jobs available in the area of Criminal Justice. You may choose to be a law enforcement officer, a bailiff, a Federal Marshall, FBI agent, victim advocate, Forensic Analyst or court clerk. There are many different areas of the Criminal Justice Field in which you may work. Hiring appears to be strongest at the federal level. Criminal justice careers have continued to offer great opportunities despite the recession and job freezes in many job markets.

The slower economy has given courts, police forces and law firms the opportunity to be pickier about who they hire. This makes it essential that you earn a degree in criminal justice to be a better job candidate.

While a police officer, a paralegal, or court officer or attorney will always need people with strong interpersonal skills, the way information is used today is through technology. As the police forces and the criminals they pursue have gotten better at utilizing the internet, wireless and other cutting edge technologies have become necessary. Degrees are becoming more and more important due to the growing need for criminal justice experts who have an up-to-date understanding of technology. A new world of legal issues has been created making strong investigative techniques and online communication needs for a law expert more important today than it was ever thought possible.

College-level study can provide you with the background in the latest research of what causes criminal behavior and how our society can control and prevent it. Besides getting you hired into a firsthand job, an associates or bachelors degree can give you more choices as you move forward in a criminal justice career. As you work in your career having a background in law or public administration, political science, psychology and philosophy can help you move into a more senior position, whether you work in the courts, law enforcement or in federal law.

The salary range for ATF Agents is $32,000 to $50,000 a year, Customs Agents earn $23,000 to $45,000, US Marshalls at entry level earn $27,000 and $50,000 at higher levels, DEA Agents earn $35,000 to $65,000 and FBI Agents start at more than $50,000. These are just a few of the jobs and salaries in this field. Career opportunity, salary and personal satisfaction are some of the many reasons to pursue a career in criminal justice.

In today’s society of increased crime and the ever-growing threat of terrorism, the criminal justice field is a burgeoning one, with more people dedicating their lives to the service of their communities. Criminal justice is an all encompassing field, combining law enforcement, victim advocacy, forensic science and more.

A Certificate, Associate’s, Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree in criminal justice will afford students the opportunity to learn how to rehabilitate criminal offenders, initiate crime prevention programs, apprehend criminals and work within the community to stop criminal activity. Moreover, the constant threat of terrorist activity means that security specialists in the private and public sector are more important than ever.

There are also online education options for students either looking for a flexible college program or already in the field and looking to enhance their educational credentials.