Top Online Criminal Justice Schools
- Click for Recommended Degree Strayer University
- Click for Recommended Degree Everest University Online
- Click for Recommended Degree Liberty University Online
Criminal Justice Jobs
Criminal justice jobs are in high demand at the moment, and there is no sign of that demand slowing down in the future. Criminal justice graduates typically find work right after they get out of college, whether that work is in law enforcement, criminal law, immigration enforcement, forensic science, or something in between. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, police and detective employment opportunities will grow at least 10% between 2008 and 2018. That makes this the perfect time to pursue a degree in criminal justice. The information below will provide an overview of the jobs available to you in the field of criminal justice.
Corrections Careers
Corrections careers consist of the laborers who protect the citizens of the country and ensure that criminals are brought to justice. Common jobs in criminal justice fitting into this job sector include prison wardens, prison guards, correctional case managers, corrections officers, youth correctional officers, forensic nurses, forensic psychologists, correctional treatment specialists, youth correctional counselors, and substance abuse counselors. Corrections officials typically earn $24,000 to $63,000 a year, depending on their experience and overall position.
If you would like to pursue a career in corrections, you will need to get a college degree. Common degree programs related to the corrections job sector include corrections degrees, criminal justice degrees, forensic psychology degrees, legal nursing degrees, and forensic nursing degrees. Most degree programs last at least four years, but you can get through them with ease by going to college online. All you have to do is find a college that offers a degree program to fit your needs.
Paralegal Careers
Paralegals assist lawyers and other members of the court system in their daily duties. Over the years, paralegals have begun to take on more roles in the job force because of the constraints of the economy. It is less expensive to pay a paralegal to do certain tasks than it is to pay a lawyer to do them. This can work in your favor in the end because it opens immense opportunities for you to work as a paralegal in the future. In order to do so though, you will need to have a degree in paralegal studies. You can earn this online or in a traditional school setting, depending on how you learn best.
86% of paralegals are female, but males continue to become a more prominent force in this field. Common positions in the field of paralegal studies include legal secretaries, immigration paralegals, criminal law paralegals, corporate paralegals, and legal assistants. The degree program you pursue should be geared around one of those specializations. On average, a paralegal will earn between $27,000 and $65,000 a year based on job time, bonus opportunities, and location.
Forensic Careers
Forensic careers delve into the scientific aspects of a criminal investigation. They are responsible for collecting and analyzing forensic evidence in a crime scene to be later used in a court of law. Common career paths in this job sector include forensic nursing, forensic psychology, forensic science technology, forensic accounting, and computer forensics. The average employee in this career sector earns $21,000 to $81,000 a year. The highest paying positions are available in the New England states.
Common degrees in this field include those in forensic psychology, forensic accounting, forensic science, forensic nursing, and computer forensics. The computer forensics program is becoming more popular with every passing year because of society’s increasing dependency on technology. You can combine this with a computer science or networking degree if you would like to explore the subject even further. There are plenty of opportunities online for you to look into.
Other Criminal Justice Jobs
The world is full of many other jobs in criminal justice if the options above do not suit your desires. You could work in border patrol, judicial law, security, and much more. All you have to do is explore the opportunities available to you. Jobs in criminal justice are going to be in high demand well into the future, making now a great time to get a college degree in criminal justice. In less than four years, you could have everything you need to start on a great career path for the future. Anyone can work in criminal justice, including past criminals. No matter what your path may have been in the past, you can look toward something like this for your future. Think about the criminal justice jobs in your community and determine if any of them are potentially right for you.
