Criminal justice is the system of law enforcement, the bar, the judiciary, corrections and probation that is directly involved in the apprehension, prosecution, defense, sentencing, incarceration and supervision of those suspected of or charged with criminal offenses.
The term criminal justice refers to an interdisciplinary field that draws upon the knowledge bases of criminology, sociology, psychology, law, public policy, computer technology and other related disciplines to develop insights into the causes and prevention of criminal behavior. It is an area of knowledge concerned with understanding and controlling crime.
The contemporary criminal justice system in the United States is monumental in size. It includes more than 55,000 public agencies employing more than 1.5 million people. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, it has a budget of more than $60 billion for agencies, 6,000 correctional operations. There are approximately 18,000 police agencies, 17,000 courts, 8,000 prosecutorial agencies, 6,000 correctional institutions and almost 4,000 probation and parole departments.
If you are not sure if this is the right major for you, you may want to enroll in "Careers in Criminal Justice," an introductory course into the numerous careers available as a criminal justice graduate.
Career Opportunities
The career opportunities for graduates in criminal justice are unlimited. Graduates can become police, correctional or probation officers, administrators, police chiefs, crime analysts, private security administrators, superintendents, sheriffs, attorneys, program directors or elected officials.
The outlook for students entering law enforcement or the correctional fields is expected to be good. Although the level of government spending influences the employment in these areas, the recent support of more professionals in these areas is a trend that is expected to continue. The need to replace currently employed professionals who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force, coupled with rising employment demand, should generate thousands of job openings each year. With experience and additional education, qualified professionals may advance to supervisory, administrative or counseling positions.
In addition to speaking with an advisor, any of the books listed below might help students decide on a career in criminal justice:
DeLucia, Robert C. and Thomas J. Doyle. (1998). Career Planning in Criminal Justice
Cincinnati, OH: Anderson.
Harr, J. Scott, and Karen M. Hess. (2000). Seeking Employment in Criminal Justice and
Related Fields, Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Justice Research Association. (2000). Your Criminal Justice Career, Upper Saddle River,
NJ: Prentice Hall.
Stephens, W. Richard, Jr. (1999). Careers in Criminal Justice, Needham Heights, MA:
Allyn and Bacon.
What can I do with a degree in criminal justice?
Many occupations today require college-educated individuals who can write and speak well, solve problems, learn new information quickly and work well with others on a team. This means that college graduates use their education in a wide variety of fields, and your future career may relate as much to your personal career interests, work values and transferable skills as your specific academic major.
Legal Studies, criminal justice and protective services are the study of several interrelated fields, which focus on the effective implementation of law and legal procedures as well as the relationship of laws to the safety and protection of life and property. Legal services are more concerned with research and support related to the understanding and interpretation of law, legal procedures and practices.
Study in law enforcement concentrates on the implementation of laws aimed at ensuring the peaceful cooperation, security and safety of human lives and property. Some specialities and titles of majors include legal assisting, criminal justice, and corrections.
Some possible career choices include:
- Border Patrol Officer
- Correction Officer
- Detective
- Rehabilitation Councilor
- Administration
- Community Relations Officer
- Immigration Agent
- US Customs Agent
- Case Worker
- Parole/Probation Officer
- Crime Scene Investigator
- Criminal Investigator
- Drug Enforcement Officer
- Police Officer
- Forensic Science Specialist
- FBI Agent
- US Marshall
- Secret Service Agent
- Juvenile Probation Officer
- Private Investigator
For additional information please contact the Department of Criminal Justice & Legal Studies at 407-823-2603.
|
