Criminal Justice Careers

 Social Services

• Corrections
• Counseling
• Juvenile Justice
• Casework
• Administration
• Probations & Parole
• Victim Advocacy

• State and federal correction facilities

• County jails

• Precinct station houses

• Prison camps

• Youth correction facilities

• Medium-security correction facilities

• Voluntary correction facilities

• Halfway houses and pre-release programs

• Reintegration programs

• Alternative schools

• Juvenile detention centers

• Juvenile group homes

• Women’s and family shelters

• Domestic violence agencies

• Immigration and naturalization services

• Other nonprofit organizations

• Seek courses or training in topics such as victimology, social problems, or grieving.

• Supplement curriculum with courses in psychology, sociology, or social work.

• Gain experience working with a juvenile population in any capacity (i.e., sports teams, summer camp counselor, parks and recreation programs, and community/religious youth groups).

• Gain related experience in employment interviewing, social casework, substance abuse, and rehabilitation.

• Learn to work well with people of all backgrounds.

• Consider learning a second language.

• Maintain a blemish-free driving and criminal record.

• Gain firearms and self-defense training.

• Earn a master’s degree in social work or counseling for therapy positions.

• Obtain a masters degree in criminal justice or business for upper-level positions in facilities management or administration.

Judiciary and Law

• Court Reporting
• Legal Assistance
• Legal Research
• Administration

• Local, state, and federal courts

• Law firms

• Corporate legal departments

• Public interest law organizations

• Consider a double major or minor in the social sciences such as psychology, anthropology, sociology, or political science.

• Attend a post-secondary vocational or technical college that offers court reporting or paralegal certification programs.

• Obtain a law degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).

• Learn to use software packages such as CD-ROM research databases.

• Develop strong research, computer, and writing skills.

• Maintain a high grade point average to gain admittance to law school.

• Participate in mock trial groups.

Law Enforcement

• Patrolling
• Investigating
• Forensics
• Probation
• Security

• City/County Government Organizations including:

  • Police departments
  • Correction facilities
  • County sheriff departments
  • Liquor Control Commission

• State Government Organizations including:

  • State troopers
  • Crime labs
  • Penitentiaries

• Federal Government Organizations including:Crime laboratories

  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection
  • Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)
  • Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
  • Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
  • Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
  • Department of Homeland Security
  • Postal Service
  • Federal Marshals
  • Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
  • United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
  • National Parks Service

• Obtain related training or certifications such as CPR, first aid, or EMT.

• Complete a formal police academy program upon graduation.

• Maintain a healthy and physically fit lifestyle.

• Volunteer to work in a police department or campus safety department.

• Complete an internship in a crime laboratory to gain experience in the forensic application of science.

• Obtain a double major in criminal justice and a hard science (biology, chemistry, or biochemistry) if interested in a career in forensics.

• Consider earning a master’s degree in Forensic Science or related discipline.

• Become familiar with the government application process.

• Learn a second language.

Business

• Private Security
• Consulting
• Investigating
• Systems Integration
• Global Intelligence
• Private Investigation
• internet Security
• Loss and Prevention

• Insurance companies

• Banks

• Private security companies

• Software companies

• Hotels and resorts

• Health care facilities

• Transportation services

• Nuclear power plants

• Manufacturers

• Online companies

• Other large corporations

• Minor in business or computer science.

• Seek practicum/internship experiences that include training in the hardware and software of security systems.

• Maintain good physical fitness.

• Develop exceptional written and oral communication skills.

• Seek leadership opportunities and develop strong interpersonal skills.

• Attend firearm safety courses. Obtain first aid and CPR certification.

• Gain military experience and training.

• Earn a graduate degree in business or law for upper-level positions.

Education

• Teaching
• Research

• Colleges and universities

• Adult education providers

• Public and private high schools

• Earn a graduate degree for post-secondary teaching opportunities.

• Get a teaching certificate for elementary or secondary education. Gain a dual certification for increased opportunities.

• Serve as a tutor to other students.

• Develop strong written and oral communication skills.

• Assist a professor with research.

• Take additional coursework related to research and statistics.