Overview
Find Your Criminal Justice School
If you've dreamed about an exciting career in criminal justice, your dreams are in sight.
Over 860,000 men and women are currently employed as the police officers, detectives, sheriffs and state troopers who enforce our nation's laws.
With our help, you can find the information and training you need to become one of them.
To compare criminal justice programs in your area, complete the simple form to the right.
Or see criminal justice career information such as training, salary and job outlook by visiting the links below.
To find a criminal justice program near you, fill out the School Finder form to the right. From there you can browse a list of programs in your area and request more information from the schools that interest you. As always, your information will be kept completely safe.
Criminal Justice Job Description
Criminal justice can take many different forms. Here is a general overview of the various career paths in law enforcement.
Uniformed Officer
This versatile officer covers a wide range of duties within a variety of jurisdictions. Often the first members of law enforcement to engage the public, uniformed officers may initiate investigations via their regular patrols, or by responding to calls. In addition, these officers serve the public by monitoring and controlling traffic, administering first aid, and helping civilians with neighborhood law enforcement.
Sheriffs and deputy sheriffs
These elected officers work within a county jurisdiction, and often may be the only arbiters of justice in rural areas. A sheriff's duties roughly parallel those of a city officer, including patrol, investigation, and the arrest and transport of criminals. Sheriffs' duties also extend to county courts, where they may serve as bailiff or carry out such tasks as ensuring the protection of the jury outside the courtroom, extraditing prisoners, and enforcing court orders such as warrants and money decrees.
State Police
Also known as State Troopers or Highway Patrol, these officers are the statewide highway and traffic authority. Operating in every US state except Hawaii, the State Police issue traffic citations, detain law-breaking motorists, and assist the scene of accidents, performing first aid or directing the flow of traffic. State Police may also be called on to assist other organizations, especially in rural areas.
Detectives
These plainclothes officers are responsible for in-depth investigation and fact-finding on criminal cases. This is one of the most involved areas of criminal justice, with detectives typically specializing in one field, such as homicide or fraud. Their duties range from researching records and interviewing witnesses to monitoring suspects and participating in raids and arrests.
Fish and Game Wardens
The wilderness is the jurisdiction of these officers, whose responsibility it is to enforce hunting, fishing and boating laws. Fish and Game wardens carry out tasks such as search and rescue operations, regulating and monitoring boat traffic, responding to complaints and accidents, and assisting in court proceedings for these areas.
Federal Officers
The federal government employs many types of criminal justice agency, the principal one being the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). These officers investigate matters of federal law, including organized crime, bank robbery, kidnapping, terrorism, drug trafficking and cyber crimes, and may carry out sensitive operations such as wire-taps, surveillance and undercover assignments. Other federal law organizations include the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Marshals, which protect the American justice system, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Another federal organization, the Department of Homeland Security, employs officers in border security and immigration affairs, as well as in the U.S. Secret Service
To find out what criminal justice programs are available in your area, complete the School Finder form to the right. From there you can request more information from the programs that interest you.
Criminal Justice Training
Law enforcement involves learning specialized skills, ranging from human relations and diplomacy to physical strength and agility. Aside from the necessary classroom education, every law enforcement member undergoes a rigorous training regimen to make sure they're up to snuff with their department's standards.
Uniformed Officer Training
After gaining an associate or bachelor degree in criminal justice, uniformed officers, detectives and other state and local police power their way through a 12-14 week police academy where troops undergo strength and stamina conditioning. Firearms training is also part of the regimen, with officers logging hours with handguns, shotguns and other weapons. Officers also learn how to use a vehicle in criminal pursuit, using controlled skidding tactics, two-way radio work and crash avoidance techniques.
Federal Agent Training
Government agents have an even more rigorous training schedule. The FBI, for example, utilizes a 17-week training program consisting of classroom learning, physical training and integrated criminal scenarios. A portion of FBI training takes place at the mock city training grounds known as Hogan's Alley, where scenarios are carried out in a lifelike city setting. The firearms training is more involved as well, with agents becoming familiar with bureau submachine guns as well as handguns and shotguns.
Before academy training, officers typically complete a full classroom education, including a high school diploma and a college degree in criminal justice or a related field. To learn more about criminal justice programs in your area, complete the simple form to the right and request information from schools near you.
Other Specialties in Criminal Justice
These criminal justice careers are centered around in-depth investigation and study, requiring intellectual rather than physical dexterity.
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
The CIA is renowned by TV and movie fans as the country's base for spy activity and covert operations. The reality of the CIA is not far from this, though it is a little more complicated. CIA agents gather foreign intelligence in order to provide the president with the insight necessary to make decisions regarding national security and foreign relations. Much of what the CIA investigates has to do with the threat of nuclear and chemical weapons, and the drug trade. Intelligence analysts and overseas agents in this field often have advanced degrees in fields like criminal justice.
Crime Scene Investigation (CSI)
Crime Scene Investigators do the complex evidence gathering and analysis at crime scenes ranging from home invasions and burglaries to sexual assaults and homicides. Working with law enforcement to complete investigations, Crime Scene Investigators are responsible for finding, packaging and sending physical evidence to the lab for analysis, completing reports concerning their findings, and if necessary, testifying in court. An expertise in anatomy, physics, or another science is helpful in this field, along with knowledge of laws and general police practices.
Private Investigator
Private Investigators are often hired to gather information about a specific person, ranging from a simple background check to undercover surveillance or monitoring. PIs use access to public records along with their own evidence gathering to track or investigate a person in cases involving infidelity, child support, fraud, or other civil violations. Investigators are also hired by lawyers to uncover the details of a case, to help interview witnesses, and occasionally to help present the case in court.
Paralegal
Lawyers rely on these legal assistants to manage information for them, including preparing and drafting documents, interviewing clients, organizing notebooks for trial, assisting with research, and writing legal briefs. Working closely with lawyers and other professionals in the justice system, paralegals rely on intellect, listening skills and reasoning abilities to carry out the work required of them.
Criminologist
The study of crime and criminals is the domain of these professionals. They study and analyze criminal behavior and laws, ultimately endeavoring to explain the criminal mindset. Their field is general and broad, though it provides keen insight into the motivations behind criminals, the circumstances that produce crime, and the effect of laws on crime. Many criminologists conduct their own research as they teach at a college or university, and others are employed by federal and state agencies as policy advisors. Most criminologists have either a master's degree or a PhD.
Your criminal justice degree will give you a firm foothold in careers like these. To find a program near you, complete the School Finder form to the right and connect with criminal justice schools in your area.
Criminal Justice Career Outlook
As society becomes more conscious of social issues like drug use and cyber crime, the career outlook for those in law enforcement gets brighter. Labor Bureau statistics show a growth rate of about 11% in this field during the next 10 years.
Criminal justice is a popular option as a second career as well, as many law officers retire with a pension after only 20 or 25 years.
Criminal Justice Salaries
According to Labor Bureau statistics for 2007, police and sheriff's patrol officers earned a national average of around $59,800, with the median falling at $47,460. The highest paid supervisors earned more than $104,410.
Average Salaries for Full-Time Sworn Positions, 2006 |
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| Title | Minimum Base |
Maximum Base |
| Police Chief | $78,547 |
$99,698 |
| Deputy Chief | 68,797 |
87,564 |
| Police Captain | 65,408 |
81,466 |
| Police Lieutenant | 59,940 |
72,454 |
| Police Sergeant | 53,734 |
63,564 |
| Police Corporal | 44,160 |
55,183 |
To find criminal justice programs near you, complete the School Finder form to the right to find schools in your area. You can then request more information from the programs that interest you. Your information will be kept completely safe.
