Turn on the television and you'll find a plethora of shows with criminal justice themes, like CSI, Cold Case, Law and Order, and others. All of the cases in these series explore diverse aspects of criminal justice, yet they all share a common purpose. Criminal justice is an intertwining of agencies and processes aimed at criminal control, crime minimization, and the implementation of consequences for committing crime.
In the United States, there are several levels of the criminal justice system including state, federal, and local. When browsing for police agencies, for example, you may come across state police, local police, or a federal agency such as the FBI. All of these agencies are police and have the same aim, yet they function at different levels of government and some focus on different levels or types of crime.
Criminal justice also encompasses a number of distinct topics, or fields, each of which is critical.
The first area is law enforcement. This field, which is sometimes referred to as policing, is the first point of contact with actual criminal activity. Police officers undertake a variety of responsibilities, including obtaining statements following crimes, gathering evidence, conducting investigations, arresting offenders, and testifying in court.
This brings us to the next part of the criminal justice system, which is prosecution. Prosecution is the legal area in which criminals confront the consequences of their actions; thus, this is the area in which lawyers labor. Prosecutors represent the states in which they operate by bringing criminal charges against offenders. Charges note the official laws violated by an offender during the commission of a crime.
The court system is the arena in which lawyers and judges do the work of the next step of the criminal justice system. Once charges are filed, the criminal offender faces a formal judicial case. The judicial system is presided over by judges who oversee cases. Sentencing also occurs at the court level. For instance, an offender might face five years in prison and a $5,000 fine if they are found guilty.
Corrections is the next branch of criminal justice. Correction officers work with individuals who are incarcerated, on probation, or on parole. These officers monitor offenders' compliance with their release plans, work requirements, and any court-ordered therapy. Corrections officers may also perform additional duties, depending on the circumstances.
Police and Detective Occupations
Protecting people and property is what police officers do. Criminal investigators and detectives acquire information and evidence to help them solve crimes. Working as a police officer or detective can be physically taxing, stressful, and dangerous. Officers of the law in this capacity, suffer from some of the highest rates of occupational disease and injury.
A high school diploma, associate, or bachelor's degree is usually enough to get a job in this field. Most police officers and detectives are required to attend their agency's training academy before they can begin their on-the-job training. To be considered, applicants must be United States citizens, be at least 21 years old, and be in excellent physical and mental health.
In May 2020, the average annual salary for police officers and detectives was $67,290. Police and detective jobs are expected to expand by 7% between 2020 and 2030, which is in line with the overall average for all occupations.
Over the next decade, there are expected to be approximately 67,100 vacancies for police and detectives. It's projected that many of these positions will be filled as a result of the need to replace people who move into new fields of employment or leave the workforce altogether, such as through retirement.
An associate degree in criminal justice serves as the entry-level credential for careers in law enforcement, corrections, the court system, and victim assistance systems. With smaller classrooms and compressed graduation schedules, an associate degree in criminal justice enables a seamless transfer into the workforce.
Earning an associate degree in criminal justice prepares students for a variety of careers including homeland security, law enforcement, and firefighting. Graduates may seek employment in a variety of other positions as well including paralegal, parole officer, and forensic science technician.
Online associate degrees in criminal justice provide career-minded students with job-ready credentials in a fraction of the time it takes to complete bachelor's or master's program. Associate learners obtain a breadth of knowledge that prepares them for entry-level positions in all facets of the criminal justice system.
In comparison to bachelor's and master's degrees, associate degrees do not require four years or more of study. Associate degrees are particularly appealing to candidates who have specific, measurable goals and are looking for a fast track to a profession. Similarly, an associate degree is a prudent educational choice for students interested in the criminal justice arena but are unsure of which career path to take.
An associate degree is, by definition, introductory, allowing students to engage with a wide variety of field-specific subtopics and determine which academic and professional development routes interest them the most.
Additional advantages include the following:
Cost Savings
Certain entry-level positions in criminal justice require only an undergraduate degree and make little distinction between an associate degree and a bachelor's degree. Associate degrees are faster and less expensive to achieve than bachelor's degrees.
Flexibility Increased
A two-year associate degree enables students to earn advanced status in comparable bachelor's programs. Degree seekers who want to continue their studies might expect to graduate in around half the time normally required.
Increased Earning Prospects
According to 2019 BLS statistics, associate degree holders earn more than 17% more than those with only high school diplomas.
Bachelor's
A bachelor's degree in criminal justice can help graduates prepare for a variety of exciting and in-demand occupations. Between 2020 and 2030, the BLS estimates that private detectives and investigators jobs will expand by 13%, while paralegals and legal assistant jobs will grow by 12%; both of these rates are faster than the average anticipated growth rate in the United States of 8%.
Students enrolled in bachelor's criminal justice programs must complete approximately 120 course credits, which normally takes four years for full-time students. However, the actual duration of the program is dependent on factors such as whether students arrive with transferred credits or enroll in summer courses.
Working students may prefer a part-time schedule, and some may opt for online or hybrid courses to complete their degrees. Earning an online bachelor's degree in criminal justice may enable students to take asynchronous or self-paced courses and complete much of their coursework at their convenience.
Certain graduates may wish to pursue occupations that need extra credentials. For example, private detectives must get state-issued licenses. Additionally, the majority of businesses need paralegals to obtain state-issued credentials. Probation officers, correctional officers, police officers, and detectives must pass competency examinations, background checks, and drug testing.
What Will I Learn in a Bachelor's Program in Criminal Justice?
Students studying criminal justice gain an understanding of how various institutions and organizations monitor and prevent crime, the history of our justice system, and more. Although this field offers several specializations, the majority of students begin with core courses, such as criminology and research methodologies.
Specialized courses, such as American government or homeland security and terrorism, delve further into the inner workings of the US legal system and national security. Certain courses, such as criminal investigations or forensics, cover investigative techniques that students may encounter in their future jobs. Sociology of deviance and law enforcement and society are more theoretically oriented courses that examine the links between legal systems, social infrastructures, and individuals.
Learners improve their ability to think critically, reason morally, and communicate effectively in writing and verbally within these programs. Individuals pursuing more specialized focuses may also develop expertise in highly specialized allied fields, such as forensic science and information technology.
Master's
Criminal justice students at this level develop a grasp of the many agencies and organizations that monitor and prevent crime. This level of degree in criminal justice is likely to be focused on management of criminal justice organizations. This is also the required level of degree for many law-focused positions, such as for laywers or judges. Those who wish to work in high-level science positions, such as those who offer expert testimony on forensics, should earn a master's in the appropriate field in order to gain the credentials necessary to work at this level.
Different criminal justice occupations such as inspector, sergeant, and profiler, demand various levels of schooling. A master's degree in criminal justice can help you prepare for these types of positions. Degree requirements vary by agency, job title, and even the area in which you seek work. As an online student pursuing a master's degree in criminal justice, you'll study the causes of crime, the societal consequences of crime, and criminal justice management principles, all of which can help you compete for advanced employment in the area.
PhD
A doctoral program in criminal justice is usually a two-year program of study and research following the completion of a master's degree. The curriculum is divided into a substantive core that focuses on criminal justice theory and institutions, a research techniques core that educates about the scientific method and social-science statistics, and a concentration in a substantive area of criminal justice (policing, corrections, or juvenile justice).
A doctoral program in criminal justice is a post-master's program of study and research consisting of around 55-60 credit hours. Students must complete a minimum of around 40 credit hours of dissertation research and 15 credit hours of doctorate coursework.
The curriculum is centered on criminal justice and ay utilize the local city and adjacent areas to investigate criminal justice issues from a variety of perspectives and levels.
The program is meant to fulfill a variety of functions. Among them are the following: developing disciplinary stewards capable of furthering criminal justice scholarship; developing a skilled workforce capable of assuming instructional duties in criminal justice at postsecondary institutions; developing analysts capable of filling positions in federal, state, and local criminal justice agencies; and enhancing community safety and justice through research collaborations with neighborhood, local, county, and state agencies and associations.
Students who successfully complete these programs will be well prepared to seek academic careers in universities, research jobs in criminal justice agencies, and consulting positions in program evaluation and needs assessment.
Potential Career Options
Along with the potential to make a significant difference in the lives of individuals and a positive impact on your country and community, the career outlook is particularly bright for those who earn a bachelor's or master's degree in criminal justice. Here is a closer look at a selection of criminal justice jobs that are available at all levels.
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