Careers and Jobs in the Criminal Justice System Field Go Beyond Police Officers

No matter your interests or skill level, the magnitude of diverse professions within the criminal justice field will ensure there is a career for you. Careers in the criminal justice system are essential for creating safer communities for all. You will experience exciting and honorable work no matter which career path you choose. For those seeking hands-on experience with criminal offenders and victims, perhaps the exhilarating work of police officers, security enforcers, or correctional officers would suffice. However, other jobs such as criminal detectives, lawyers, and record keeping are excellent positions that allow individuals to assist in seeking justice for suspects and victims alike. A newer and more advanced profession that is capturing the interest of many is the essential and complex world of criminal forensics. There are multiple types of forensics in which one could specialize, and they are all equally vital in solving criminal cases. The criminal justice field is vastly growing and with the wide variety of professions for individuals at almost every level of education, there is surely a career that will fulfill your desire to bring safety and justice to communities everywhere.

Careers in the criminal justice system are more vital, complex, and exciting than ever! Often times, when one thinks about careers in the criminal justice field, the automatic focus is on police officers. However, there are many other careers within the criminal justice system that may not be as well-known, but may be just as important and essential for ensuring a safe environment. First, if the excitement and nobility associated with the role of a police officer does strike your interest, it may be significant to know there are additional types of law enforcement such as security officers and campus patrol officers. These officers experience the diverse world of crime in various forms such as alcohol and substance abuse, child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, homicide, weapon violence, theft, and more. Although dealing with these issues first hand may be stressful and challenging, the results are also rewarding and gratifying.

Even though police officers play a major role in the safety of our neighborhoods and communities, they are just the tip of the iceberg. Devoted and passionate workers are required throughout the criminal justice system. Police officers rely on colleagues behind the scenes to assist them with dispatching, booking, corrections, and responsibilities in the criminal courts system. Dispatching may be one way to engage in exciting experiences without the dangers associated with playing the field. Booking and record-keeping are also safer alternatives for individuals seeking a more business-like experience in the criminal justice field.

Detectives and criminal investigators are an essential asset in the criminal justice profession. Finding important and necessary clues and evidence to solve crimes and help convict criminals are only the beginning of their roles. Detectives are expected to think outside of the box in order to uncover evidence police officers and lawyers might overlook. They must pay close attention to the details of the crime scene and interview anyone who may be involved in a crime. Criminal investigators work intimately with uncovering deleted computer documents and have expectations to go above and beyond to solve crimes and help bring justice to victims. Criminal investigators and detectives are often self-employed and extremely self-motivated. They may work hand in hand with criminal forensics.

Criminal forensics is a growing field that is challenging and crucial in the field of criminal justice. While many careers in forensics may require a more advanced education and additional training, a criminal justice degree may become the gateway to working closely with police and detectives to solve even the most high-profile and vicious cases. Forensics focuses on the investigation of crime scenes and identifying evidence that will help accurately convict criminals. There are multiple types of forensics, all of which are essential in criminal investigation. In the ever-growing world of technology, computer forensics, the study of criminal evidence pertaining to computers and other technology, is one of the most important types of forensics. Forensic psychology is the study of the mind and helps detectives determine why an individual committed a crime. They often specialize in criminal profiling which entails using provided evidence and useful knowledge from the crime scene as well as former statistics from similar crimes to help determine the type of person who committed the crime. This is a useful technique in determining suspects of an unsolved crime. Additional types of forensics include pathology – the study of diseases and causes of death, forensics of medicine, toxicology, science, dentistry, and more.

If an individual becomes a suspect of a crime, court services - which plays a major role in the criminal justice field - is the next phase of the system. A criminal justice degree online or not opens up a doorway for multiple careers with in the criminal courts. Lawyers, judges, security, forensics, and record-keeping – just to name a few – are all important roles in protecting the Constitutional rights of both victims and offenders. Many criminal justice students continue their education in law school. Both prosecutors and defense attorneys display a great deal of knowledge about local, state, and federal laws and policies. Lawyers seek truth and justice for clients and base arguments on facts and evidence often uncovered by criminal justice forensics.

Once an individual has been convicted of a crime, correctional officers become an important asset to ensuring the safety and structure of that individual within the corrections system.  Correctional officers are some of the most well paid professionals in the criminal justice field even though the education requirements include a high school diploma and passing an acceptance exam.  These professionals enforce the rules and regulations of penitentiaries.  Correctional officers are employed at the local, state, and federal levels and are ensured exceptional benefits according the level of employment. Additionally, there are individually-owned penitentiaries where correctional officers often seek employment and may be offered outstanding pay and benefits.  To be fair, it is important to understand that correctional officers have difficult, dangerous, and demanding jobs that are a full-time commitment.  Correctional officers are inspired to enforce safety and security within institutions; yet, correctional officers place their lives in a state of danger every day.  Correctional officers often work double shifts and work on a chain of command and seniority agenda which dictates where they work and when they work.  They work on strict schedules and are held at high standard to uphold even the most miniscule and strict rules of the institution in which they work.  They are not only responsible for the inmates’ lives, but also the safety of the other staff within the penitentiary.  

After an inmate is released from a penitentiary, there are many programs in which an individual with a criminal justice degree may become of service. There are aftercare and transitional programs to help reintegrate felony offenders back into society after being incarcerated. These programs are often state and federally funded and consist of parole and probation officers as well as a variety of counselor and case manager positions. Some of the transition programs include halfway houses, recovery homes, and other transitional living programs for men, women, and children. Most of these programs aid substance abusers, domestic violence victims, and homeless adults and children, especially those involved in the criminal justice system. These programs often provide various forms of treatment including counseling for mental health issues, domestic violence, and child abuse and neglect. Family reunification is a major aspect of offender reintegration, but professionals in the criminal justice field are required to focus on what is best for the clients, and sometimes families need to attend treatment and counseling in order to provide inmates who are reconnecting with their families with the greatest possibility of success.

Parole officers play an important role in the criminal justice field and in the intervention process once an inmate is released back into society. Parole officers often deal with heavy caseloads and critical situations. They hold the future of many lives in their hands and have the power to determine whether or not parolees remain among the general public or returns to jail or prison based on their actions. Parole officers have the authority to arrest individuals on parole who break the law or regulations set forth by the Parole Review Board. Parole officers carry badges and guns and have the security risk of arresting and transporting felons as well as becoming involved in dangerous situations.

Prevention, intervention, and reentry programs are all critical in the criminal justice system. Preventative programs deal with issues such as juvenile delinquency, substance abuse, mental health matters, and much more. The idea behind such programs is to prevent vulnerable populations from becoming involved in the criminal justice system in the future. Counselors and case mangers within social service agencies often entail more therapeutic approaches than police and correctional officers - often due to their particular training. Probation officers work primarily with prevention techniques. When individuals become involved in the criminal justice system, typically first-time and non-violent offenders are court ordered to work with a probation officer to ensure the individual gets back on the right track and eludes from engaging in further criminal activity.

Whether becoming an officer or enforcer of the law or partaking in the more therapeutic aspect of the criminal justice field, there are so many opportunities for individuals seeking criminal justice degrees online at the Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and even the Doctorate’s level. If you are an individual seeking excitement, justice, and security for fellow co-workers, clients, and neighbors, then a career in the criminal justice field will fulfill your requirements. With so many career options to choose from, one cannot go wrong with a criminal justice degree. The foundation classes are informative and inspirational. The Bachelor-level courses prepare students for most positions within the criminal justice field and Master’s- and Doctoral-level classes create pathways for the most advanced careers. It is easy to see how careers within the criminal justice field are connected and intertwined. Each level of care affects another. An individual with a career in the criminal justice field can work with men, women, and children and truly make a difference in the lives of various individuals.