The criminal justice field is one of the fastest growing in the United States. Criminal justice career opportunities are widespread and include professions that range from correctional officers and law enforcement to attorneys and security personnel. Such opportunities can be found in the private sector, through governmental agencies, and via nonprofit corporations. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates that the demand for criminal justice professionals will continue to rise over the next decade.
TYPES OF JOBS AVAILABLE:
Careers in the criminal justice field fall generally into three broad categories. These include: law enforcement, judicial system, and corrections. Students who earn their degree in criminal justice are frequently employed by:
Federal law enforcement agencies
- examples include:
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Central Intelligence Agency
US Marshals
Secret Service
Drug Enforcement Agency
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Border Patrol
State and local police departments
Probation and parole services - examples of relevant careers include:
Adult probation officer
Adult parole officer
Juvenile probation officer
Juvenile parole officer
Correctional facilities (e.g., jails, state prisons, Federal Bureau of Prisons)
- examples of careers include:
Warden
Deputy or Associate Warden
Chief of Security
GED teacher
Counselor (substance abuse, mental health)
Classification specialist
Personnel manager
Financial manager
Recreation supervisor
Safety manager
Correctional officer
Juvenile justice systems - examples of relevant careers include:
Warden
Deputy or Associate Warden
Treatment staff
Educational staff
Detention officer
Private security firms
Crime laboratories
Victim advocacy agencies
Any many, many more!
Other criminal justice graduates enroll in a
master's program or law school following graduation.
Check out some of these links:
FBI Employment
Federal Judiciary Employment
Federal Jobs
Government Jobs Database
Law Enforcement Careers
Fire Science Online - contains career guide with CJ career choices and other resources
Create a Career - contains 90 Criminal Justice jobs