Criminal Justice Careers

Criminal Justice Careers Overview - Corrections

• Corrections officer – A career as a corrections officer is a demanding and dangerous job. Most corrections officers work in rural areas with smaller inmate populations as opposed to urban jails with large populations. Employment prospects are excellent. Correction officers supervise criminals serving time in jails, penitentiaries and reformatories. Job responsibilities include averting attacks, escapes as well as insuring security. Correctional officers also make written and oral reports regarding inmate behavior, document conflicts, hazards and suspicions activity or circumstances. Having an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in criminal justice will put you on the right track for this criminal justice career. The growing prison population will create new supervisory positions and correctional officer openings, leading to employment growth and career advancement. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the median annul salary for corrections officers was $35,760 in May 2006. Federal prisons pay higher salaries but require a higher level of education.

• Correctional Treatment Specialist – correctional treatment specialist work in the correctional system in jails and prisons. Main responsibilities include counseling inmates as they get ready for probation, parole or release as well as working closely with probation officers to set education and employment plans for a smooth transition to community life. Training in anger management, drugs and sexual abuse allows correctional specialist to provide the necessary counseling and assist in determinations for parole. Earning a bachelors degree in criminal justice is the most common education path into this career. Job prospects are excellent, as for most criminal justice careers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, salary for correctional treatment specialist ranged from $26,310 to $66,660 a year in May, 2004.

• Parole Officer – parole officers work with inmates who have been released from jail prior to their sentence release date. Main responsibilities include helping parolees adjust back into society as well as watching out for any circumstances that could reverse their parole status thus placing them back into custody. As a parole officer you would develop extensive plans with parolees setting housing, employment, health care, and education goals. In terms of education, a bachelors degree in criminal justice is usually recommended. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth for parole officers will increase with the average for all jobs thought 2014.

• Probation Officer – unlike parole officers, probation officers deal with offenders who have been convicted but not send to jail. Main job responsibilities revolve around conducing pre-sentence investigation and reports, used to decide on sentencing and the likelihood of rehabilitation. Pre-sentence investigations are done by interviews with family, friends, employers, and counselors of the offender. Similar to parole officers, a probation officer usually has a bachelors degree in criminal justice, corrections or psychology. Job opportunities and outcomes as well as salary projections are the same as that for parole officers.

• Private Security Guards – Private Security is a rapid growing area resulting in many job opportunities. As a private security guard your main job responsibilities would include providing security and protection to individuals or private businesses. While the level of education required for this criminal justice career varies, higher paying jobs are usually obtained by individuals with a bachelors degree in criminal justice. Understanding crisis deterrence, protection, weaponry and use of surveillance devices is critical for this career. Job opportunities are excellent as the need for protection and safety grows.

• Private Detectives and Investigators – private detectives/investigators have very irregular hours and are often self employed. Main job responsibilities include finding and analyzing information for individuals, businesses or attorneys. As a private detective you would provide assistance in criminal and civil liability cases, insurance claims, fraud, missing person cases as well as investigations or infidelity. Most criminal justices careers, private detective included, offer areas for specialization. Private Investigators can specialize in the area of computer forensics, legal, corporate or financial investigations. While there are no formal education requirements for this career, many have bachelors degree in criminal justice or related fields while some may have a master degree in criminal justice. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of private detectives and investigators is expected to grow 18 percent by 2016, faster than average for all occupations. The median annual salary for private detectives was $33,750 in May 2006. Career and salary advancements are possible with advanced experience and education.

• Homeland Security Specialist – The Department of Homeland Security provides employment for law enforcement officers that may work on land or at sea as part of the local, state or federal law enforcement agency. Homeland Security workers specialize in a number of different areas such as emergency and natural disaster management, law enforcement and information security. This type of criminal justice career can be for security officers as well as scientists or computer technicians. Because it focuses on global issues, varies types of education degrees can lead you into this career path. Job prospects are excellent as the need for security keeps growing.

• Court Administrator – Court administrator, are responsible for smooth running of the court. This is a managerial and administrative post and requires training in leadership skills. Main job responsibilities include forecasting and setting budgets, selecting required equipment, organizing maintenance schedules, and interviewing and recruiting staff members. While administration skills are a necessity, understanding of law and the legal system are essential. As a result, a bachelors degree in criminal justice may provide the best training. This type of degree focuses on organizational skills, written and oral communication, leadership skills, planning ability as well as insures a strong foundation of law theory thus allowing graduates to exceed in management and leadership criminal justice careers.

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