Criminal Justice is a sexy field. It is exciting and important. How else could Hollywood make so many TV shows about it if it weren’t inherently interesting? Whether it is CSI or Law and Order almost everyone has said “I would like to do that,” from the comfort of the own couch at least once. Well all your armchair detectives: it’s time to go for it. Criminal justice careers are growing. And when I say “growing” I mean it.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 22 percent between 2006 and 2016, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Another get aspect of the Criminal Justice field is that there is a place for everyone. It is not some elite consortium of Jones’ and Vanderbilt’s like academia can get sometimes. There are jobs for people with associate’s degrees as well as jobs for people who have been to law school.
It is all about what YOU want to do in criminal justice. A few categories within the realm of “Criminal Justice” include:
- Paralegal
- Attorney
- Court Reporter
- Corrections Officer
- Homeland Security
- Justice Technology
- Law Enforcement
- Police
- Legal Secretary
- Forensic Scientist
- Private Investigator
- Judge
- Baliff
- Border Patrol Agent
- Criminologist
- Drug Enforcement Agent
- FBI Agent
Many of these positions can be attained through online education. Visit My Criminal Justice Careers for more information.
Pay
According to Payscale.com:
- Paralegals earned an average salary of over $50,000 last year.
- Legal secretaries earned a median salary of $40,550 in 2006.
- Court reporters earn a median salary of $50,380.
- Police and sheriff’s patrol officers had median annual earnings of $50,330 at the local level, and $55,780 at the state level in 2006.
- In 2006, FBI agents entered federal service at a base salary of $48,159.
- Detectives and investigators working for government agencies earned a median income of $62,500.
- Security guards and gaming surveillance officers earned between $21,530 and $35,840 in 2006.
- Experienced forensic scientists earn an average salary of $50,340 per year.
- Correctional officers earn a median salary of $42,500.
The Profile
A successful career in criminal justice requires two important skills: the ability to keep cool in dangerous situations and a strong ethical foundation. A scared or unethical cop won’t do much to help America.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, a career in criminal justice is one where you protect and serve America. If that doesn’t deserve respect, what does?
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Comment by Jalisa Panama — February 3, 2010 @ 11:38 pm