Just like technology can’t replace doctors, it can also not replace criminal justice professionals. Are you seeking a job that will offer value and direction in your life and pay well? If this is the case, a criminal justice degree could be ideal for you. This line of work offers a consistent pay scale, a wide range of career options, job security, an esteemed reputation, and various growth opportunities. You also get a chance to serve the people and bring significant change to your community.
Criminal justice jobs offer more than just job security. These jobs render various health and retirement benefits too. Since every country’s main objective is to diminish the crime rate and offer a better quality of life to its citizens, the demand for criminal justice professionals keeps increasing. Job security and steady salaries are one thing. There are other rationales to pursue criminal justice for a career. You don’t necessarily have to be macho and aggressive to step into this field. Undoubtedly, we perceive lawyers as constantly arguing and police officers as always gunning down criminals. That doesn’t mean that kind-hearted people cannot enter the world of criminal justice. It’s the compassion and ability to help others that compels you towards criminal justice in the first place.
A criminal justice degree opens new doors for tremendous opportunities. Today, thanks to digitalization, obtaining this qualification is more convenient than ever. Online criminal justice degrees are your best bet to kick-starting this career if you’re running low on your time or budget. Online criminal justice programs allow you to develop foundational concepts and provide you with enough flexibility to pursue a part-time job or internship side by side. Continue reading to know about your career options with a criminal justice degree.
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Lawyer Or Attorney
Lawyers or attorneys represent citizens in the court of law and assist them with sorting other legal matters throughout their lives. The job of a lawyer isn’t necessarily a boring desk job. Arguing and debating throughout their career leads lawyers to have extraordinary intellectual abilities. Moreover, most businesses hire lawyers nowadays to take care of all the legal matters involved in trading. Lawyers need to have several years of qualification before they can practice professionally. Typically, you’ll need to obtain a 4-year undergraduate degree followed by a 3-year degree from a law school. To have your legal firm or represent clients in court, you’ll need to pass a bar examination to earn a license.
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Private Investigator (PI)
Private investigators are qualified to collect evidence, follow leads, and conduct thorough research. These individuals can be hired privately or by the state to look into several matters. Mostly, private investigators get hired to locate missing persons. They also assist the police during raids and examining several cases. Private investigators are not needed to have a license unless requested by the company with which they operate. Some of them work with police departments and psychology-related organizations to earn the necessary experience. Private investigators also make a hefty amount for every case they take. Additionally, they are allotted an allowance and extra resources like fuel, taxi fares, entrance tickets, etc., by their clients.
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Police Officers
The vacancies are never-ending in police departments all across the globe. Police officers maintain social order, chase, and capture criminals, investigate cases, and take a stand in a courtroom on many occasions. They have been mentally educated to recognize suspicious activities and persons. They’re also physically trained to apprehend and detain them. Because of the events and circumstances, you must operate under, this one profession in criminal justice needs you to have a heart of stone. Police officers may work locally or for the state. They are supposed to maintain a strict code of conduct and must never misuse their authority. To join the police, you must undergo several tests and training, for example, medical, psychological, fitness, and written and verbal tests.
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Crime Scene Investigator
Crime scene investigators are courageous individuals who are the first ones to attend to a crime scene. They gather all the evidence like fingerprints, murder weapons, identity cards, etc., and submit them for forensic examination. These experts investigate the timing of the occurrence and offer theories as to what may have happened. Crime scene investigators also talk to the people around to gather more helpful information. They also investigate what the motive could have been. Crime scene investigators work directly on the field. They are encountered with various new and thrilling incidents every day, so the job never gets boring. However, sometimes they come in contact with very gruesome environments on the crime scene.
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Forensic Analyst
Once the crime scene investigator accumulates all the available evidence, they forward it to the lab, where forensic analysts take it over. These individuals are also courageous beings since they’re supposed to deal with dead bodies and other spine-chilling pieces of evidence. Forensic analysts are supposed to determine the exact time and cause of death and propose accurate theories that can help determine the crime pattern. And eventually, lead to the criminal. They also have to conduct a detailed analysis of the major and minor injuries on the bodies and what kind of torture the victims went through or what they had for dinner. These details play a crucial role during the entire investigation.
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Social Services Worker
Not all jobs for criminal justice professionals require you to be sturdy and courageous. Social services workers work with various organizations to enhance the quality of life in their communities. They work for juvenile justice, drug abuse and rehabilitation, and different other sectors. Some social workers work near the police to counsel inmates and talk them out of suicide and criminal impulses. They also volunteer to assist the police and various organizations during a crisis. Social services workers need to complete an undergraduate degree in a relevant field (for example, criminal justice) and complete several hours of training to obtain employment finally.
Final Thoughts
A criminal justice degree opens new doors of opportunity for you to pursue. You don’t necessarily have to become a lawyer or a policeman. If you’re looking for a thrilling job, gain the relevant expertise and become a private investigator or detective. If you’re brave enough to function promptly in horrifying environments, become a crime scene expert. If you’re keen on working in labs, become a forensic analyst.