Positive Growth Trend
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the attacks of September 11 will increase the demand for police as well as other jobs in criminal justice. That makes this a great time to consider criminal justice programs. Another benefit of criminal justice jobs is the fact that employer-provided benefits are typically better among state and local government employees than among private sector workers. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Labor predicts that by 2010, the demand for FBI Officers, Police Officers, Private Detectives, U.S. Customs Agents and those in other professional criminal justice jobs will grow by more than 29%.Go Where the Criminal Justice Jobs Are
When we think about the response to the terrorist attacks and attempts to make the nation safe, we ordinarily think about the Department of Homeland Security and other nationwide agencies. But the fact is that most of the jobs in criminal justice are at the local and state government level. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, excluding education and hospitals, state and local governments employ about 7.9 million workers, making them among the largest employers in the country. Around two-thirds of these employees work for local governments, such as counties, cities, and towns.Criminal Justice Programs - What You'll Learn
A criminal justice degree, whether it be at the associate or baccalaureate, level, will provide you with a solid foundation in criminal justice, as well as a broader liberal arts background. A strong criminal justice program will prepare you with the professional skills in specialized areas of criminal justice and the law, as well as giving you strong research and analytical skills. Graduates of criminal justice programs seek careers in law enforcement, corrections, probation, parole or juvenile justice.Coursework in a criminal justice program varies greatly. But here are some typical classes you might take en route to your degree:
- History Of Criminal Justice
- Science and Technology Courses as Applied to Criminal Justice
- The Criminal Justice System
- Criminology
- Criminal Law
- Research Methods
- Criminal Justice Ethics
- Corrections
- Law Enforcement Organizations
- Trial Proceedings
How Much Do Jobs in Criminal Justice Pay?
So will all this studying and work be worthwhile? Pay for criminal justice jobs naturally vary by geographic location, level of experience and nature of the job. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, police and sheriff's patrol officers earn, on average $20-23 per hour. Correctional officers and jailers earn $15-16 per hour. Those who stay in the field of criminal justice and get master's degrees can earn a lot more, as the table from Bureau of Labor Statistics data below shows (salaries are per year):| City manager | $85,000 |
| Assistant Chief Admin. Officer | 74,486 |
| Chief Administrative Officer | 66,950 |
| Chief Law Enforcement Official | 62,005 |
So if you have an interest in the field of criminal justice and law, take time to review the criminal justice degrees offered here, and remember that the field is a wide one.
