What is Criminal Justice and How Can I Start a Career in the Field?
Many different career paths within the criminal justice profession are in constant collaboration to further their mission to serve and protect the people of your community. As criminal justice becomes more technical and specialized, qualified professionals are needed in the areas of investigative support, security, tech support, and forensic science as well as many others.
The Facts About A Criminal Justice Career
You may have many questions about just what is expected of a qualified criminal justice professional. Even if you harbor doubts about your suitability to work in law enforcement, you may be surprised to find that there is an enjoyable job waiting for you where you would excel. The facts are that the criminal justice system requires a lot more than just police work.
Administration of justice just starts with identifying and apprehending criminals. Law enforcement needs qualified professionals, but there are many positions throughout the court system and corrections that also are understaffed.
While each has their distinct job skills and knowledge bases, a general education in the technical aspects of criminal justice provides a foundation on which you can build a career. Each component of the criminal justice system depends on the other, and without qualified applicants to meet the growing demands of the profession, the legal system begins to break down. Even after a criminal has served their time in prison, opportunities exist in rehabilitation functions such as parole officers and educators who seek to reduce recidivism.
Getting Off To The Right Start In Criminal Justice
As you may have already determined, it is highly unusual to get hired anywhere in the criminal justice system without an education that is specific to the unique requirements of these crucial positions. A criminal justice degree is usually a 4-year commitment of time, but there is a lot to learn before you are qualified to start your first day on the job.
The course of study in a criminal justice degree will have some general education courses, but the curriculum is packed with classes that will teach students crucial subjects such as the rules of evidence, emergency planning, case management, and media relations. The curriculum is challenging, but it is necessary to start a career off on the right foot.
There is often very little room for error in these professions and the learning curve can be unusually steep. It is better to make beginner's mistakes in the classroom than in the field. No matter where you wish to work in the system, this degree will prepare you for the highly technical duties of the profession, but also how to deal with the pressures and unique challenges that you will face every day.
The Importance of a Criminal Justice Education
The very diversity of occupations within the criminal justice field underscores the importance of a specific education in the many elements of the justice system. While entry-level positions such as dispatchers, security officers, or others may require only a high school education these positions dead-end fairly quickly and better-paying jobs will require a degree to even merit consideration.
Becoming a sworn law enforcement officer usually requires training at an academy, and an education in criminal justice may be a prerequisite for entry into these programs. Federal law enforcement positions are even more strict when it comes to this requirement. Positions in disciplines such as forensic science or criminology will usually require graduate-level studies that will be closed to anyone that does not hold at least a bachelor's degree.
While real-world experience is the best teacher in the world of criminal justice, employers are unwilling to take the risk of training candidates in these sensitive positions that have not yet demonstrated the competence and commitment needed to be successful in the career field.
Do you want to do your part to make your community a better place by beginning an exciting new career in the criminal justice field? If you want to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice, consider ECPI University's accelerated program. For more information on how to get started today, connect with a helpful admissions advisor.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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Gainful Employment Information – Criminal Justice - Bachelor’s
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