Career Options For Bachelor’s Degree In Criminal Justice

I Have A Bachelor’s Degree In Criminal Justice Now What

You have just completed your bachelor’s degree in criminal justice but have no idea what you should do next. You know that serving justice is your passion and mission, but you want to know where you can apply this passion. Well, look no further! In this article, you will find some of the best jobs for an individual with a Bachelor’s Degree In Criminal Justice.

First, it is essential to understand what the term ‘Criminal Justice’ means. The term in itself means that you serve justice to those who have been wronged. This justice plays a very crucial role in our society. With a degree in criminal justice, you delve deeper into what justice actually means and how it can be delivered to different social sectors. This role varies from a correctional facility where prisoners are lodged to public policies set for the welfare of the community at large. The job is seeing a steady growth in recent years, with several career options opening up in areas like forensics, police officers, lawyers, etc. 

Before you jump into what career you should choose, it is necessary to look back on the area of interest you studied in. This interest area can be the judicial system, the psychological and sociological domain, or to deliver justice where there is no hope. Depending on the area of interest you have studied in, you can then further expand your career in the selected domain. It is important to note that this kind of degree is in demand by both the public and private sectors. As a graduate of criminal justice, you have already studied this course’s theoretical and practical aspects. A practical experience at any judicial, federal, state, law enforcement workplace will guarantee you a tight spot in a criminal justice job. 

Career Options For Degree In Criminal Justice

Below are the best career options available with a degree in criminal justice that you should check out.

  1. Law Enforcement Officer

Well, you will be quite familiar with this term. Law enforcement goes by many synonyms or titles, such as police officers, special agents, detectives, sheriffs, criminal investigators, or state troopers. A person with this job title may work as a law enforcement officer at a federal, state, or local level. No matter the title they go by, their job is the same. They have to safeguard the citizens, the citizen’s property, nab suspects accused of committing a crime, and ensure that justice is served to the crime victims.

Duties Of A Law Enforcement Officer

  • Patrol the area you are assigned to.
  • Respond to calls for distress immediately.
  • Provide first aid medical assistance in cases of accidents, attempted wrongdoing, or any other physical harm that you can see on the victim, and you think will need first aid assistance.
  • Probe the crime scene area for any illegal activities.
  • Ensure that the crime scene area is secured and any trespassers are kept at bay.
  • Interview eyewitnesses present at the time when the crime took place.
  • Interrogate the suspect in compliance with the prevalent laws in the United States.
  •  Conduct a background check on the apprehended suspect to gather any past criminal records if available and gather evidence to build a case against the suspect.
  • If you are appointed as a sheriff or deputy sheriff  at a particular jurisdiction, you may be asked to serve eviction notices or subpoenas. You may also be asked to safeguard the country courthouse in a specified jurisdiction.
  • As a law enforcement officer, your main duty is to gather as much evidence as you can, compile it, and produce it in the court as and when required. You will also be required to testify and record the proceedings of the court.

Requirements To Be A Law Enforcement Officer

The requirements to be a law enforcement officer varies across the states or jurisdictions you are applying for.

  • Some states will ask for a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, while other states will prefer your college credits. Do check out the requirement of the state you are applying for and choose the selected requirement accordingly.
  • It would be best if you mandatorily were a citizen of the United States.
  • You should be at least 21 years of age.
  • You should not have any past criminal record. You should not be involved in any criminal or illegal activities.
  • You are required to pass the medical and psychological exam conducted at the time of your admission.
  • You should also possess a valid driver’s license.
  • In some states, you may be asked to appear for a polygraph test. You will secure a job if you pass the polygraph test.
  • You will be mandatorily asked to appear for a drug test no matter your seniority in the field.

Salary Of A Law Enforcement Officer

A law enforcement officer earns an average yearly salary of $ 36,905 in the United States, with the top 10 percent in a senior position earning $44,000 per year. In comparison, the bottom 10 percent at an entry-level earns $30,000 per year.

Following is a state-wise salary in the most popular cities of the United States:

  • A law enforcement officer working in San Francisco, situated in California, earns an average salary of $50,000 with a salary range from $37,000 to $66,000.
  • A law enforcement officer working in the city of Minneapolis, situated in the state of Minnesota, earns an average salary of $46,000 with a salary range from $37,000 to $54,000.
  • A law enforcement officer working in Portland, situated in the state of Oregon, earns an average salary of $45,000 with a salary range from $36,000 to $55,000.
  • A law enforcement officer working in the city of Seattle situated in Washington earns an average salary of $45,000 with a salary range from $37,000 to $53,000.
  • A law enforcement officer working in the city of New York, situated in the state of New York, earns an average salary of $43,000 with a salary range from $33,000 to $55,000.
  • A law enforcement officer working in the city of Boston situated in Massachusetts earns an average salary of $42,000 with a salary range from $34,000 to $52,000.
  • A law enforcement officer working in Washington, situated in the District of Columbia, earns an average salary of $40,000 with a salary range from $32,000 to $50,000.
  • A law enforcement officer working in Columbus, situated in Ohio, earns an average salary of $39,000 with a salary range from $32,000 to $48,000.
  • A law enforcement officer working in the city of Omaha, situated in the state of Nebraska, earns an average salary of $36,000 with a salary range from $30,000 to $42,000.
  • A law enforcement officer working in the city of Salt Lake City, situated in the state of Utah, earns an average salary of $36,000 with a salary range from $28,000 to $44,000.
  • A law enforcement officer working in Baltimore’s city situated in the state of Mary Land earns an average salary of $36,000 with a salary range from $28,000 to $44,000.
  • A law enforcement officer working in the city of Kansas City, situated in Missouri, earns an average salary of $31,000 with a salary range from $26,000 to $37,000.
  • A law enforcement officer working in Raleigh’s city in the state of North Carolina earns an average salary of $28,000 with a salary range from $23,000 to $33,000.
  • A law enforcement officer working in the city of Oklahoma City, situated in the state of Oklahoma, earns an average salary of $26,000 with a salary range from $20,000 to $31,000.
  1. Teacher or Trainer

As the title aptly suggests, your job in this role is to teach students about the criminal justice system’s practices and regulations. Your main role is to impart your knowledge in this field that you have gained through years of experience and practice. You demonstrate the tactics available to curb criminal justice and maintain people’s safety, security, and property. You prepare lectures and presentations in correction, criminal justice, law enforcement, administration, etc. This teaching job can also be incorporated with research. You will also have to grade your students’ assignments or thesis. Your role falls under an administrative level.

Duties Of A Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teacher or Trainer

  • You have to bring about classroom discussions, address these discussions and enhance them to allow students to participate in the lectures actively.
  • You have to grade student’s assignments or thesis regularly.
  • You are in charge of the administrative work that may involve compiling, filing, and managing documents as and when required.
  • You have to enrich your knowledge from time to time and familiarize yourself with the latest judicial system trends by participating in professional courses, talking to your colleagues from various departments, and conducting research online.
  • You must maintain accurate records of students’ attendance, documentation, grading, projects, etc.
  • You are required to prepare the course’s syllabus, revise the syllabus and make changes if necessary, plan assignments and projects, organize practical visits and guest lectures as and when necessary.

Requirements To Be A Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teacher or Trainer

  • You need to have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree to be employed at a high school level.
  • You need to have prior work experience in the said domain. The more the experience, the higher are your chances of bagging the job.
  • You need to possess a vocational teaching certificate as some states may ask for it.
  • A public school teacher must have a state license, whereas the same is not mandatory for a private school teacher.
  • You need to complete a mandatory teachers’ training program with a backup of supervised teaching.
  • You need to possess good literature skills, interpersonal skills, organizational skills, and an eye for detail.
  • In the case of not completing your teaching program, states will hold complete discretion on selection requirements.

Salary Of A Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teacher or Trainer

A criminal justice trainer, instructor, or teacher earns an average salary of $56,970 per year in the United States Of America, with the top 10 percent at a senior level earning $108,000 per year while the bottom 10 percent at the junior level earns an average salary of $29,000 per year.

  1. Forensic Crime Scene Investigator

Did shows like CSI: Miami or Dexter inspire you to take up this role? Well, shows like these have created quite the hype making this professional more appealing to graduates. You bring together computer work and law enforcement. A forensic investigator breaks down the crime scene and analyzes every detail that is left behind. They reconstruct the crime scene and find out the sequence of events leading up to the crime. You trace back the footsteps of the attacker. You make use of scientific principles to crack down the case. As a forensic investigator, you can either directly work with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or any private organization in collaboration with a law enforcement agency. You will also be assigned to crack any cybercriminal case involving illegal activities. You may also be asked to act as a witness to a cybercriminal case. 

A forensic investigator can study the blood spatter pattern, ascertain the weapon of attack, check for traces of the attacker’s evidence on the victim’s body, identify an unidentified victim, gather evidence present at the crime scene. You will also have to collect some physical evidence for medical records such as fingerprints, DNA, hair sample, saliva, semen, blood, any other genetic material that may belong to the attacker or the victim.

Duties Of A Forensics Crime Scene Investigator

  • Collect physical evidence from the crime scene and document it.
  • You will have to click pictures of the crime scene to study it and present it in court.
  • You have to note down your observations of the crime scene in a detailed manner.
  • You will have to prepare rough sketches of the crime scene.
  • You will have to fill in the criminal investigation reports.
  • You have to obtain the search warrant and arrest warrant as and when required.
  • You will have to plan and enforce follow-up investigations to nab the suspect.
  • You will have to present the evidence in court and testify.

Requirements To Be A Forensic Crime Scene Investigator

  • You should possess critical thinking and analyzing skills.
  • You should have a great eye for detail and detect even the minute things that may not be visible at one glance.
  • You should possess an excellent vocabulary.
  • You should have the ability to think independently and do tasks even when there is no guidance.

Salary Of A Forensics Crime Scene Investigator

A forensics crime scene investigator earns an average salary of $55,236 per year in the United States Of America, with the top 10 percent at a senior level earning $83,000 per year while the bottom 10 percent at the junior level earns an average salary of $36,000 per year.

Following is a state-wise salary in the most popular cities of the United States:

  • A forensic crime scene investigator earns an average salary of $158,592 per year in the city of McLean in the state of Virginia.
  • A forensic crime scene investigator earns an average salary of $139,640 per year in the city of New York in the state of New York.
  • A forensic crime scene investigator earns an average salary of $105,589 per year in Washington in the District of Columbia.
  • A forensic crime scene investigator earns an average salary of $70,965 per year in the city of Manhattan in New York.
  • A forensic crime scene investigator earns an average salary of $22.36 per hour in the city of Memphis in Tennessee.

Some of the top companies hiring a Forensic Crime Scene Investigator are:

  • PwC pays $158,331 per year for a Forensics Crime Scene Investigator.
  • New York City Department Of Health And Mental Hygiene pays $85,182 per year for a Forensics Crime Scene Investigator.
  • Verizon pays $74,805 per year for a Forensics Crime Scene Investigator.
  • Capital One pays $67,751 per year for a Forensics Crime Scene Investigator.
  • New York City Department Of Investigation $54,690 per year for a Forensics Crime Scene Investigator.
  • University Of Tennessee Health Science Center pays $158,331 per year for a Forensics Crime Scene Investigator.
  1. Homicide Detective

Well, you might be very familiar with this term. Many television series are based on this profession. Have they cast a spell on your mind? Do you want to take up this profession? First, try and understand what your job entails as a homicide detective. As a homicide detective, you work closely with law enforcement to investigate the causes of the homicide and retrace the killer’s steps and ascertain the killer’s identity through it. This job is the crux of solving a case and an important factor to play in the police department’s works or state, federal, and local agencies. Your insights into the case will be a huge help for them. 

As exciting as the job sounds, it has its own requirements, some of which may include working for extended hours, you will be under constant stress and pressure all the time. The workplace you will be employed at can be quite hazardous or too gory considering how the wrongdoing has taken place. If you are a smart individual with a knack for solving a case and nabbing the suspects, then a job as a homicide detective is a perfect fit for you.

Just remember, do not get too carried away by what you see on TV. The reality of this profession is something you will not expect. You may be required to coordinate with other homicide detectives or forensic investigators while working on a case. You have to collect statements from eyewitnesses, arrange for a sketch artist to prepare a sketch of the suspect depending on the eye witnesses’ description, conducting surveys to catch the suspect, apprehending the suspect, conducting interviews and getting a confession from the suspect, producing the suspect in court, presenting all evidence against the suspect, present your findings in the court, testify against the suspect, call witnesses on the stand, call forensic experts or your homicide detective on the stand to prove your findings.

There are no fixed timings when you work as a detective. You may be required to work overtime and will have to be on call at any time of the day. You need to be prepared for any bodily harm caused upon you as a homicide detective’s job involves a lot of confrontation with suspects that might lead to dangerous encounters.

The average salary of a homicide detective in the United States is $75,546 per year, with the top 10 percent with many years of experience earning $118,000 per year. In contrast, the bottom 10 percent in a junior level and relatively new to the job earn  $49,000 per year. Homicide detectives can expect a bonus ranging from $20 to $20,000 per year, depending on their job progress. To compute the aggregate salary of a homicide detective, it can be said that the total pay of a homicide detective ranges from $48,000 to $117,000.

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Career Options For Bachelor’s Degree In Criminal Justice

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