Options For Graduates In Criminal Justice

Are you interested in obtaining a criminal justice degree? If so, there are many areas of focus you can concentrate on while you're in school, and ultimately, there are careers that branch out in several directions after you graduate. Some of the job field areas include: law enforcement, homeland security, psychology, law, and even research. Here are just a few of the many options you will be able to qualify for.

• Police officers: Police officers are responsible for keeping the public peace. They maintain order in the public, apprehend criminal, and help to prevent or detect criminal activity in the community. There are specially trained officers who specialize in certain areas such as child protection and drug trafficking.
• Crime scene investigation: Investigators are expected to complete a thorough initial investigation of a crime scene, including using equipment to secure possible evidence, write reports based on their findings, and assist the police in determining the nature and cause of the crime. They may also be expected to testify in court.
• FBI agents: Agents are investigators for the federal government. They conduct investigations of crimes such as bribery, bank robbery, kidnapping, and extortion, to name just a very few. If there is an infringement of Federal law, the FBI will handle it. It is helpful to have a Master's Degree to work for this agency, as well as a wide variety of scholastic area classes at the undergraduate level.
• Customs Officers: These officers often work in airport settings, but there are other areas where they may work as well. Their main job is to prevent illegal smuggling of good into and out of the United States. They are responsible for inspecting luggage, people's clothing, and also all non-commercial and commercial cargo that is transported via train, plane, and ship.
• Paralegal and Court Officers: Criminal justice graduates may pursue careers in law and in the courts with additional education. Court reporters, bailiffs, and other support staff for the American justice system are in high demand.
• Criminalists: Criminalists work in sheriff's offices, laboratories, medical examiners' offices, and even at universities. They use scientific methods to sift through evidence and make a determination about what may be important to solving a crime and what may not. The most important of the job is to properly interpret findings, and they may be asked to act as expert witnesses in court.

These are just a very few of the list of career opportunities available to motivated individuals who graduate with a degree in criminal justice. If you are interested, it is best to find a good college or university program that will help you achieve your goal.

About the Author

For more information about a quality criminal justice degree, or if you're interested in exercise science degrees, contact Youngstown University. Art Gib is a freelance writer.