Corrections Officer
Correctional Treatment Specialist
Fish and Game Warden
Forensic Science Technician
Forensic Science Technicians
Homicide Detective
NCIS Officer
Paralegal
Police Officer
Probation Officer
Security Guard
State Trooper
US Marshal
Blood Spatter Analyst
Although, many criminal justice majors go on to become police officers, criminal justice is a broad field with dozens of possible career options and specialties.
Police Officer
Police officers or law enforcement officers are commonly employed by local law enforcement agencies and also federal agencies. Their main role is the enforcement of laws but they also provide safety and security for their communities.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 7% growth in police officer employment over the next decade which is slower than the average occupation in the United States.
Corrections Officer
A corrections officer works with individuals in correctional facilities who have been convicted of felonies. Correctional officers also help individuals reintegrate into society after they have served their sentence.
89% of correctional officers have a high school level education while 11% have some post-secondary education (O*Net).
Correction officers can work for the local government or federal government as well as corporations that run private prisons.
Forensic Science Technicians
While the role was made popular by the hit television show CSI, forensic science technicians play an important role in the criminal justice system.
The average salary of forensic science techs is $55,660 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Probation Officer
Probation officers work with individuals who have been convicted of a crime and placed on probation instead of sentenced to prison. They also work with individuals who have been released from prison and placed on parole.
Probation officers evaluate and counsel these individuals to prevent them from committing future crimes. They monitor individuals through regular phone calls or in-person meetings at the home of the individual.
The average median salary for probation officers in the United States is $50,160 per year or $24.12 per hour according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Correctional Treatment Specialist
This job involves working with parolees to develop a plan for the transition from prison to civilian life. The job responsibilities include helping the parolee find a job, housing, training programs, and metal health treatment if needed.
A correctional treatment specialist working for the Federal Prison System is required to have 24 semester hours of coursework in social or behavioral sciences.
Fish and Game Warden
Fish and game warden (also known as conservation officers) work on national parks and protected areas to enforce fishing and hunting laws to protect wildlife.
There are approximately 6,610 fish and game wardens employed in the US and they earn a median salary of $54,760.
NCIS Officer
The NCIS or Naval Criminal Investigative Service, is a federal agency that protects the Navy and Marine Corps.
Homicide Detective
A homicide detective is a police officer who specializes in homicide investigations. A police officer can become a homicide detective after gaining experience and getting selected for a detective position at a local or federal agency.
Security Guard
Security guards protect private property against theft and other illegal activity. Retail stores lost $32 billion in 2014 due to shoplifting and need security professionals to protect their assets.
Security guards earn a median annual salary of $25,840 per year, lower than other jobs in criminal justice since it typically doesn’t require a college degree. Employment for security guards is projected to grow 5% in the decade from 2014-2024, which is lower than the average job in the United States.
Paralegal
Paralegals perform many of the same tasks as attorneys under the supervision of a licensed attorney. Based on local laws, paralegals are typically restricted from representing a client or providing legal advice, however they are permitted to conduct legal research, draft documents, and many other tasks that are also performed by attorneys. Most paralegals work at law firms, but can also find employment with local courts and corporations.
Paralegals earn a median annual salary of $49,500 per year. Paralegals employed in the United States will increase by 21,200 from 2014 to 2024.
State Trooper
State troopers are police officers that primarily enforce state and federal laws related to automobiles using roadways including private citizens and commercial drivers. Salaries for state troopers is similar to that of police officers working for local law enforcement agencies.
Blood Spatter Analyst
A blood spatter analyst performs analysis of blood evidence left behind at a crime scene. They work on the forensic science team to analyze the evidence with modern technology and techniques to support investigations and help build a case against a suspect.
US Marshal
The US Marshals are an elite federal law enforcement agency that pursues fugitives, provides security for federal courts, protects witnesses, and transfers prisoners. The US Marshals apprehend more federal fugitives than any other law enforcement agency with more than 33 thousand fugitives apprehended in 2015.
Sources:
Fish and Game Wardens https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333031.htm
Image credit: Wikipedia
