For some to be a hero may be a distant dream and for others it might be a highly lucrative career opportunity. Whatever be the motivation, a job in the criminal justice field of your state is indeed something to be proud of. As a government official who serves and protects the public, there’s indeed quite a lot that you can do for the society. However, the criminal justice field seems like a horizon for many as there are quite a few confusing options to choose from. Be it in the local, state or federal law enforcement departments, one has to make the right choice, or he might end up in a real mess with his career.
As such, we give you a broad framework of the various entry level criminal justice jobs in the country, their respective requirements and course works.
Types of Criminal Justice Jobs
As mentioned earlier, a criminal justice job can be either at the local, state, federal jurisdictions, or even in the private sector. The state machinery offers opportunities such as that of county police officials, sheriff’s department positions, juvenile justice center officials, crime lab scientists, court professionals, state police department officers and even private investigators.
If you’re looking for a broader scope of activity and a more powerful position, the federal machinery could be your space. The federal law enforcement setup includes the department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Transportation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Customs Agency, Federal Bureau of Narcotics, Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of the Inspector General, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The point to be kept in mind is that each department is specialized in a specific field and requires professionals who have matching tastes.
Apart from having a unique taste for the department you get into, you’ll have to undergo a specific training program as stipulated by the concerned agency. The training process shall comprise of on-the-job training, completion of class works and physical tests at a specified training facility. No matter how motivated or physically fit you are, at least an associate’s degree in criminal justice or a related subject is mandatory. Moreover, for a majority of job selections a 4-year degree from an accredited college or university would be compulsory.
The opportunities in this field are many. To know more about entry level criminal justice jobs, please read further posts in the topic.