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Criminal Justice Careers

In our country, we have detailed processes that must be followed in regard to prosecuting people accused of breaking the law. This has led to many different job opportunities for people interested in criminal justice careers.

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Thanks to the popularity of detective shows in the mass media, people interested in criminal justice careers often want to find jobs investigating crimes. While investigating crimes can be exciting, these criminal justice careers are often very stressful. Sheriffs, police officers, detectives, and crime scene investigators work long hours and may not always manage to solve a case. Their work is often dangerous as well.

Many criminal justice careers involve prosecuting crimes or defending the people who are accused of committing crimes. The legal system requires attorneys, judges, paralegals, court clerks, court reporters, and legal researchers. These jobs often involve dealing with sensitive information and ethical dilemmas.

Prison guards and correctional officers oversee criminals while they are incarcerated. Once criminals are released, probation officers and parole officers work to make sure they do not run into trouble with the law for a second time.

The education required for criminal justice careers varies. Some jobs require only a high school diploma but most positions require either an associate's degree or a bachelor's degree. In some cases, such as when you're seeking a job as a judge or a sheriff, you may need to be elected by the people in your community.

Last Updated: 03/25/2013