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Criminology Careers

Criminologists study crime and the criminal justice system in order to answer questions about the best way to deter delinquent behavior. Criminologists are interested in issues such as the impact of drug addiction on crime, criminal law reform, and juvenile justice. Search for great criminology tests study tips here.

Criminologists often work for colleges and universities teaching or conducting research. They may work closely with people in the sociology, psychology, and legal studies departments. Tenure-track positions are considered the most desirable, but there are often more jobs available for adjunct professors or visiting lecturers.

If you're not interested in a career in academia, criminologists can also be employed by various law enforcement agencies as consultants or policy advisors. Sometimes, these jobs involve talking to the press about efforts to profile well-known criminals or testifying in court as an expert witness. In most cases, however, criminologists spend their time collecting, organizing, and analyzing data with the goal of turning statistics into useable law enforcement tools.

To be a successful criminologist, you must have an analytical mind and a great eye for detail. Since you will often be dealing with sensitive information, you must have a strong sense of ethics and a belief in the importance of integrity.

Criminology careers require a great deal of education. Generally, a criminologist must have at least a master's degree. However, criminologists who are employed by colleges and universities typically have a PhD in their field.