How the Criminal Justice Major Prepares You for the Job Market
Criminal justice is the study of criminal laws, the trial system for the accused, and the punishment doled out to convicted criminals. Criminal justice majors are passionate about keeping the guilty off the streets and the innocent free from false indictments. The field of criminal justice is growing as well, with direct expenditures for police, judicial, and corrections increasing every year since 1982, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Criminal justice majors have an advantage over non-criminal justice majors when it comes to jumping into the field because of the specific training and education they receive. Criminal justice majors take courses in policing, legal research, modern criminal justice issues, and other topics related to improving the justice system and keeping the streets safer. Many schools require criminal justice majors to complete in-depth research projects and internships. These projects and internships help criminal justice majors apply their classroom education to real-life situations, giving them the valuable skills that employers will seek once they graduate.
Best Career Paths for Criminal Justice Majors
Criminal justice majors have the rewarding opportunity to work in an exciting field that helps to improve the safety of the community. The best career paths for criminal justice majors are:
- Police Work. Uniformed police officers are responsible for enforcing the law in the community in which they work. They patrol neighborhoods and streets to keep would-be criminals at bay, making the streets safer for residents and visitors. Police officers also must protect the property in the area, such as homes, business buildings, and vehicles, from damage, vandalism, or theft. Some police officers work in specialty fields, such as dealing primarily with young offenders or with traffic law violations. Police officers make an average salary of $51,410 annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Probation Officer. Probation officers supervise convicted criminals who have been released on probation. They keep track of the offenderís whereabouts and activities by meeting with the offender at regular intervals throughout the week or month and also contacting the offenderís family and friends regularly. They ensure that the offender is keeping within the constraints of his or her probation regulations, such as staying within a certain area, staying away from certain individuals or locations, and avoiding additional criminal activity. Probation officers make an average salary of $45,910 annually, according to the Bureau.
How to Market Your Criminal Justice Degree
You worked hard to earn your criminal justice degree. In this regard, it is imperative that you make employers see how your criminal justice degree proves that you are a valuable and qualified candidate for any position to which you apply. Mention the skills you learned while pursuing your criminal justice degree, such as your ability to apply criminal justice laws to real-world scenarios, your drive to stay unbiased towards the accused so that they may face a fair trial, and your passion to make the community a safer place for everyone. Emphasize the research you conducted while in school and how those projects helped you hone your analytical and problem-solving skills. Reassuring employers of the real-world skills you learned in college is the best way to market your criminal justice degree.
