"Mini-Guide" to Criminal Justice Degrees Online

Here are a few definitions of criminal justice as a field of study and employment:

• "Criminal justice is the scientific study and application of law and natural sciences to the social phenomena of crime and delinquency. The focus of criminal justice centers on definitions, causation, prevention, legal processes, and the treatment or rehabilitation of criminals in our society."

 — College Board Book of Majors, 2^nd edition

• "Criminal justice" means activities relating to the detection, apprehension, detention, pretrial release, post-trial release, prosecution, adjudication, correctional supervision or rehabilitation of accused persons or criminal offenders. The administration of criminal justice includes criminal identification activities and the collection, storage and dissemination of criminal history records.

 — State Legislature of Maine

• "Criminal justice refers to the system used by government to maintain social control, enforce laws, and administer justice. Law enforcement (police), courts, and corrections are the primary agencies charged with these responsibilities."

 — "Criminal justice," Wikipedia.com entry

• "Criminal justice…its curriculum integrates social sciences, behavioral sciences, and humanities with professional courses that address topics such as terrorism, victimology, drug abuse, computer crime, criminal investigation, prison overcrowding, women in criminal justice, ethics, and legal issues."

 — College Majors Handbook, 2^nd edition

• "Law enforcement agencies are encouraging applicants to take postsecondary school training in law enforcement-related subjects. Many entry-level applicants for police jobs have completed some formal postsecondary education and a significant number are college graduates."

 — America's 101 Fastest Growing Jobs, 8^th edition

Think about a degree in criminal justice if you:

• Possess sound judgment and a sense of responsibility.
• Are proud to be an American and have a desire to serve your country and fellow citizens.
• Have strong personal and moral convictions.
• Are able to foster relationships and command the respect of others.
• Like working with and helping people.
• have natural leadership skills and are not afraid to take charge of a situation.
• Have strong problem-solving skills and can gather information from a range of sources to understand a situation.
• Enjoy crime shows on TV like CSI: Miami or Law & Order, mystery novels, or games.
• Believe all people should be treated with dignity and respect at all times, no matter what their background, social circumstances, or appearance.
• Like community or public service events or activities.
• Don't panic easily and can keep your cool during a crisis.
• Have good interpersonal and communication skills, such as listening, speaking, and writing.
• Are honest and willing to perform your duties in accordance with the law and established departmental rules and procedures.

What is private security? How does private security differ from law enforcement?

Private security and law enforcement have many similarities on the surface. The differences that exist between the two are are quite significant, however. One of the key differences being that private security is usually progressive in nature—meaning oriented towards the prevention of crime—often using invasive procedures.

The Transportation Security Administration (T.S.A.) officers you see at the airports are charged with the prevention of crime. They do so by using metal detectors, x-ray machines, searching bags and private property, demanding identification, and at times a more invasive individual search.

Should police engage in similar activities among the general public, there would be serious Constitutional issues raised. Alternatively, law enforcement is largely reactive in nature, taking action when the crime is either in progress or has already occurred—this is by design and within the limitations of the United States Constitution. Though sure and swift, enforcement may prevent crime through deterrence; it does so in an indirect manner.

It is important to note that private security is in a state of change right now. A mere 10 years ago the words private security would conjure up images of a senior citizen, asleep in a chair in the corner of your bank.

Private security today has a wide range: from paramilitary organizations utilizing former Special Forces military personnel in high risk environments such as Iraq to computer-savvy technicians charged with information security for both public and private organizations. As an industry, private security has a significant demand for those persons with specialized skills in accounting, information technology, criminal justice, corrections, military tactics, etc.

It is worth noting that as private security becomes increasingly diversified and specialized, salaries are becoming competitive with those of government agencies. In many cases, law enforcement and corrections personnel may leave public sector government jobs for higher paying private security jobs. Generally the higher the pay, the more competitive and demanding the position; education, skills, and training will likely be strong factors for job consideration.

Whether you decide to work in law enforcement or private security, demand for qualified personnel has never been higher. Education and specialized skills have become increasingly important in this ever changing and uncertain world in which we live. Will you be up to the challenge?

Criminal justice is an excellent choice for a degree for anyone considering a career in law enforcement or corrections.

If you already have your degree, but in an unrelated subject or field, a job in criminal justice is still in your reach.

The educational requirements for criminal justice jobs vary widely from one agency to the next, depending on the needs of individual agencies and their policies. For example, some police departments require 60 credit hours in any discipline before considering a candidate. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), however, may require a degree in law, accounting, computer science, or another technical area.

Be sure to research the agency (or agencies) and their hiring policies before selecting a degree program. As a general rule, majoring in criminal justice will give you the most flexibility within the following career fields:

• Human Services:
  Why? Human Services deals with people with an emphasis on their physical and sociological well-being.
  Online Human Services Degrees | Online Human Services Certificate Programs
• Law:
  With a focus on the American legal system, understand the complexities of justice and politics and their impact on everyday human conflict.
  Online Law Degrees | Online Paralegal Programs | Online Paralegal Courses
• Political Science:
  Delve into the current and historical events of domestic and international affairs and how government, economics, and culture collide.
  Online Political Science Degrees
• Psychology:
  Observe the human experience in a new way: explore how the mind copes with everyday stimuli and how trauma affects human behavior.
  Online Psychology Degrees | Online Psychology Certificates
• Public Administration:
  Learn about the current ways in which services and programs are being developed and managed to meet the needs of society and its individual communities.
  Online Public Administration Degrees | Online Public Administration Certificates
• Sociology:
  Examine the intricacies of human relationships, how people relate to each other, and how that pertains society as a whole.
  Online Sociology Degrees

Many schools allow you to choose a specialization—a focused area of study within the criminal justice degree.

• Corrections
  Develop the understanding and skills necessary to succeed in the field of corrections, including jails, prisons, probation, parole, and other correctional alternatives and offender treatment services.
• Crime Scene Investigation
  Know and understand the various tools and technologies being used in the field for investigating the scene of a crime, as well as being familiar with the proper procedures for gathering evidence.
• Economic Crime
  Understand financial and accounting practices of businesses as well as phishing and other acts of fraud; become familiar with information technology, digital security, and white collar crimes.
• Forensic Psychology
  Focus on human behavior as it pertains to crime and delinquency; understand psychology as it relates to our criminal justice system.
• Law Enforcement
  Study policy, criminology, and understand the impact of crime on a community and society.
• Private Security
  Gain the insight necessary to navigate the field that is a unique blend of management and criminal justice that deals with loss prevention/asset protection.
• Global Issues in Criminal Justice Law
  Study military conflicts, human rights, genocide, terrorism, and social justice explored on a global level.
• Administration, Leadership, and Management
  Broaden your knowledge of pertinent issues affecting law enforcement, managing correction facilities, and crime prevention.

While the exact curriculum will vary from school to school, here are some of the online courses you might take as a criminal justice degree student:

• Alternatives to Incarceration
• Comparative Criminal Justice Systems
• Computer Crime
• Corporate & White Collar Crime
• Correctional Facilities in America
• Criminology
• Current Issues in Criminal Justice
• Domestic Violence
• Drug Trade and Trafficking
• Ethics & the American Criminal Justice System
• Introduction to Criminal Justice
• Introduction to Psychology
• Jurisprudence
• Juvenile Corrections
• Law Enforcement in Society
• Legal Rights of the Offender
• Mediation and Dispute Management
• Police Department Organization & Management
• Public & Private Safety
• Societal Issues, Crime, and the Law
• Technology in Criminal Justice
• Terrorism & Counter-Terrorism
• Women & Crime

When you have completed your degree in criminal justice, you will likely have gained many of the following skills and abilities:

• Ability to identify and analyze social problems and develop solutions
• Ability to quickly analyze situations and apply problem-solving skills to diffuse stressful and potentially dangerous situations
• Appreciation for the considerations of gender and race
• Broad understanding of criminal law and the U.S. criminal justice system
• Critical thinking skills
• Decision-making skills
• Excellent interviewing skills
• Excellent supervision and management skills
• High level of ethical and moral values
• Knowledge of the American legal structure
• Knowledge of the criminal justice process, its agencies, personnel and historical foundations
• Understanding of nature of crimes
• Understanding of societies' reaction to crimes

Working in the field of criminal justice can be both exciting and rewarding. You will face new situations on an almost daily basis—these careers are not your typical "desk job."

These high-profile careers can be adventurous and heighten a person's sense of purpose and contribution to society, often becoming very enticing to those who are considering work in the criminal justice field for the first time.

As a career-oriented major focused on the study of crime, the criminal justice system, and society as a whole, criminal justice majors are needed in a variety of industries, including:

• City and county government organizations
  • Police departments
  • Correction facilities
  • County sheriff departments
  • Liquor Control Commission
• State government organizations
  • State troopers
  • Crime labs
  • Penitentiaries
• Federal government organizations
  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
  • Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
  • Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
  • Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
  • Department of Homeland Security
  • Postal Service, Federal Marshals
  • Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
  • United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
  • National Park Service
• Crime laboratories
• Colleges and universities

Possible Job Titles for Associate's or Bachelor's Criminal Justice Degree Holders

There are a lot of different careers within the realm of criminal justice. Generally these careers fall within two distinct categories, either law enforcement or corrections. Take a look at some of the examples provided below and research some of these professions to see which you think would be a good fit for your interests and goals.

• Airport Security Officer
• Animal Treatment Investigator
• Bailiff
• Body Guard
• Border Patrol Agent
• CIA Agent
• Child Support Agency Worker
• Community Service Coordinator
• Compliance Manager
• Corrections Officer
• Court Clerk
• Customs Agent
• Deportation Officer
• Deputy Marshal
• Discrimination Investigator
• Drug Enforcement Agent
• Employment Agency Recruiter
• Environmental Conservation Officer
• Fish & Game Warden
• Foreign Service Officer
• Housing/Tenant Representative
• Industrial Security Specialist
• Juvenile Court Counselor
• Law Clerk
• Litigation Manager
• Loss Prevention Specialist
• Military Officer
• Naval Investigator
• Nonprofit Organization Advocate
• Paralegal
• Park Ranger
• Police Officer
• Postal Service Investigator
• Pre-trial Services Officer
• Private Security Officer
• Probation & Parole Officer
• Probation Officer
• Public Safety Officer
• Secret Service Agent
• Sheriff
• Social Worker
• Teacher
• U.S. Customs Agent
• U.S. Marshal
• Victim Services Specialist
• Youth Advocate

How does one advance in the field? How many years of experience are needed to move up to higher positions?

You advance in the field of criminal justice much like other professions: working hard and doing a good job consistently. Knowledge and a formal education are also important. It's not unusual to see the upper echelon of a law enforcement agency possessing advanced degrees. Some of the more common graduate degrees are the Master of Public Administration, a Master of Science in Criminal Justice, Criminology and other related areas.

Possible Job Titles for Advanced Criminal Justice Degree Holders

• Attorney
• Child Welfare Caseworker
• Contracts Administrator
• Coroner
• Corrections Facilities Manager
• Counter Intelligence Agent
• Court Administrator
• Criminal Investigator
• Criminologist
• District Attorney
• FBI Agent
• Law Librarian
• Penologist
• Police Detective
• Private Investigator
• Public Defender
• Substance Abuse Counselor
• Warden

How do I become a police officer, corrections officer, etc.? What is the hiring process like?

Hiring practices among the various jobs or agencies will vary widely, but most recruits can expect to see the following:

A Standardized Test

You will be administered an exam and be expected to pass and/or score within a certain percentile of test takers. These tests typically cover areas such as basic reading comprehension, logic, writing ability, and mathematics.

An Evaluation of Physical Ability

After a standardized written test, expect a physical fitness and agility test. There is no one standardized test used by all agencies, so know that you will have to maintain good overall physical fitness. As a general rule, you should be in good physical condition to work in the criminal justice field—you may face dangerous situations where your fitness level will have a direct impact upon your or someone else's likelihood of survival.

A Psychological Examination

Most criminal justice jobs will require some type of psychological exam. You may receive a written exam or a personal one-on-one interview with a professional psychologist (or any combination thereof).

An Interview

At some point in time, you will interview for the position. This may be a one-on-one interview or you may be required to sit before a board. Occasionally these interviews can be intimidating and seemingly unfriendly by design. Just be sure to answer questions as truthfully as you can to the best of your ability. If you don't know the answer, don't be ashamed to admit it.

A Polygraph Test

You may be subjected to a polygraph test or what is otherwise known as a lie detector test. Passing one is easy—don't lie, and answer their questions as truthfully as possible.

One of the main reasons people are not hired however usually has to do with their background investigation. This may be your criminal background and/or employment history, information you placed on your background information packet not matching with whatever the investigator discovers.