What can you do with a criminal justice degree?

What is Criminal Justice?

Criminal Justice is the system by which professionals deliver justice to individuals who have committed or been accused of committing crimes. The criminal justice system is usually made up of government agencies and other institutions. There’s a variety of things one can do with a criminal justice major. 

What can you do with a Criminal Justice Degree?

Careers with a criminal justice degree include:

1. Crime Scene Technician/Forensic Science Technicians

Things to know at a glance:

• Median salary: $61,930
• Expected growth through 2030: 16%

Crime Scene and Forensic Science Technicians collect and analyze evidence for criminal investigations. Crime Scene Technicians and Forensic Science Technicians may have slightly different job duties related to their work environment. 

Crime Scene Technicians typically:

• Analyze crime scenes to determine what evidence should be collected and how
• Take photographs of the crime scene and evidence
• Make sketches of the crime scene
• Record observations and findings, such as the location and position of evidence
• Collect evidence, including weapons, fingerprints, and bodily fluids
• Catalog and preserve evidence for transfer to crime labs
• Reconstruct crime scenes

Forensic Science Technicians in Laboratories:

• Perform chemical, biological, and microscopic analyses on evidence taken from crime scenes
• Explore possible links between suspects and criminal activity, using the results of DNA or other scientific analyses
• Consult with experts in specialized fields, such as toxicology (the study of poisons and their effect on the body) and odontology (a branch of forensic medicine that concentrates on teeth)

These types of jobs for someone with a criminal justice degree offer opportunities to contribute to solving crimes, so if you love murder mysteries and solving problems, you might enjoy a career as a crime scene technician. 

2. Paralegal/Legal Assistant

Things to know at a glance:

• Median salary: $56,230
• Expected Growth through 2030: 12%

Paralegals and legal assistants are found in all types of organizations, but most work for law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies. They perform a variety of tasks to help lawyers prepare for hearings, trials, and corporate meetings. 

Some typical duties include:

• Investigate and gather the facts of a case
• Conduct research on relevant laws, regulations, and legal articles
• Organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing systems
• Gather and arrange evidence and other legal documents for attorney review and case preparation
• Write or summarize reports to help lawyers prepare for trials
• Draft correspondence and legal documents, such as contracts and mortgages
• Get affidavits and other formal statements that may be used as evidence in court
• Help lawyers during trials by handling exhibits, taking notes, or reviewing trial transcripts
• File exhibits, briefs, appeals and other legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
• Call clients, witnesses, lawyers, and outside vendors to schedule interviews, meetings, and depositions

Paralegals’ specific duties often vary depending on the area of law in which they work. Corporate paralegals and litigation paralegals may have different job responsibilities to support lawyers. These types of jobs for someone with a criminal justice degree can be a starting point for those who may one day want to become a lawyers or contribute to the legal system. If you know you’re interested in law, but not sure about entering law school, a criminal justice career path as a paralegal or legal assistant may be for you. 

3. Juvenile Counselor/Probation Officer

Things to know at a glance:

• Median Salary: $60,250
• Expected Growth through 2030: 4%

Probation officers assist in the rehabilitation of law offenders in custody or on probation or parole.

Some typical duties include:

• Interview with probationers and parolees, their friends, and their relatives in an office or at a residence to assess progress
• Evaluate probationers and parolees to determine the best course of rehabilitation
• Provide probationers and parolees with resources, such as job training
• Test offenders for drugs and offer substance abuse counseling
• Complete prehearing investigations and testify in court regarding offender’s backgrounds
• Write reports and maintain case files on offenders

These types of jobs for someone with a criminal justice degree often are occupied by those who come from personal experience with the system or a desire to help those who are actively in the justice system. If you want to help offenders return to a productive lifestyle, a criminal justice career as a juvenile counselor or probation officer may be for you.  

4. Police Officer/Detective

Things to know at a glance:

• Median Salary: $66,020
• Expected Growth through 2030: 7%

Police officers protect lives and property. Detectives gather facts and collect evidence of possible crimes. 

Some typical duties include:

• Respond to emergency and nonemergency calls
• Patrol assigned areas, observing people and activities
• Conduct traffic stops and issue citations
• Search restricted-access databases for vehicle or other records and warrants
• Obtain and serve warrants for arrests, searches, and other purposes
• Arrest people suspected of committing crimes
• Collect and secure evidence from crime scenes
• Observe the activities of suspects
• Write detailed reports and fill out forms
• Prepare cases for legal proceedings and testify in court

Job duties vary by employer, function, and location, but police and detectives are required by law to write detailed reports and keep meticulous records. 

For those questioning what you can do with a criminal justice major, the first job that may come to mind would be serving as a police officer. However, this isn’t the only criminal justice career available to those who have a criminal justice degree. Police Officers also don’t have to complete a criminal justice degree program, they can study other topics in college such as psychology or business since their official police training is typically conducted at a police academy. 

5. Emergency Management Directors

Things to know at a glance:

• Median Salary: $65,227
• Expected Growth through 2030: 6%

Emergency Management Directors plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans or procedures for nature, wartime, or technological disasters or hostage situations. 

Some typical duties include:

• Keep informed of activities or changes that could affect the likelihood of an emergency, as well as those that could affect response efforts and details of plan implementation.
• Prepare emergency situation status reports that describe response and recovery efforts, needs, and preliminary damage assessments.
• Prepare plans that outline operating procedures to be used in response to disasters or emergencies, such as hurricanes, nuclear accidents, and terrorist attacks, and in recovery from these events.
• Coordinate disaster response or crisis management activities, such as ordering evacuations, opening public shelters, and implementing special needs plans and programs.
• Develop and maintain liaisons with municipalities, county departments, and similar entities to facilitate plan development, response effort coordination, and exchanges of personnel and equipment.

When looking for jobs you can get with a criminal justice degree, emergency management may not be the first thing that comes up in the results. However, learning about the legal system and how justice is served to offenders can be beneficial to serving in emergency management roles. For example, if a fugitive is on the loose or there’s a natural disaster, Emergency Management Directors are in charge of coming up with plans to protect the citizens of a community- having a degree in criminal justice would help the director come up with an effective plan to utilize police resources and officers who can contribute to keep the peace during emergency scenarios. 

6. Security Managers

Things to know at a glance:

• Median Salary: $80,210
• Expected Growth through 2030: 15%

Security Managers direct an organization’s security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities. 

Some typical duties include:

• Analyze and evaluate security operations to identify risks or opportunities for improvement through auditing, review, or assessment.
• Assess risks to mitigate potential consequences of incidents and develop a plan to respond to incidents.
• Attend meetings, professional seminars, or conferences to keep abreast of changes in executive legislative directives or new technologies impacting security operations.
• Communicate security status, updates, and actual or potential problems, using established protocols.
• Conduct physical examinations of property to ensure compliance with security policies and regulations.
• Conduct threat or vulnerability analyses to determine probable frequency, criticality, consequence, or severity of natural or man-made disasters or criminal activity on the organization’s profitability or delivery of products or services.
• Coordinate security operations or activities with public law enforcement, fire and other agencies.
• Create or implement security standards, policies, and procedures.
• Develop budgets for security operations.
• Develop or manage investigation programs, including collection and preservation of video and notes of surveillance processes or investigative interviews.
• Develop, arrange for, perform, or assess executive protection activities to reduce security risks.
• Develop, conduct, support, or assist in governmental reviews, internal corporate evaluations, or assessments of the overall effectiveness of facility and personnel security processes.
• Develop, implement, manage, or evaluate policies and methods to protect personnel against harassment, threats, or violence.
• Develop, recommend, or manage security procedures for operations or processes, such as security call centers, access control, and reporting tools.
• Direct or participate in emergency management and contingency planning.
• Identify, investigate, or resolve security breaches.
• Monitor and ensure a sound, ethical environment.
• Monitor security policies, programs or procedures to ensure compliance with internal security policies, or applicable government security requirements, policies, and directives.
• Plan security for special and high-risk events.
• Plan, direct, or coordinate security activities to safeguard company employees, guests, or others on company property.
• Prepare reports or make presentations on internal investigations, losses, or violations of regulations, policies and procedures.
• Purchase security-related supplies, equipment, or technology.
• Respond to medical emergencies, bomb threats, fire alarms, or intrusion alarms, following emergency response procedures.
• Review financial reports to ensure efficiency and quality of security operations.
• Supervise or provide leadership to subordinate security professionals, performing activities such as hiring, investigating applicants’ backgrounds, training, assigning work, evaluating performance, or disciplining.
• Support efforts to reduce substance abuse or other illegal activities in the workplace.
• Train subordinate security professionals or other organization members in security rules and procedures.
• Write or review security-related documents, such as incident reports, proposals, and tactical or strategic initiatives.

This type of job for someone with a criminal justice degree would enable them to use their understanding of the justice system to promote safety for their organization or facility as well as know the proper channels to process offenders who disobey the laws for their organization. 

7. Police Identification and Records Officers

Things to know at a glance:

• Median Salary: $59,607
• Expected Growth through 2030: 16%

Police Identification and Records Officers collect evidence at crime scene, classify and intensify fingerprints, and photograph evidence for us in criminal and civil cases. 

Some typical duties include:

• Maintain records of evidence and write and review reports.
• Package, store and retrieve evidence.
• Submit evidence to supervisors, crime labs, or court officials for legal proceedings.
• Testify in court and present evidence.
• Analyze and process evidence at crime scenes, during autopsies, or in the laboratory, wearing protective equipment and using powders and chemicals.
• Look for trace evidence, such as fingerprints, hairs, fibers, or shoe impressions, using alternative light sources when necessary.
• Photograph crime or accident scenes for evidence records.
• Dust selected areas of crime scene and lift latent fingerprints, adhering to proper preservation procedures.
• Create sketches and diagrams, by hand or computer software, to depict crime scenes.
• Serve as technical advisor and coordinate with other law enforcement workers or legal personnel to exchange information on crime scene collection activities.
• Coordinate or conduct instructional classes or in-services, such as citizen police academy classes and crime scene training for other officers.

These types of jobs for someone with a criminal justice degree provide the opportunity for criminal justice graduates to use their organizational skills and problem solving skills to contribute to criminal cases and investigations. Records Officers need to be detail oriented, organized, and understand the criminal justice system well in order to know the proper channels by which they should process evidence and records related to different criminal cases. 

To explore more careers with a criminal justice degree, visit Career Coach on the Texarkana College Website. 

Start Your Journey to a Fulfilling Career in Criminal Justice at Texarkana College

At Texarkana College, the Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration prepares students for a career in criminal justice, emergency management, social services, and education. 

Criminal Justice Majors take classes such as:

Introduction to Criminal Justice

This course provides a historical and philosophical overview of the American criminal justice system, including the nature, extent, and impact of crime; criminal law; and justice agencies and processes.

Correctional systems and practices

This course is a survey of institutional and non-institutional corrections. Emphasis will be placed on the organization and operation of correctional systems; treatment and rehabilitation; populations served; Constitutional issues; and current and future issues.

Criminal investigation

Investigative theory; collection and preservation of evidence; sources of information; interview and interrogation; uses of forensic sciences; case and trial preparation.

Fundamentals of Criminal Law

This course is the study of criminal law including application of definitions, statutory elements, defenses and penalties using Texas statutes, the Model Penal Code, and case law. The course also analyzes the philosophical and historical development of criminal law and criminal culpability.

Police Systems & Practices

This course examines the establishment, role and function of police in a democratic society. It will focus on types of police agencies and their organizational structure, police-community interaction, police ethics, and use of authority.

Court Systems & Practices

This course is a study of the court system as it applies to the structures, procedures, practices and sources of law in American courts, using federal and Texas statutes and case law.

If you’ve ever been fascinated by true crime shows, the thought of solving mysteries, or want to serve and protect your community, you should study criminal justice. Earn a criminal justice degree at Texarkana College.