Top Careers in Criminal Justice

Working within the criminal justice system is a popular choice amongst many young people. It brings a good level of financial stability, high job satisfaction ratings, substantial room for development and an interesting work environment. While it comes with its own set of unique challenges like any job, it is amongst the most rewarding career prospects available, providing people with a real sense that the work they are doing is contributing to positive changes within the community.

That being said, criminal justice encompasses so many different roles spanning such a diverse field that it can be difficult deciding where to start.

Here are some of the top career options available in criminal justice for consideration.

Police officer

While it may not be considered the most desirable job by some, being a police officer results in a significant degree of job satisfaction for those who choose to pursue it, with many going on to have long and successful careers on the front line of the criminal justice system. The role involves vigorous training, a high level of commitment and determination, and the completion of many laborious hours of exams, yet once you have made the step into becoming a police officer, it can provide you with a hugely fulfilling role for life.

People may also appreciate the respect they gain from helping out the community, as being a police officer does not simply alone involve apprehending and arresting criminals, but can also entail dealing with local people one-on-one in a supportive role, assisting with accidents and, taking people away from dangerous situations.

Forensic scientist

Collecting evidence from a crime scene is one of the most important jobs involved in criminal justice as it can often be the key to solving a particular crime and passing down the sentence. They may work across various areas of evidence collection, such as DNA or computer data, depending on their area of expertize.

Many people tend to study another course before focusing on forensics, such as the popular online criminology degree Canada, which provides students with a grounding in key areas of criminal justice before leading them onto a major in forensic science. The highest paid forensic scientists can demand wages exceeding $80,000 in the United States.

Lawyer

Not everybody has what it takes to become a lawyer, which is why, if you are one, you can expect to demand wages significantly higher than the average worker. According to Glassdoor, a job vacancy website, the average salary of a lawyer in the United States can be anywhere between $76,000 for entry level lawyers, to $186,000 for those with considerable experience.

Being a lawyer involves having good people skills, strong attention to detail, the ability to remember vast amounts of information and consistency to deliver successful results. It usually takes around seven years to study for law, with most specializing in one particular area, including bankruptcy, international, intellectual property, criminal law, civil law, public interest, insurance, environmental, elder, or probate laws.