Careers for Criminal Justice

Roles focused on maintaining public safety, enforcing laws, and investigating crimes.

Popular Careers

• Police Officer – Enforces laws, responds to emergencies, and maintains public order.
• Detective – Investigates crimes, gathers evidence, and solves cases.
• Forensic Scientist – Analyzes physical evidence from crime scenes to aid in investigations.

Career Information

• International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
• National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA)
• American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS)

Careers focused on managing correctional facilities, rehabilitating offenders, and ensuring public safety.

Popular Careers

• Correctional Officer – Supervises inmates in correctional facilities.
• Probation Officer – Monitors offenders on probation and helps them reintegrate into society.
• Parole Officer – Supervises offenders released on parole and ensures compliance with parole conditions.

Career Information

• American Correctional Association (ACA)
• American Probation and Parole Association (APPA)
• National Institute of Corrections (NIC)

Roles within the legal system focused on upholding justice, representing clients, and managing court proceedings.

Popular Careers

• Lawyer – Represents clients in legal matters and provides legal advice.
• Judge – Presides over court cases and ensures fair trials.
• Court Clerk – Manages court records and assists in court proceedings.

Career Information

• American Bar Association (ABA)
• National Association for Court Management (NACM)
• National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA)

Careers focused on working with juvenile offenders, preventing juvenile delinquency, and supporting youth rehabilitation.

Popular Careers

• Juvenile Probation Officer – Supervises juvenile offenders and helps them reintegrate into society.
• Youth Counselor – Provides guidance and support to at-risk youth.
• Juvenile Court Judge – Presides over cases involving juvenile offenders.

Career Information

• National Juvenile Justice Network (NJJN)
• Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ)
• National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ)

Roles focused on analyzing criminal justice policies, conducting research, and advocating for policy changes.

Popular Careers

• Criminal Justice Policy Analyst – Analyzes and develops policies related to criminal justice.
• Criminologist – Studies crime, criminal behavior, and societal responses to crime.
• Research Scientist – Conducts research on various aspects of the criminal justice system.

Career Information

• Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS)
• American Society of Criminology (ASC)
• National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA)