Criminal justice degree overview

Degree programs in criminal justice teach students about the agencies and processes that governments have created to control crime and punish those who violate laws.

At the heart of this training are the five components that make up the criminal justice system:

Law Enforcement
Law enforcement officers – usually the police – arrest offenders, complete reports on the crimes that happen in their jurisdictions, investigate crimes, and gather and protect evidence. They may be required to give testimony in court or conduct follow-up investigations.

Prosecution
‘Prosecution’ refers to the legal proceedings in which a person accused of a criminal offense is tried in a court by the government appointed public prosecutor or district attorney. The prosecutor in a case is the legal representative of the government, whose job it is to review evidence received from law enforcement to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to file charges; and if there is, to present that evidence in court, question witnesses, and possibly negotiate plea bargains with defendants.

Defense Attorneys
These are the attorneys who defend the accused against the case brought by the government. They are either hired by the defendant or, for defendants who cannot afford an attorney, they are assigned by the court.

Courts
Court is presided over by a judge. The judge’s primary responsibilities are to ensure that the law is followed and to oversee everything that happens in the courtroom.

Corrections
This component of the criminal justice system is concerned with supervising convicted offenders when they are in prison or in the community on parole or probation, and with overseeing release processes for inmates.

Associate Degree in Criminal Justice - Two Year Duration
Historically, individuals wishing to work in the law enforcement aspect of criminal justice could enter the field with a high school diploma. In today’s world, though, due to the increasing complexity of law enforcement, police agencies typically look for job candidates with a minimum of an associate degree in criminal justice as well. Degree programs at this level teach students the fundamentals of law enforcement, court systems, corrections, theories of the causes of crime, and crime control policies.

Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice - Four Year Duration
The bachelor’s level degree is the minimum requirement for employment in many criminal justice roles: law enforcement, private detective, investigator, probation officer, FBI agent, and administrative positions in judicial courts. Criminal justice bachelor’s programs significantly expand on the topics covered at the associate level. Here are some of the courses that make up the typical bachelor’s degree curriculum:

• Theory and Practice of Criminal Justice
• Drugs and Society
• Deviance and Social Control
• Crime in America
• Constitutional Law
• Principles of Investigation
• Criminal Law and Procedure
• Criminal Evidence
• Statistics in Criminal Justice
• Research Methods in Criminal Justice
• Crime Prevention
• Critical Issues in Criminal Justice
• Criminal Justice Internship

Police Science
Degree programs in police science prepare students for all aspects of police and security work: patrolling, investigating, crime prevention, community relations, report writing.

Corrections
Corrections majors study prison life and examine ways to improve how prisons work. The typical corrections curriculum covers controlling the cost of operating prisons, maintaining acceptable living conditions for inmates, and helping parolees returning to life outside prison.

Criminology
While criminal justice is concerned with society’s response to crime, criminology is the study of crime, the human factors and behaviors that make it happen, and its impact on society.

Law Enforcement
This degree field addresses management practices and criminal justice and prepares students for leadership roles in law enforcement.

Forensic Science
Forensic science is an interdisciplinary field which combines science and criminal justice. Majors in the field learn how to collect and analyze evidence – blood, DNA, and other kinds of evidence – and how to effectively use it in a court of law.

Law
Essentially, because of its focus on legal proceedings, criminal justice has a natural connection to the field of law.

Criminal justice is a diverse field. It is not surprising, therefore, that its graduates come away from their formal education with a diverse set of transferrable skills:

Communication and Interpersonal Skills
The capacity to work effectively within groups and with people from diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, gender, and professional backgrounds is essential in this field.

Understanding of Human / Social Behaviors
In studying society’s response to crime, criminal justice students naturally develop a certain competency in interpreting how and why humans conduct themselves as they do.

Ethics
Throughout the process of earning a degree in criminal justice, students are frequently reminded of the concept of right versus wrong and the fundamental standards of society. It follows, therefore, that they cultivate a strong ethical sense and respect for the law.

Plus…

• Active Listening
• Observation
• Critical / Analytical Thinking
• Problem-solving
• Judgement
• Legal Awareness
• Attention to Detail
• Stress Tolerance
• Persistence

Policing, Law Enforcement, and Investigation
Criminal justice majors often find full-time employment with police departments. While some may take the traditional path and work as police officers or detectives, others seek to apply their knowledge of criminal justice, evidence handling, and data management in crime scene investigation positions.

Corrections - Prison Systems / Probationary Systems
Working in probationary and prison systems is a natural fit for criminal justice graduates. Having studied crime and how it affects society, they are valuable resources in the corrections environment.

Government
Government agencies at the federal, state, and municipal levels are significant employers of criminal justice majors. Government lawyers work as state attorneys general, district attorneys, prosecutors, public defenders, and the courts. They may find employment opportunities with the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the FBI, the CIA, and the Transportation Security Administration/Border Patrol (TSA).

Law
The legal field presents opportunities to criminal justice graduates, as well. Many lawyers and paralegals begin their education with a degree in criminal justice.

Forensic Science
A career in forensics is another option for criminal justice graduates who are willing to undergo additional education specific to the forensic field they pursue. This is a diverse sector with positions in the following categories: