Many students and job seekers who have already graduated from a school of criminal justice often ask what jobs can they get with a criminal justice associates degree. Well, there are many different jobs that one can find upon graduating from a Criminal Justice degree program including crime scene investigator, paralegal, police officer, security specialist, correctional officer, probation officer, private investigator and many others.
Criminal justice is an umbrella term that includes a variety of jobs. A criminal justice associate’s degree can lead to careers as law enforcement officers, paralegals, corrections officers, probation officers, investigators and more.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that there are more than 2 million people employed in the field of criminal justice. The BLS expects job growth to be around 11 percent by 2022. Some of the fastest growing areas include private security guards, police officers and detectives, parole officers and correctional treatment specialists.
Law enforcement jobs require at least a high school diploma or equivalent and may require additional training at the local or state level. Paralegals may only need a two-year degree in criminal justice to work for attorneys’ offices but some employers require an advanced degree as well as experience working in law firms or government agencies. Corrections officers must complete training programs offered by both federal and state agencies before being hired by local jails or prisons where they will be responsible for maintaining order among prisoners as well as enforcing rules laid out by their superiors both inside and outside prison walls.
What jobs can you get with criminal justice associates degree
Introduction
Criminal Justice is the study of crime, law enforcement and the judicial system. It is a popular major for students interested in pursuing careers in public service, law or corrections. An associate’s degree can be earned quickly with an average of two years of full-time study at a college or university. After completion, there are many career options available to graduates of criminal justice programs at this level.
Patrol Officer
The most obvious job for someone with a criminal justice associate’s degree is that of a patrol officer. The job entails being the first line of defense for cities and towns, with officers patrolling areas and responding to calls from citizens. They are the most visible members of the police force, because they are out on the streets interacting with people. Patrol officers also deal with situations that can turn violent or dangerous, such as chasing a suspect or dealing with people who may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
In addition to these duties, patrol officers may also be involved in high speed pursuits or potentially dangerous arrests/interrogations.
Probation Officer
Probation officers are a type of justice system employee who works in the field of criminal justice. In most cases, probation officers work for state and local governments, rather than at the federal level. These professionals may be responsible for supervising and monitoring individuals who have been convicted of crimes and are serving their sentences on probation.
Probation officers spend their days conducting interviews with offenders, collecting information about their backgrounds and circumstances, maintaining case files that document progress toward rehabilitation goals, writing reports on these efforts, interviewing other stakeholders (such as victims or witnesses), meeting with community members who interact with offenders in some way (e.g., teachers or employers), keeping track of whether an offender has been arrested for another crime during his/her probationary period (a violation known as a “technical violation”), enforcing court-ordered rules such as curfews or prohibitions against consuming alcohol or drugs; overseeing drug tests; inspecting living conditions; ensuring compliance with financial obligations such as child support payments; providing crisis intervention when necessary; coordinating treatment plans if needed; researching available resources/options when none exist locally…
Public Security Aide
A public security aide performs a variety of duties in law enforcement, such as providing security at building entrances and monitoring interior areas. In this role, you will communicate with those who enter the building and direct them to where they need to go. It is also your job to keep an eye on the people inside the building, ensuring that no one suspicious is causing trouble. You may be required to ride along with police officers in their patrol cars or accompany them on foot patrols as well.
To become a public security aide, you will need at least a high school diploma or GED equivalent and some experience working in law enforcement. It’s also helpful if you have basic computer skills since many of your tasks will involve entering data into computers or databases. Some employers require criminal justice associates degrees for these positions; if yours does not require one yet but intends to once hiring begins again after 2021 (when all states will require it), get started now! If yours does not currently require it yet but plans on doing so sometime soon (2023), then consider getting started early so that by 2021 there won’t be any gaps between then and now in which someone could take advantage of lower standards elsewhere while still benefiting from higher ones here.”
Correctional Treatment Specialist
A correctional treatment specialist is a person who works with inmates to help them change their behavior. This can mean anything from assisting with substance abuse issues to helping inmates with mental health problems or anger management issues. Correctional treatment specialists may also work on other areas of rehabilitation, such as education or career training.
A degree in criminal justice is an excellent foundation for this type of work because it provides you with the knowledge and skills needed to counsel offenders about how they can improve themselves while incarcerated and after being released into the community.
State Trooper
- State trooper
- Highway patrol officer
- They are also called state police officers, but they work for the state police department and enforce traffic laws as well as investigate accidents.
There many more jobs after an Associates than a Bachelor’s
Many people think that a Bachelor’s is the only degree needed to advance in the criminal justice field. While it’s true that there are fewer jobs available after earning a Bachelor’s, this isn’t necessarily true. The truth is, there are still many opportunities to move up or even start your own business with an Associates. In fact, many people have found success at their job with just an Associates degree. The reason for this has everything to do with opportunity and less about how much education you’ve received from school.#
- More advancement opportunities: A person can easily become a detective or police officer with an Associates in Criminal Justice and no college education at all! The same goes for prosecuting attorneys and other high-ranking positions within law enforcement agencies throughout America and Canada – these jobs require only one year of college credit hours completed before graduation (and often more). When compared with the benefits of having two years under your belt when starting out your career as a lawyer or investigator…the choice between going back to school after graduating from high school seems pretty obvious!
Conclusion
So there you have it. That’s what an Associate’s in Criminal Justice can do for you. It opens up a whole new world of possibilities and could even be the start of a completely new career path.
