Educational Information Request Center
College and University Search
Career in Criminal Justice
If you want to get started on a career in criminal justice
you could not have selected a better time. With the expanding
need for addition law enforcement and trained professional
in Homeland Security the opportunities will only improve.
Areas which should see expanded hiring include crime scene
investigation, criminal justice professionals, correctional
officers, and police officers. These new opportunities in Criminal Justice will have increased
educational requirements. The successful applicants will
have training from criminal justice schools, crime scene
investigation
schools, and crime scene investigator schools. Applicant
may be expected to have a bachelor degree in criminal justice
or maybe even a masters degree in criminal justice. They
will have earned their criminal justice degrees from online
criminal justice schools, campus based criminal justice schools
and from crime scene investigation schools.
Search
for Criminal Justice Schools
People depend on police officers and detectives to protect
their lives and property. Law enforcement officers, some
of whom are State or Federal special agents or inspectors,
perform these duties in a variety of ways, depending on the
size and type of their organization. They also depend on
criminal investigators, crime scene investigators and detectives.
In most jurisdictions, they are expected to exercise authority
when
necessary, whether
on or off duty. Uniformed police officers who work in city police departments
of various sizes, small communities, and rural areas have
general law enforcement duties including maintaining regular
patrols and responding to calls for service. They may direct
traffic at the scene of a fire, investigate a burglary, or
give first aid to an accident victim. In large police departments,
officers usually are assigned to a specific type of duty.
Many urban police agencies are becoming more involved in
community policing—a practice in which an officer builds
relationships with the citizens of local neighborhoods and
mobilizes the public to help fight crime.
College and university police forces, public school
district police, and agencies serving transportation systems
and facilities are examples of special police agencies. These
will include colleges specializing in Criminal Justice curriculum.
These agencies have special geographic jurisdictions or enforcement
responsibilities in the United States. Most sworn personnel
in special agencies are uniformed officers, a smaller number
are investigators. Some police officers specialize in such diverse fields as
chemical and microscopic analysis, training and firearms
instruction, or handwriting and fingerprint identification.
Others work with special units such as horseback, bicycle,
motorcycle or harbor patrol, canine corps, or special weapons
and tactics (SWAT) or emergency response teams. A few local
and special law enforcement officers primarily perform jail-related
duties or work in courts. Regardless of job duties or location,
police officers and detectives at all levels must write reports
and maintain meticulous records that will be needed if they
testify in court.
Detectives are plainclothes investigators who gather facts
and collect evidence for criminal cases. Most detectives
will have some college level training in criminal justice.
This may include online criminal justice training or crime
scene investigations classes. Some are assigned to interagency
task forces to combat specific types
of crime.
They conduct interviews, examine records, observe the activities
of suspects, and participate in raids or arrests. Detectives
and State and Federal agents and inspectors usually specialize
in one of a wide variety of violations such as homicide or
fraud. They are assigned cases on a rotating basis and work
on them until an arrest and conviction occurs or the case
is dropped.
The Federal Government maintains a high profile in many
areas of law enforcement. Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) agents are the Government’s principal investigators,
responsible for investigating violations of more than 260
statutes and conducting sensitive national security investigations.
Agents may conduct surveillance, monitor court-authorized
wiretaps, examine business records, investigate white-collar
crime, track the interstate movement of stolen property,
collect evidence of espionage activities, or participate
in sensitive undercover assignments. The FBI investigates
organized crime, public corruption, financial crime, fraud
against the government, bribery, copyright infringement,
civil rights violations, bank robbery, extortion, kidnapping,
air piracy, terrorism, espionage, interstate criminal activity,
drug trafficking, and other violations of Federal statutes.
Federal agents will always have a college degree and it might
be in criminal justice or related field.
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents enforce
laws and regulations relating to illegal drugs. Not only
is the DEA the lead agency for domestic enforcement of Federal
drug laws, it also has sole responsibility for coordinating
and pursuing U.S. drug investigations abroad. Agents may
conduct complex criminal investigations, carry out surveillance
of criminals, and infiltrate illicit drug organizations using
undercover techniques. This is a demanding field for those
seeking a career in criminal justice. U.S. marshals and deputy marshals protect the Federal courts
and ensure the effective operation of the judicial system.
They provide protection for the Federal judiciary, transport
Federal prisoners, protect Federal witnesses, and manage
assets seized from criminal enterprises. They enjoy the widest
jurisdiction of any Federal law enforcement agency and are
involved to some degree in nearly all Federal law enforcement
efforts. In addition, U.S. marshals pursue and arrest Federal
fugitives.
U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) agents
and inspectors facilitate the entry of legal visitors and
immigrants to the U.S. and detain and deport those arriving
illegally. They consist of border patrol agents, immigration
inspectors, criminal investigators and immigration agents,
and detention and deportation officers. U.S. Border Patrol
agents protect more than 8,000 miles of international land
and water boundaries. Their missions are to detect and prevent
the smuggling and unlawful entry of undocumented foreign
nationals into the U.S., apprehend those persons found in
violation of the immigration laws, and interdict contraband,
such as narcotics. Immigration inspectors interview and examine
people seeking entrance to the U.S. and its territories.
They inspect passports to determine whether people are legally
eligible to enter the United States. Immigration inspectors
also prepare reports, maintain records, and process applications
and petitions for immigration or temporary residence in the
United States.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) agents regulate
and investigate violations of Federal firearms and explosives
laws, as well as Federal alcohol and tobacco tax regulations.
Customs agents investigate violations of narcotics smuggling,
money laundering, child pornography, customs fraud, and enforcement
of the Arms Export Control Act. Domestic and foreign investigations
involve the development and use of informants, physical and
electronic surveillance, and examination of records from
importers/exporters, banks, couriers, and manufacturers.
They conduct interviews, serve on joint task forces with
other agencies, and get and execute search warrants.
Customs inspectors inspect cargo, baggage, and articles
worn or carried by people and carriers including vessels,
vehicles, trains and aircraft entering or leaving the U.S.
to enforce laws governing imports and exports. These inspectors
examine, count, weigh, gauge, measure, and sample commercial
and noncommercial cargoes entering and leaving the United
States. Customs inspectors seize prohibited or smuggled articles,
intercept contraband, and apprehend, search, detain, and
arrest violators of U.S. laws.
U.S. Secret Service special agents protect the President,
Vice President, and their immediate families; Presidential
candidates; former Presidents; and foreign dignitaries visiting
the United States. Secret Service agents also investigate
counterfeiting, forgery of Government checks or bonds, and
fraudulent use of credit cards.
The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security
special agents are engaged in the battle against terrorism.
Overseas, they advise ambassadors on all security matters
and manage a complex range of security programs designed
to protect personnel, facilities, and information. In the
U.S., they investigate passport and visa fraud, conduct personnel
security investigations, issue security clearances, and protect
the Secretary of State and a number of foreign dignitaries.
They also train foreign civilian police and administer a
counter-terrorism reward program.
Other Federal agencies employ police and special agents
with sworn arrest powers and the authority to carry firearms.
These agencies include the Postal Service, the Bureau of
Indian Affairs Office of Law Enforcement, the Forest Service,
the National Park Service, and the Federal Air Marshals.
Police work can be very dangerous and stressful. In addition
to the obvious dangers of confrontations with criminals,
officers need to be constantly alert and ready to deal appropriately
with a number of other threatening situations. Many criminal
justice career law enforcement officers witness death and
suffering resulting from accidents
and criminal behavior. A career in law enforcement may take
a toll on officers’ private lives.
Uniformed officers, detectives, agents, and inspectors are
usually scheduled to work 40-hour weeks, but paid overtime
is common. Shift work is necessary because protection must
be provided around the clock. Junior officers frequently
work weekends, holidays, and nights. Police officers and
detectives are required to work at any time their services
are needed and may work long hours during investigations.
In most jurisdictions, whether on or off duty, officers are
expected to be armed and to exercise their arrest authority
whenever necessary.
The jobs of some Federal agents such as U.S. Secret Service
and DEA special agents require extensive travel, often on
very short notice. They may relocate a number of times over
the course of their careers. Some special agents in agencies
such as the U.S. Border Patrol work outdoors in rugged terrain
for long periods and in all kinds of weather.
Police and detectives held about 840,000 jobs in 2002. About
81 percent were employed by local governments. State police
agencies employed about 11 percent and various Federal agencies
employed about 6 percent. A small proportion worked for educational
services, rail transportation, and contract investigation
and security services.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, police
and detectives employed by local governments primarily worked
in cities with more than 25,000 inhabitants. Some cities
have very large police forces, while thousands of small communities
employ fewer than 25 officers each.
Before their first assignments, officers usually go through
a period of training. In State and large local departments,
recruits get training in their agency’s police academy,
often for 12 to 14 weeks. In small agencies, recruits often
attend a regional or State academy. Training includes classroom
instruction in constitutional law and civil rights, State
laws and local ordinances, and accident investigation. Recruits
also receive training and supervised experience in patrol,
traffic control, use of firearms, self-defense, first aid,
and emergency response. Police departments in some large
cities hire high school graduates who are still in their
teens as police cadets or trainees. They do clerical work
and attend classes, usually for 1 to 2 years, at which point
they reach the minimum age requirement and may be appointed
to the regular force.
Police officers usually become eligible for promotion after
a probationary period ranging from 6 months to 3 years. In
a large department, promotion may enable an officer to become
a detective or specialize in one type of police work, such
as working with juveniles. Promotions to corporal, sergeant,
lieutenant, and captain usually are made according to a candidate’s
position on a promotion list, as determined by scores on
a written examination and on-the-job performance.
To be considered for appointment as an FBI agent, an applicant
either must be a graduate of an accredited law school or
a college graduate with a major in accounting, fluency in
a foreign language, or 3 years of related full-time work
experience. All new agents undergo 16 weeks of training at
the FBI academy on the U.S. Marine Corps base in Quantico,
Virginia.
Applicants for special agent jobs with the U.S. Secret Service
and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms must have
bachelor’s degree or a minimum of 3 years’ related
work experience. Prospective special agents undergo 10 weeks
of initial criminal investigation training at the Federal
Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia, and another
17 weeks of specialized training with their particular agencies.
Applicants for special agent jobs with the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) must have a college degree and either
1 year of experience conducting criminal investigations,
1 year of graduate school, or have achieved at least a 2.95
grade point average while in college. DEA special agents
undergo 14 weeks of specialized training at the FBI Academy
in Quantico, Virginia.
U.S. Border Patrol agents must be U.S. citizens, younger
than 37 years of age at the time of appointment, possess
a valid driver’s license, and pass a three-part examination
on reasoning and language skills. A bachelor’s degree
or previous work experience that demonstrates the ability
to handle stressful situations, make decisions, and take
charge is required for a position as a Border Patrol agent.
Applicants may qualify through a combination of education
and work experience.
Postal inspectors must have a bachelor’s degree and
1 year of related work experience. It is desirable that they
have one of several professional certifications, such as
that of certified public accountant. They also must pass
a background suitability investigation, meet certain health
requirements, undergo a drug screening test, possess a valid
State driver’s license, and be a U.S. citizen between
21 and 36 years of age when hired. Law enforcement agencies are encouraging applicants to take
postsecondary school training in law enforcement-related
subjects. Many entry-level applicants for police jobs have
completed some formal postsecondary education and a significant
number are college graduates. Many junior colleges, colleges,
and universities offer programs in law enforcement or administration
of justice. Other courses helpful in preparing for a career
in law enforcement include accounting, finance, electrical
engineering, computer science, and foreign languages. Physical
education and sports are helpful in developing the competitiveness,
stamina, and agility needed for many law enforcement positions.
Knowledge of a foreign language is an asset in many Federal
agencies and urban departments.
Continuing training helps police officers, detectives, and
special agents improve their job performance. Through police
department academies, regional centers for public safety
employees established by the States, and Federal agency training
centers, instructors provide annual training in self-defense
tactics, firearms, use-of-force policies, sensitivity and
communications skills, crowd-control techniques, relevant
legal developments, and advances in law enforcement equipment.
Many agencies pay all or part of the tuition for officers
to work toward degrees in criminal justice, police science,
administration of justice, or public administration, and
pay higher salaries to those who earn such a degree.
The opportunity for public service through law enforcement
work is attractive to many because the job is challenging
and involves much personal responsibility. Furthermore, law
enforcement officers in many agencies may retire with a pension
after 20 or 25 years of service, allowing them to pursue
a second career while still in their 40s. Because of relatively
attractive salaries and benefits, the number of qualified
candidates exceeds the number of job openings in Federal
law enforcement agencies and in most State police departments—
resulting in increased hiring standards and selectivity by
employers. Competition should remain keen for higher paying
jobs with State and Federal agencies and police departments in more
affluent areas. Opportunities will be better in local and
special police departments, especially in departments that
offer relatively low salaries, or in urban communities where
the crime rate is relatively high. Applicants with college
training in police science, military police experience, or
both should have the best opportunities. Employment of police and detectives is expected to grow
faster than the average for all occupations through 2012.
A more security-conscious society and concern about drug-related
crimes should contribute to the increasing demand for police
services. The level of government spending determines the level of
employment for police and detectives. The number of job opportunities,
therefore, can vary from year to year and from place to place.
Layoffs, on the other hand, are rare because retirements
enable most
staffing cuts to be handled through attrition.
Trained law enforcement officers who lose their jobs because
of budget cuts usually have little difficulty finding jobs
with other agencies. The need to replace workers who retire,
transfer to other occupations, or stop working for other
reasons will be the source of many job openings.
In 2002, median annual earnings of detectives and criminal
investigators were $51,410. The middle 50 percent earned
between $39,010 and $65,980. The lowest 10 percent earned
less than $31,010, and the highest 10 percent earned more
than $80,380. Median annual earnings were $66,500 in Federal
Government, $47,700 in local government, and $46,600 inState
government.
Federal law provides special salary rates to Federal employees
who serve in law enforcement. Additionally, Federal special
agents and inspectors receive law enforcement availability
pay (LEAP)—equal to 25 percent of the agent’s
grade and step—awarded because of the large amount
of overtime that these agents are expected to work. For example,
in 2003 FBI agents enter Federal service as GS-10 employees
on the pay scale at a base salary of $39,115, yet earned
about $48,890 a year with availability pay. They can advance
to the GS-13 grade level in field non supervisory assignments
at a base salary of $61,251, which is worth $76,560 with
availability pay. FBI supervisory, management, and executive
positions in grades GS-14 and GS-15 pay a base salary of
about $72,381 or $85,140 a year, respectively, and equaled
$90,480 or $106,430 per year including availability pay.
Salaries were slightly higher in selected areas where the
prevailing local pay level was higher. Because Federal agents
may be eligible for a special law enforcement benefits package,
applicants should ask their recruiter for more information.
If you want to search for criminal justice schools try entering
these key words into the search box.
criminal justice degree
criminal justice degrees
criminal justice degree online
online criminal justice degree
online criminal justice degrees
criminal justice degrees forensic science degrees
online criminal justice degree fast
home degree in criminal justice
graduate degree online criminal justice
jobs with criminal justice degree
criminal justice masters degree
criminal justice degree careers
colleges with a criminal justice degree
masters degree in criminal justice
graduate degree in criminal justice
jobs with a criminal justice degree
correspondence criminal justice degrees
online degrees in criminal justice
criminal justice master degree programs
criminal justice degrees online
criminal justice degree programs
masters degree criminal justice uk
graduate degrees in criminal justice
criminal justice bachelors degree online
online bachelor degree in criminal justice
These should help you target college programs.
criminal justice colleges
criminal justice schools
criminal justice universities
california colleges for criminal justice
criminal justice graduate school
criminal justice school rankings
colleges for criminal justice
technical school training in criminal justice careers
school of criminal justice
criminal justice theory chicago school
sw florida criminal justice school
criminal justice school
criminal justice schools in maryland
top criminal justice schools
criminal justice graduate schools
online college courses for criminal justice degrees
top criminal justice college
south carolina universities majoring in criminal justice
criminal justice colleges in florida
criminal justice universities and colleges
criminal justice colleges and florida
criminal justice masters colleges
crime scene investigation schools
crime scene investigator schools
crime scene investigations high school curriculum
crime scene college forensics camp
crime scene investigator colleges
crime scene investigation colleges
crime scene investigation school
crime scene technicians tanning schools
crime scene technician school
school requirements to become a crime scene investigator criminal
justice careers
careers in criminal justice
senior second career in criminal justice articles
criminal justice career
criminal justice degrees forensic science degrees
criminal justice training
criminal justice training academy
career in criminal justice
criminal justice degree careers
careers in the criminal justice field
careers and criminal justice
technical school training in criminal justice careers
careers criminal justice
career criminal justice
Links
Site
Map
Contact
Information
Privacy Policy
Copyright 2008 All rights reserved
If you want to get started on a career in criminal justice you could not have selected a better time. With the expanding need for addition law enforcement and trained professional in Homeland Security the opportunities will only improve. Areas which should see expanded hiring include crime scene investigation, criminal justice professionals, correctional officers, and police officers. These new opportunities in Criminal Justice will have increased educational requirements. The successful applicants will have training from criminal justice schools, crime scene investigation schools, and crime scene investigator schools. Applicant may be expected to have a bachelor degree in criminal justice or maybe even a masters degree in criminal justice. They will have earned their criminal justice degrees from online criminal justice schools, campus based criminal justice schools and from crime scene investigation schools.
Search for Criminal Justice Schools
People depend on police officers and detectives to protect their lives and property. Law enforcement officers, some of whom are State or Federal special agents or inspectors, perform these duties in a variety of ways, depending on the size and type of their organization. They also depend on criminal investigators, crime scene investigators and detectives. In most jurisdictions, they are expected to exercise authority when necessary, whether on or off duty. Uniformed police officers who work in city police departments of various sizes, small communities, and rural areas have general law enforcement duties including maintaining regular patrols and responding to calls for service. They may direct traffic at the scene of a fire, investigate a burglary, or give first aid to an accident victim. In large police departments, officers usually are assigned to a specific type of duty. Many urban police agencies are becoming more involved in community policing—a practice in which an officer builds relationships with the citizens of local neighborhoods and mobilizes the public to help fight crime.
College and university police forces, public school district police, and agencies serving transportation systems and facilities are examples of special police agencies. These will include colleges specializing in Criminal Justice curriculum. These agencies have special geographic jurisdictions or enforcement responsibilities in the United States. Most sworn personnel in special agencies are uniformed officers, a smaller number are investigators. Some police officers specialize in such diverse fields as chemical and microscopic analysis, training and firearms instruction, or handwriting and fingerprint identification. Others work with special units such as horseback, bicycle, motorcycle or harbor patrol, canine corps, or special weapons and tactics (SWAT) or emergency response teams. A few local and special law enforcement officers primarily perform jail-related duties or work in courts. Regardless of job duties or location, police officers and detectives at all levels must write reports and maintain meticulous records that will be needed if they testify in court.
Detectives are plainclothes investigators who gather facts and collect evidence for criminal cases. Most detectives will have some college level training in criminal justice. This may include online criminal justice training or crime scene investigations classes. Some are assigned to interagency task forces to combat specific types of crime. They conduct interviews, examine records, observe the activities of suspects, and participate in raids or arrests. Detectives and State and Federal agents and inspectors usually specialize in one of a wide variety of violations such as homicide or fraud. They are assigned cases on a rotating basis and work on them until an arrest and conviction occurs or the case is dropped.
The Federal Government maintains a high profile in many areas of law enforcement. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents are the Government’s principal investigators, responsible for investigating violations of more than 260 statutes and conducting sensitive national security investigations. Agents may conduct surveillance, monitor court-authorized wiretaps, examine business records, investigate white-collar crime, track the interstate movement of stolen property, collect evidence of espionage activities, or participate in sensitive undercover assignments. The FBI investigates organized crime, public corruption, financial crime, fraud against the government, bribery, copyright infringement, civil rights violations, bank robbery, extortion, kidnapping, air piracy, terrorism, espionage, interstate criminal activity, drug trafficking, and other violations of Federal statutes. Federal agents will always have a college degree and it might be in criminal justice or related field.
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents enforce laws and regulations relating to illegal drugs. Not only is the DEA the lead agency for domestic enforcement of Federal drug laws, it also has sole responsibility for coordinating and pursuing U.S. drug investigations abroad. Agents may conduct complex criminal investigations, carry out surveillance of criminals, and infiltrate illicit drug organizations using undercover techniques. This is a demanding field for those seeking a career in criminal justice. U.S. marshals and deputy marshals protect the Federal courts and ensure the effective operation of the judicial system. They provide protection for the Federal judiciary, transport Federal prisoners, protect Federal witnesses, and manage assets seized from criminal enterprises. They enjoy the widest jurisdiction of any Federal law enforcement agency and are involved to some degree in nearly all Federal law enforcement efforts. In addition, U.S. marshals pursue and arrest Federal fugitives.
U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) agents and inspectors facilitate the entry of legal visitors and immigrants to the U.S. and detain and deport those arriving illegally. They consist of border patrol agents, immigration inspectors, criminal investigators and immigration agents, and detention and deportation officers. U.S. Border Patrol agents protect more than 8,000 miles of international land and water boundaries. Their missions are to detect and prevent the smuggling and unlawful entry of undocumented foreign nationals into the U.S., apprehend those persons found in violation of the immigration laws, and interdict contraband, such as narcotics. Immigration inspectors interview and examine people seeking entrance to the U.S. and its territories. They inspect passports to determine whether people are legally eligible to enter the United States. Immigration inspectors also prepare reports, maintain records, and process applications and petitions for immigration or temporary residence in the United States.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) agents regulate and investigate violations of Federal firearms and explosives laws, as well as Federal alcohol and tobacco tax regulations. Customs agents investigate violations of narcotics smuggling, money laundering, child pornography, customs fraud, and enforcement of the Arms Export Control Act. Domestic and foreign investigations involve the development and use of informants, physical and electronic surveillance, and examination of records from importers/exporters, banks, couriers, and manufacturers. They conduct interviews, serve on joint task forces with other agencies, and get and execute search warrants.
Customs inspectors inspect cargo, baggage, and articles worn or carried by people and carriers including vessels, vehicles, trains and aircraft entering or leaving the U.S. to enforce laws governing imports and exports. These inspectors examine, count, weigh, gauge, measure, and sample commercial and noncommercial cargoes entering and leaving the United States. Customs inspectors seize prohibited or smuggled articles, intercept contraband, and apprehend, search, detain, and arrest violators of U.S. laws.
U.S. Secret Service special agents protect the President, Vice President, and their immediate families; Presidential candidates; former Presidents; and foreign dignitaries visiting the United States. Secret Service agents also investigate counterfeiting, forgery of Government checks or bonds, and fraudulent use of credit cards.
The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security special agents are engaged in the battle against terrorism. Overseas, they advise ambassadors on all security matters and manage a complex range of security programs designed to protect personnel, facilities, and information. In the U.S., they investigate passport and visa fraud, conduct personnel security investigations, issue security clearances, and protect the Secretary of State and a number of foreign dignitaries. They also train foreign civilian police and administer a counter-terrorism reward program.
Other Federal agencies employ police and special agents with sworn arrest powers and the authority to carry firearms. These agencies include the Postal Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Law Enforcement, the Forest Service, the National Park Service, and the Federal Air Marshals.
Police work can be very dangerous and stressful. In addition to the obvious dangers of confrontations with criminals, officers need to be constantly alert and ready to deal appropriately with a number of other threatening situations. Many criminal justice career law enforcement officers witness death and suffering resulting from accidents and criminal behavior. A career in law enforcement may take a toll on officers’ private lives.
Uniformed officers, detectives, agents, and inspectors are usually scheduled to work 40-hour weeks, but paid overtime is common. Shift work is necessary because protection must be provided around the clock. Junior officers frequently work weekends, holidays, and nights. Police officers and detectives are required to work at any time their services are needed and may work long hours during investigations. In most jurisdictions, whether on or off duty, officers are expected to be armed and to exercise their arrest authority whenever necessary.
The jobs of some Federal agents such as U.S. Secret Service and DEA special agents require extensive travel, often on very short notice. They may relocate a number of times over the course of their careers. Some special agents in agencies such as the U.S. Border Patrol work outdoors in rugged terrain for long periods and in all kinds of weather.
Police and detectives held about 840,000 jobs in 2002. About 81 percent were employed by local governments. State police agencies employed about 11 percent and various Federal agencies employed about 6 percent. A small proportion worked for educational services, rail transportation, and contract investigation and security services.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, police and detectives employed by local governments primarily worked in cities with more than 25,000 inhabitants. Some cities have very large police forces, while thousands of small communities employ fewer than 25 officers each.
Before their first assignments, officers usually go through a period of training. In State and large local departments, recruits get training in their agency’s police academy, often for 12 to 14 weeks. In small agencies, recruits often attend a regional or State academy. Training includes classroom instruction in constitutional law and civil rights, State laws and local ordinances, and accident investigation. Recruits also receive training and supervised experience in patrol, traffic control, use of firearms, self-defense, first aid, and emergency response. Police departments in some large cities hire high school graduates who are still in their teens as police cadets or trainees. They do clerical work and attend classes, usually for 1 to 2 years, at which point they reach the minimum age requirement and may be appointed to the regular force.
Police officers usually become eligible for promotion after a probationary period ranging from 6 months to 3 years. In a large department, promotion may enable an officer to become a detective or specialize in one type of police work, such as working with juveniles. Promotions to corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain usually are made according to a candidate’s position on a promotion list, as determined by scores on a written examination and on-the-job performance.
To be considered for appointment as an FBI agent, an applicant either must be a graduate of an accredited law school or a college graduate with a major in accounting, fluency in a foreign language, or 3 years of related full-time work experience. All new agents undergo 16 weeks of training at the FBI academy on the U.S. Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia.
Applicants for special agent jobs with the U.S. Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms must have bachelor’s degree or a minimum of 3 years’ related work experience. Prospective special agents undergo 10 weeks of initial criminal investigation training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia, and another 17 weeks of specialized training with their particular agencies.
Applicants for special agent jobs with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) must have a college degree and either 1 year of experience conducting criminal investigations, 1 year of graduate school, or have achieved at least a 2.95 grade point average while in college. DEA special agents undergo 14 weeks of specialized training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
U.S. Border Patrol agents must be U.S. citizens, younger than 37 years of age at the time of appointment, possess a valid driver’s license, and pass a three-part examination on reasoning and language skills. A bachelor’s degree or previous work experience that demonstrates the ability to handle stressful situations, make decisions, and take charge is required for a position as a Border Patrol agent. Applicants may qualify through a combination of education and work experience.
Postal inspectors must have a bachelor’s degree and 1 year of related work experience. It is desirable that they have one of several professional certifications, such as that of certified public accountant. They also must pass a background suitability investigation, meet certain health requirements, undergo a drug screening test, possess a valid State driver’s license, and be a U.S. citizen between 21 and 36 years of age when hired. Law enforcement agencies are encouraging applicants to take postsecondary school training in law enforcement-related subjects. Many entry-level applicants for police jobs have completed some formal postsecondary education and a significant number are college graduates. Many junior colleges, colleges, and universities offer programs in law enforcement or administration of justice. Other courses helpful in preparing for a career in law enforcement include accounting, finance, electrical engineering, computer science, and foreign languages. Physical education and sports are helpful in developing the competitiveness, stamina, and agility needed for many law enforcement positions. Knowledge of a foreign language is an asset in many Federal agencies and urban departments.
Continuing training helps police officers, detectives, and special agents improve their job performance. Through police department academies, regional centers for public safety employees established by the States, and Federal agency training centers, instructors provide annual training in self-defense tactics, firearms, use-of-force policies, sensitivity and communications skills, crowd-control techniques, relevant legal developments, and advances in law enforcement equipment.
Many agencies pay all or part of the tuition for officers to work toward degrees in criminal justice, police science, administration of justice, or public administration, and pay higher salaries to those who earn such a degree.
The opportunity for public service through law enforcement work is attractive to many because the job is challenging and involves much personal responsibility. Furthermore, law enforcement officers in many agencies may retire with a pension after 20 or 25 years of service, allowing them to pursue a second career while still in their 40s. Because of relatively attractive salaries and benefits, the number of qualified candidates exceeds the number of job openings in Federal law enforcement agencies and in most State police departments— resulting in increased hiring standards and selectivity by employers. Competition should remain keen for higher paying jobs with State and Federal agencies and police departments in more affluent areas. Opportunities will be better in local and special police departments, especially in departments that offer relatively low salaries, or in urban communities where the crime rate is relatively high. Applicants with college training in police science, military police experience, or both should have the best opportunities. Employment of police and detectives is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2012. A more security-conscious society and concern about drug-related crimes should contribute to the increasing demand for police services. The level of government spending determines the level of employment for police and detectives. The number of job opportunities, therefore, can vary from year to year and from place to place. Layoffs, on the other hand, are rare because retirements enable most staffing cuts to be handled through attrition. Trained law enforcement officers who lose their jobs because of budget cuts usually have little difficulty finding jobs with other agencies. The need to replace workers who retire, transfer to other occupations, or stop working for other reasons will be the source of many job openings.
In 2002, median annual earnings of detectives and criminal investigators were $51,410. The middle 50 percent earned between $39,010 and $65,980. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $31,010, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $80,380. Median annual earnings were $66,500 in Federal Government, $47,700 in local government, and $46,600 inState government.
Federal law provides special salary rates to Federal employees who serve in law enforcement. Additionally, Federal special agents and inspectors receive law enforcement availability pay (LEAP)—equal to 25 percent of the agent’s grade and step—awarded because of the large amount of overtime that these agents are expected to work. For example, in 2003 FBI agents enter Federal service as GS-10 employees on the pay scale at a base salary of $39,115, yet earned about $48,890 a year with availability pay. They can advance to the GS-13 grade level in field non supervisory assignments at a base salary of $61,251, which is worth $76,560 with availability pay. FBI supervisory, management, and executive positions in grades GS-14 and GS-15 pay a base salary of about $72,381 or $85,140 a year, respectively, and equaled $90,480 or $106,430 per year including availability pay. Salaries were slightly higher in selected areas where the prevailing local pay level was higher. Because Federal agents may be eligible for a special law enforcement benefits package, applicants should ask their recruiter for more information.
If you want to search for criminal justice schools try entering these key words into the search box.
criminal justice degree
criminal justice degrees
criminal justice degree online
online criminal justice degree
online criminal justice degrees
criminal justice degrees forensic science degrees
online criminal justice degree fast
home degree in criminal justice
graduate degree online criminal justice
jobs with criminal justice degree
criminal justice masters degree
criminal justice degree careers
colleges with a criminal justice degree
masters degree in criminal justice
graduate degree in criminal justice
jobs with a criminal justice degree
correspondence criminal justice degrees
online degrees in criminal justice
criminal justice master degree programs
criminal justice degrees online
criminal justice degree programs
masters degree criminal justice uk
graduate degrees in criminal justice
criminal justice bachelors degree online
online bachelor degree in criminal justiceThese should help you target college programs.
criminal justice colleges
criminal justice schools
criminal justice universities
california colleges for criminal justice
criminal justice graduate school
criminal justice school rankings
colleges for criminal justice
technical school training in criminal justice careers
school of criminal justice
criminal justice theory chicago school
sw florida criminal justice school
criminal justice school
criminal justice schools in maryland
top criminal justice schools
criminal justice graduate schools
online college courses for criminal justice degrees
top criminal justice college
south carolina universities majoring in criminal justice
criminal justice colleges in florida
criminal justice universities and colleges
criminal justice colleges and florida
criminal justice masters collegescrime scene investigation schools
crime scene investigator schools
crime scene investigations high school curriculum
crime scene college forensics camp
crime scene investigator colleges
crime scene investigation colleges
crime scene investigation school
crime scene technicians tanning schools
crime scene technician school
school requirements to become a crime scene investigator criminal justice careers
careers in criminal justice
senior second career in criminal justice articles
criminal justice career
criminal justice degrees forensic science degrees
criminal justice training
criminal justice training academy
career in criminal justice
criminal justice degree careers
careers in the criminal justice field
careers and criminal justice
technical school training in criminal justice careers
careers criminal justice
career criminal justice
| Links | Site Map | Contact Information | Privacy Policy | Copyright 2008 All rights reserved |