Criminal justice covers a wide variety of topics in the legal field. As such, countless career opportunities exist. Whether you happen to be interested in corrections or law enforcement, or your interest is in crime prevention, an online masters degree in criminal justice is the perfect way to get started in the field.
Criminal justice is a complex and diverse network of agencies and organizations that work together to create a unified system. Within this system you will find everything from police officers that patrol the streets of our cities to FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) and undercover agents, as well as specialists in computer forensics. Each area of specialty is in some way, focused on preventing crime, enforcing laws, and protecting citizens. And each of these specialties is intricately connected in a very organized structure that creates our criminal justice system.
It’s not surprising that the field of criminal justice appeals to a wide range of individuals. With so many different areas of opportunities, there seems to be something of interest for every personality type.
The job duties in criminal justice will depend on the area of specialty chosen. And work environments also depend greatly on the area of specialty. In most cases, careers in criminal justice include little time in an office setting. To a great degree, many people in the field of criminal justice work independently. Their hours can range from steady and regular to long and hit and miss. For instance, surveillance work or meeting with clients may be necessary during evenings, weekends, or at odd hours. Plus, some cases can be exciting or even dangerous, but others can lead to long hours that are stressful, demanding, or even boring.
There are three main components of criminal justice: law enforcement, the courts or legal system, and corrections. Persons that desire to work in law enforcement may become police officers, detectives, FBI agents, or perhaps work for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Within each of these categories you will find sub-categories, or areas of specialties. For example, FBI agents investigate violations of Federal laws, but there are some FBI agents that have special training in computer forensics and others are experts at undercover assignments. The types of Federal crimes investigated can include everything from financial crime to cybercrime.
As mentioned, the criminal justice system is a network of agencies and organizations. While FBI agents investigate violations of Federal laws, DEA agents handle matters dealing with illegal drugs, and U.S. marshals are charged with the security of Federal courts. Some of the other agencies and agents that play important roles include the following: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Border Patrol agents, Immigration inspectors, Customs inspectors, Federal Air Marshals, U.S. Secret Service special agents, and U.S. Secret Service uniformed officers.
Besides careers in those agencies and organizations, many people pursue an online masters degree in criminal justice so they can work as a private detective or investigator. An advantage to this line of work is the freedom it allows. In essence, when you work as a private investigator (PI), you work for yourself. This means you have more control in deciding which assignments you will or will not accept. And within the field of private investigative work you will find various types of services and specialties. This can include everything from providing assistance in missing persons cases, to doing individual background profiles, and even providing celebrity protection. Obviously, most private investigators specialize in at least one area.
Computer forensics is another popular area in criminal justice. The specialty involves using information from computers as part of criminal investigations. The data is gathered from computers, then analyzed and used as evidence in court room proceedings. Gathering the data is not an easy process as the information has often been deleted, erased, or encrypted.
Another area of specialty is that of legal investigative work. These investigators are usually employed by law firms or individual lawyers. They play an important role in the preparation of criminal defenses. The duties of legal investigators can include locating witnesses, conducting interviews, gathering and reviewing evidence, and even serving legal documents.
Many corporations employ corporate investigators. These investigators may conduct either internal or external investigations for the corporations. Goals of internal investigations can include such things as determining whether employees are using drugs in the workplace, if they are stealing from the company, or if they’re abusing expense accounts. This type of investigation can sometimes require that the investigator pose as an employee for several months. External corporate investigations are conducted to prevent criminal schemes from outside the corporation.
Jessica Mayes, a single mother of 3 small children, recently started training for her dream career in criminal justice. She had postponed going back to school because of her kids, but Mayes didn’t hesitate when she found out about the online criminal justice masters programs. She says the best part is that she can ‘attend’ class on her schedule.
