What is criminal justice?

Criminal justice can be described as a field of study that focuses on the nature of crime and the agencies and the subsequent processes that work against crime in today’s democratic society. People interested in criminal justice study the principles that form the nation’s approach to crime and the discretion that people have in dealing with specific cases. People learning about criminal justice are opened to critical thinking about key issues and problems such as terrorism, the death penalty, drug abuse, and how to evaluate ethical considerations.

"The safety and well being of our Nation's citizens greatly depends on the police officers, detectives, and special agents responsible for enforcing statutes, laws, and regulations. Duties vary widely by the size and type of organization but in most jurisdictions, whether on or off duty, law enforcement officers are expected to exercise their authority whenever necessary. And, regardless of where they work or what they do, police, detectives, and special agents must spend considerable time writing reports and maintaining records that are needed when legal actions require them to testify in court."

-http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos160.htm

What Careers are available in Criminal Justice?

Criminal justice is a multidisciplinary field. People may choose from a variety of career paths including (but not limited to): research, law enforcement, treatment, corrections, and private enterprise (investigation, security, etc.) The following provides examples of criminal justice positions.

RESEARCH

Local, State or Federal Entry Level Research Analyst
Research Assistant
Policy Analyst
Graduate/Teaching Assistant in Graduate School

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Local, State or Federal Law Enforcement Officer
Sheriff's officers
Detective

COURTS

Court Administrator
Case-flow Manager
Probation Officer (pre and post adjudication)
Public Defender's Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney's Assistant

CORRECTIONS

Corrections Officer
Drug/Alcohol Counselor
Job-Placement Counselor
Parole Officer
Victim-Assistant Counselor
Half-way House Administrator
Juvenile Case-Worker
Group-Home Counselor

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

Private Law Enforcement
Insurance Investigation
State Crime Commissions
Private Security
Utility Companies
Consumer Protection Agencies
Civil Rights Commissions

What are some specific duties in these careers?

Civil Rights Commissions Police Officers who work in small communities and rural areas have general law enforcement duties. 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. Most officers are detailed to patrol a designated area to prevent crime. Patrols generally cover an area such as a business district or an outlying residential neighborhood.

Some Police Officers specialize and become experts in chemical and microscopic analysis, firearm identifications, or handwriting and fingerprint identification. Others may work with special units such as mounted and motorcycle patrol, harbor patrol, canine corps, special weapons and tactics or emergency response teams, or task forces formed to combat specific types of crime.

Detectives and Special Agents are plainclothes investigators who gather facts and collect evidence for criminal cases. They conduct interviews, examine records, observe the activities of suspects, and participate in raids or arrests.

Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs enforce the law on the county level. In metropolitan areas where there are also regular police departments, the sheriffs’ department may perform specialized duties such as serving legal documents or operating the jail. A sheriff’s duties resemble those of a local or county police chief, but the department is generally on a smaller scale. Most sheriffs’ departments employ fewer than ten.

State Police Officers (sometimes called state troopers or highway patrol officers) patrol highways and enforce motor vehicle laws and regulations. They issue traffic citations to motorists who violate the law. At the scene of an accident, they may direct traffic, give first aid, and call for emergency equipment. They also write reports that may be used to determine the cause of the accident. In addition, state police officers may provide services to motorists on the highways, such as calling for road service for drivers with mechanical trouble.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agents are the government’s principal investigators, responsible for investigating more than 260 statutes. Agents may conduct surveillance, monitor court-authorized wiretaps, examine business records to investigate white-collar crime, track the interstate movement of stolen property, collect evidence of espionage activities, or participate in sensitive undercover assignments.

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agents specialize in enforcement of drug laws and regulations. Agents may conduct complex criminal investigations, carry out surveillance of criminals, and infiltrate illicit drug organizations using undercover techniques.

U.S. Marshals and Deputy Marshals provide security for Federal courts, including judges, witnesses, and prisoners, and apprehend fugitives.

U.S. Border Patrol Special Agents are responsible for protecting more than 8,000 miles of international land and water boundaries. Their primary mission is to detect and prevent the smuggling and unlawful entry of undocumented aliens into the United States and to apprehend those persons found in violation of the immigration laws.

Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) Agents facilitate the entry of legal visitors and immigrants to the United States and detain and deport those arriving illegally.

Special agents employed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury work for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the U.S. Customs Service, the Internal Revenue Service, and U.S. Secret Service.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Special Agents investigate violations of federal firearms and explosives laws, as well as federal alcohol and tobacco regulations.

Internal Revenue Service Special Agents collect evidence against individuals and companies that are evading the payment of Federal taxes.

U.S. Secret Service Special Agents protect the President, Vice President, and their immediate families, Presidential candidates, ex-Presidents, and foreign dignitaries visiting the United States. Secret Service agents also investigate counterfeiting, the forgery of Government checks and bonds, and the fraudulent use of credit cards.

Various other federal agencies employ police and special agents with sworn arrest powers and the authority to carry firearms. These agencies include the U.S. Forest Service under the Department of Agriculture, the National Park Service under the Department of the Interior, and Federal Air Marshals under the Department of Transportation. Other police agencies generally evolved from the need for security for the agency’s property and personnel. The largest such agency is the General Services Administration’s Federal Protective Service, which provides security for federal buildings and property nationwide.

Correctional Officers are responsible for overseeing individuals who are awaiting trial or other hearings, who have been arrested, or who have been convicted of a crime and sentenced to serve time in a jail, reformatory, or penitentiary. Their job involves maintaining security and observing inmate conduct and behavior to prevent disturbances and escapes. Most institutions require that correctional officers be at least 18 or 21 years of age, have a high school education or its equivalent, have no felony convictions, and be a United States citizen. Correctional institutions increasingly seek correctional officers with post-secondary education, particularly in psychology, criminal justice, police science, criminology, and related fields.

Security Officers, also referred to as guards, patrol and inspect property to protect against fire, theft, vandalism, and illegal entry. Their duties vary with the size, type, and location of their employer.

What are some employment statistics?

Police, detectives, and special agents held about 704,000 jobs in 1996. Local governments, primarily in cities with more than 25,000 inhabitants, employed about sixty-three percent of police detectives and investigators. Some cities have very large police forces, while hundreds of small communities employ fewer than twenty-five officers each. State police agencies employed about ten percent of all police, detectives, and investigators; various Federal agencies employed the other twenty-seven percent.

What are the training requirements and qualifications needed?

General

Those looking for general careers in criminal justice must be U.S. citizens, usually at least 20 years of age, and must meet rigorous physical and personal qualifications. A combination of performance in competitive written examinations, education and experience determine the eligibility for appointment. Physical examinations often include tests of hearing, vision, agility, and strength. Some agencies require that candidates be interviewed by a psychiatrist or a psychologist, or given a personality test. Most applicants are subjected to a series of lie detector examinations or drug testing. Some agencies subject sworn personnel to random drug testing as a condition of continuing employment in that career. Police, detectives, and special agents must perform their duties in accordance with the law and departmental rules, although they work independently. Candidates should enjoy working with people and meeting those who reside in the public.

Personal Characteristics

Being that personal characteristics such as honesty, judgment, integrity and a sense of responsibility are especially important in the field of law enforcement, senior officers interview candidates. Their character traits and background are investigated also.

Education

In larger police departments, applicants usually must have at least a high school education. Only a few police departments accept applicants as recruits who have less than a high school education. In addition, many state and local law enforcement agencies are not requiring a Bachelor’s Degree, as do most positions in treatment and corrections. Almost all federal agencies require at least a Bachelor’s Degree for entry-level positions

The federal agency with the largest number of special agents is the FBI. To be considered for appointment as an FBI special agent, an applicant either must be a graduate of an accredited law school; be a college graduate with a major in accounting; or be a college graduate with either fluency in a foreign language or 3 years of 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. Department of Treasury's Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms must have a bachelor's degree or a minimum of 3 years' work experience which demonstrates the ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups, among other things. Prospective special agents undergo 8 weeks of training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia, and another 8-11 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.

"Police departments are encouraging applicants to take post secondary school training in law enforcement. Many entry-level applicants to police jobs have completed some formal post-secondary education, and a significant number are college graduates. In 1993, the most recent year for which data are available, 12 percent of local police departments required new officer recruits to have at least some college education. 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 or computer science, and foreign languages. Physical education and sports are helpful in developing the courage, competitiveness, stamina, and agility needed for law enforcement work. Knowledge of a foreign language is an asset in many agencies.

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, and can be appointed to the regular force at the conclusion of their training, usually in 1 to 2 years, upon reaching the minimum age requirement.

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 handling emergencies."

-http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos160.htm

Where can I find additional information on criminal justice?

Information about entrance requirements may be obtained from individual federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

Further information about qualifications for employment as an FBI Special Agent is available from the nearest State FBI office; the address and phone number are listed in the local telephone directory.

Further information about qualifications for employment as a DEA Special Agent is available from the nearest DEA office, or call 1-800-DEA-4288.

Information about career opportunities, qualifications and training to become a deputy marshal is available from:
United States Marshal Service, Employment and Compensation Division, Field Staffing Branch, 600 Army Navy Dr., Arlington, VA 22202.

An overview of career opportunities, qualifications, and training for U.S. Secret Service Special Agents is available from:
U.S. Secret Service, Personnel Division, Room 912, 1800 G St. NW, Washington, DC 20223.

Criminal Justice and Criminal Behavior Division
(Contact at National Institute of Justice)
810 Seventh St., NW
Washington, DC 20531
(202) 307-2942
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/

National Criminal Justice Association
444 N. Capitol Street, NW, Suite 618
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 347-4900
(202) 508-3859
76660.2622@compuserve.com
http://www.sso.org/ncja/

What are some useful web sites for additional information?

http://www.tts.uwosh.edu/career/Pages/Criminal_Justice.htm
http://www.sonoma.edu/SAS/crc/majors/cja.html
http://www.ipa-usa.org
http://www.fbi.gov
http://www.fedworld.gov

What books are available in the Career Services Office?

· Federal Jobs in Law Enforcement
· Opportunities in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Careers
· Occupational Outlook Handbook