Criminal justice covers the full spectrum of the penal system and involves all levels of criminal activity. The criminal justice field is often broken down into two broad categories: law enforcement officers and court officers. People who choose to specialize in either of these fields often find employment within their specific area of expertise, and will be able to further their knowledge and skills by taking classes in law enforcement and criminal justice.
The legal profession also includes several specialized departments that require advanced degrees in criminal justice. These include attorneys, judges, correctional officers, investigators, forensic scientists, and prison guards. Many people who choose to specialize in a law enforcement or judicial position will choose to work as an officer in a police department, while many who choose to work as a correctional officer will work as a prison guard. People who choose to become a corrections officer can work in a jail, rehabilitation center, or prison.
A criminal law enforcement officer is someone who is assigned to make arrests and gather evidence at a crime scene. People who are law enforcement officers usually carry a badge that is visible to the general public when they are doing their job.
A forensic scientist is a scientist that specializes in analyzing and testing cases for physical evidence, DNA evidence, and handwriting analysis. People who choose to pursue a career in this field can work in a laboratory, a police station, or in the private sector. They may also work as private detectives and work in private investigative firms. If you choose to go to graduate school for a masters or doctoral degree in forensic science, you will most likely be able to find employment in a laboratory or a forensic laboratory. It is important to note that while some jobs will involve collecting evidence, others involve testing the samples for evidence, such as DNA analysis.
Investigative jobs in criminal justice require a lot more training than typical law enforcement and judicial positions. Many investigative jobs include work is done for private investigators. Private investigators are employed by businesses that hire private detectives to look into their clients’ affairs. These investigators gather information and use it in the course of an investigation. The work is usually done by spending a lot of time gathering information, following leads, interviewing witnesses, gathering information, and conducting interviews.
Many jobs within this field require people to look into other people’s background. People who decide to work for private investigators in this capacity can search for information by using a variety of sources. There are many private investigators that use the internet to search through the internet for information about people, like background searches, public records, and phone records. People who work for a private detective agency can use their computer skills to search through databases to look up criminal records on people, including court records, driving records, and credit card information.
Many investigative jobs also involve investigating cases on the streets, like investigations into sexual assault or domestic violence, fraud, child abuse, missing persons, or any type of white collar crime. There are many positions available in the police force that require candidates to have criminal justice degrees in hand, such as investigations and investigative personnel. Police officers are usually required to conduct investigations and provide security for officers or other law enforcement officials on a daily basis. There are also many police officers who investigate other people, such as suspects in a crime case. Most police officers work in a small office and are responsible for the duties of a single officer, which may include investigating a case or investigating a potential crime, solving a crime, or providing security.
