Career Outlook
Continued desire for public safety will result in demand for more law enforcement officers.
Justice Studies - Criminal Justice at a Glance
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Justice Studies – Criminal Justice program are prepared to enter a variety of fields within the criminal justice system, including working as police officers, detectives, probation officers, or correctional treatment specialists.
Education Required
Police and detective applicants must be graduates of a training academy. Many academies and police departments require that applicants have come college course work or a college degree. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists usually need a Bachelor’s degree.
Typical Tasks Performed
Some job responsibilities for police officers include:
- Enforce laws
- Respond to emergency and non-emergency calls
- Patrol assigned areas
- Conduct traffic stops and issue citations
- Obtain warrants and arrest suspects
- Prepare cases and testify in court
Some job responsibilities for detectives include:
- Investigate crimes
- Collect and secure evidence from crime scenes
- Conduct interviews with suspects and witnesses
- Observe the activities of suspects
- Obtain warrants and arrest suspects
Some job responsibilities for probation officers or correction treatment specialists include:
- Evaluate offenders to determine the best course of rehabilitation
- Provide offenders with resources, such as job training
- Test offenders for drugs and offer substance-abuse counseling
- Monitor offenders and help with their progress
- Conduct meetings with offenders and their family and friends
Outlook for Employment
Employment of police, detectives, probation officers, and correctional treatment specialists is projected to grow 4 percent through 2024.
Please note that these are national statistics and projections that might vary by location.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/police-and-detectives.htm and https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/probation-officers-and-correctional-treatment-specialists.htm
