"Criminal justice is the system of legislation, practices, and organizations, used by government or the state, which are all directed to maintain social control, deter and control crime, and sanctioning those who violate laws". It is essentially a system designed to protect society from crime by preventing crime and punishing criminals.  

Criminal Justice Degrees

Online criminal justice programs are carefully structured to provide students with an optimal educational experience. Since the criminal justice system deals with everyone in the crime and punishment cycle - victim of crime, witness, juror and accused - the criminal justice degrees include aspects of police, courts, and corrective systems. It allows students to broaden their knowledge and career prospects. Criminal justice degrees also cover subjects such as criminology and criminal evidence techniques.

You can choose from an variety of associate's, bachelors's, master's and doctorate programs in criminal justice and related fields. You can also choose a criminal justice specialty such as Administration, Homeland Security, Investigation and Law Enforcement.

Career Options

A criminal justice degree can help you advance your career in law enforcement and police administration. You can choose to be an Attorney, Bailiff, Border Patrol Agent, CIA Agent, Corrections Officer, Court Reporter, Crime Scene Technician, Criminal Investigator, Customs Agent, Detective, Drug Enforcement Agent, FBI Agent, Industrial Security Specialist, Law Librarian, Legal Secretary, Paralegal, Police Officer, Postal Service Investigator, Probation Officer or a Parole Officer.

Career prospects for criminal justice professionals seem to be quite good and many of them are employed by government agencies. As per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, probation officers and correctional treatment specialists held about 93,000 jobs in 2004. Most jobs were in State or local governments.

Salaries

As per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, in 2004 the median annual earnings of various occupations in this field were as follows:

• Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists: $39,600.
• Salaried private detectives and investigators : $32,110
• Police and sheriff’s patrol officers : $45,210
• Police and detective supervisors : $64,430
• Detectives and criminal investigators : $53,990
• Correctional officers and jailers : $33,600
• First-line supervisors/managers of correctional officers : $44,720
• Bailiffs : $33,870
• Security guards : $20,320

The figures given above are the median annual salaries but the earnings within an occupation varied greatly by employer, specialty, and the geographic area.

Criminal Justice Degree ___________________________________________________________ Enhance your career as a Criminal Justice Professional with an Online Course ... more Get ready to join your online criminal justice class ... more Keys to success for an online criminal justice degree ... more An online criminal justice degree program can help you save money ... more Criminal Justice Degrees Online ... more