Question:

I will graduate in two years with a criminal justice degree but I am not interested in becoming a police officer or a lawyer. I am interested in police investigations and finding out why people commit crimes and how they commit crimes. Any suggestions for a career field?

First Answer:

What do you want to do with the information you hope to learn about police investigations and the motivation and methodology of those who commit crimes? Are you interested in working with the police? With offenders? In the community? Do you want to work with ideas on this topic, or people affected?

I have at least two graduate students with undergraduate degrees in criminal justice studying social policy at the graduate school where I direct Career Services. Depending on your area of interest, and on your interest in pursuing a graduate degree, you could consider careers such as these:
  • Policy analyst for a legislator or politician addressing crime prevention or rehabilitation
  • Program evaluation for an organization delivering services intended to prevent or reduce crime, or rehabilitate felons into the community.
  • Program development, devising programs for social service organizations working in crime prevention or rehabilitation.
  • Researcher or policy analyst for organizations attempting to create a more civil society, working within or outside a police department.
  • Psychologist studying criminal behavior and hired as an expert witness for a defendant or the courts, or by a lawyer attempting to influence jury selection.
  • Academic teaching, conducting studies, and writing on these topics.

For most of these careers you will need graduate study in public policy, anthropology, or psychology, although you may be able to enter a nonprofit organization addressing these issues at a lower level, such as program coordinator.

Now is not too soon to start identifying organizations that interest you and conducting informational interviews to learn the content and career path of these professions.

-- Carol Anderson, Career Development and Placement Office, Robert J. Milano Graduate School of Management and Urban Policy at New School University in New York City.

Second Answer:

A Criminologist is someone who studies criminal behavior and the methods society uses to deal with it. Criminologists conduct studies in order to add to the body of knowledge on crime. They examine the causes of crim, and explore measures to control or reduce it. The work of criminologists can help government agencies, legislators and law enforcement groups understand the causes of crimes and therehelp them deal with it.

Someone interested in a career in this field shuld have at leas a Master's Degree (a Ph.D. is even better) in a field like criminology, sociology or psychology. GThere are over 1400 schools nationwide that offer Bachelor degrees in criminology and aboutr 200 with a master's program and 50 with a PhD program. In addition to criminal justice courses, courses in psychology, sociology, statistics, physical sciences, etc. are required.

Criminologists work in law enforcement, private secruity, fraud offices, courts,prisons, social services, probation and parole, counseling and other systems that work with offenders.

According to the U S Department of Labor in 1999 a person with a bachelor's degree would start working for the federal government at about $25,500 per year. In the private field entrol level Bachelor degree postions paid an average of $25,000. With eight years of experience the average criminologist made between $39,389 abd $57,462. With sixteen years of experience between $48,687 and $71,025. Experienced cirminologists may earn more than $100,000 per year.

Employment outlook in this field is expected to grow soler than the average for all occupations. Those with a bachelor's degree might find it hard to find employment.

For more detailed information on this career check out Chronicle Guidance Publications Brief #456. www.ChronicleGuidance.com

-- Linda Wyatt, Career Center Director, Kansas City Kansas Community College.

Third Answer:

Sounds like you are already thinking of how to specialize within the criminal justice field. While I am not thoroughly familiar with the opportunities that are available for individuals who have a degree in criminal justice, I am sure that your school's career placement office may have some ideas and strategies to recommend. If by chance they are not able to assist with more out of the box kind of requests, you should ask for names of alumni and their titles. This should give you a picture of possible jobs and even better, specific individuals in practice to provide understanding, insight and real experience.

My other thought is to have you look into studying psychology at the graduate level. Sounds to me that you are leaning towards profiling and this is most certainly based in the field of psychology, some forensics and requires strong analytical, problem solving skills.

-- Debra Feldman, founder of JobWhiz, creator of the JOBWHIZQUIZ, and specialist in cyber savvy strategic job search consultations.

Fourth Answer:

Has your career counselor recommended that you further your education in psychology or one of the forensic fields? We have worked with many retired police investigators who have honed their skills in these fields and gone on to do wonderful work! While I'm not a counselor or career coach, I would recommend that you do some informational interviewing with people who work in these fields. This will enable you to speak with someone who can tell you firsthand what their responsibilities are like on a day-to-day basis. Good luck!

-- Rene' Hart, Resumes for Success!





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