Watching CSI and Law and Order may be entertaining, but that's not where the "real" action (or money) is. With the right education and training. Crime can pay--as much as $75K!* Criminal justice careers can involve anything from on-the-ground police work to in-the-courtroom legal action. So whether your passion is forensics, homeland security, paralegal, court reporting or even crime scene investigation, there's sure to be a criminal justice degree program tailored to your needs.
Explore all the potential a criminal justice career can hold and get started on your criminal justice degree today!
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2008
Criminal Justice Training Behind the Scenes
Criminal Justice
Those working toward a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice administration gain an interdisciplinary understanding of crime and justice in American society. Most criminal justice schools incorporate interpersonal skills and managerial and administrative subject matter, which will prepare you for positions of responsibility and leadership within the criminal justice community and beyond.
Undergraduate criminal justice schools provide an overview of police, prosecution, courts, and the correctional system, as well as the problems of the administration of justice in a democratic society. Contemporary criminal justice courses explore changes brought about by the war on terror as well as rapid technological change. You'll learn about homeland security, police response to terrorism, police accountability, racial profiling, and community participation in public safety.
Paralegal
Typically, students attending paralegal school will study the fundamentals of legal terminology, research, legal writing, preparing legal documents and contracts, ethics, planning estates and trust funds, real estate, family, bankruptcy, corporate, civil and criminal law and torts.
Working in a law firm isn’t the only option for someone who has just graduated from one of the many paralegal schools; paralegals also work in government offices, as well as in corporate legal departments. There are many ways in which to become a paralegal. Some attorneys train their own, but the most common way, and the best way to maximize the chances for a higher paying job is to attend paralegal school through a community college program, or certificate program for those who already hold a college degree. A few paralegal schools offer a bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in paralegal studies.
Court Reporting
Those interested in fast-paced court reporting careers must be able to create verbatim transcripts of speeches, conversations, legal proceedings, meetings, and other events. This is an important job, as court reporters are responsible for ensuring complete, accurate, and secure legal records. Other growing court reporting services include closed-captioning and real-time translating to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
There are several avenues to explore in court reporting schools: stenographic, real-time, electronic, and voice-writing court reporting. Stenotypists use stenotype machines that allow them to press multiple keys at a time. Real-time court reporters use stenotype machines linked directly to computers so that text appears on the screen instantly. Electronic reporting employs audio equipment to record proceedings, which are then transcribed. Using voice writing, a court reporter speaks into a voice silencer and produces a transcript in real time using computer speech recognition technology.
