Get Matched With Criminal Justice Programs
What is Criminal Justice?
Criminal justice professionals have usually been through specific training and, possibly, have earned a college degree in the field. The range of careers in this field is wide and can include police officers to criminologists, security managers, agents of federal law enforcement organizations such as the CIA and FBI, or even lawyers or court bailiffs. Because of this breadth of actual career options, it can be hard to pin down exactly what your responsibilities as a criminal justice professional will be. They will depend greatly on what role you choose and which side of law enforcement or criminal justice you end up on.
Law enforcement professionals are required to have particular criminal justice skills but, depending on the criminal justice professional’s role, those skills can vary widely. Police officers and lawyers must have excellent communication skills. However, officers will need to also have some level of physical fitness, while lawyers will need to memorize and understand case law in their field. Paralegals also need to understand case law and be able to research, perform interviews, and create documentation for court cases. Having a strong ethical grounding is also vital for individuals working in this field.