Exploring Criminal Justice as a Career

As the opening line of the popular television show, Law & Order, explains: "In the criminal justice system, there are two separate yet equally important groups: the police who investigate crime and the district attorneys who prosecute the offenders. These are their stories." That isn't the whole story, though.

If you've ever watched CSI or one of the other popular crime shows and wondered "How much do they make?" or "What kind of education is needed?" or, most importantly "How can I get that job?," then keep reading-the answers are here.

Chief of Domestic Operations: Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)

The Chief of Domestic Operations of the DEA oversees clandestine surveillance, drug-trafficking investigations, and evidence collection. This includes both processing and storage. He or she also handles court cases that require investigators, chemists, agents and/or protected witnesses to testify and more.

In order to be a DEA, you need to be a U.S. citizen between the ages of 21 and 36 at the time you are hired. You also need to hold a four-year degree and have a valid driver's license. In addition, you will need to pass a thorough background check, physical and possibly a polygraph (lie-detector test). You must also have three years or more of experience in law enforcement and have high-quality communication and managerial skills. While there can only be one Chief, he oversees hundreds of operations and thousands of employees involved in the "War on Drugs."

Pay for this supervisory position starts at just over $40,000 per year, plus benefits. The Chief oversees employees that start anywhere from $33,000 to $40,000 per year.

While regular written examinations are not required in order to maintain this position, frequent urinalysis and occasional polygraphs are.

Ballistics Technician: Federal or State Bureau of Investigations

The weapon of choice in most homicide and suicide deaths is the gun. It's no wonder, then, that there is a need for quality ballistics (the science of projectiles in motion) technicians in offices across the country and around the world.

A ballistics technician is well versed in all areas pertaining to guns. From telltale markings of specific gun manufacturers, to matching grooved patterns on a bullet to a gun barrel, to the complicated physics of how various bullets enter and exit different objects, a ballistics examiner or technician must have a keen eye for detail.

Job requirements for this criminal justice career include: 20/20 vision in one eye and at least 20/40 in the other, good hearing, and the ability to see colors. A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, valid driver's license, and successful completion of an extensive interview and written exam are also required. A urinalysis, polygraph and/or background check may be required as well. If this is where your interest lies, consider taking classes in physics, chemistry and biology in addition to your criminal justice courses.

The annual salary of a ballistics technician ranges from $40,000 to $65,000 plus a complete government benefits package. The competition for these jobs is high, but so is the demand.

Police Officer/Sheriff's Deputy: Cities, Counties and States throughout the U.S.

A career in criminal justice often refers to a police office or sheriff's deputy. That's because these men and women are at the forefront of the criminal justice system. They are most often the first point of contact for either the criminal or the victim. Some officers are regular "beat cops," patrolling a specific area and interacting with a certain community group. Others work in the traffic division and help keep roads safe by ticketing people who are speeding or creating danger on the streets. Still others investigate crimes as detectives and/or investigators.

As of 1999, the US Bureau of Justice Statistics found that just 16 percent of state agencies required their police to hold a two-year degree and just four percent required a four-year degree. Thirteen percent of county police departments required a two-year degree of their officers and three percent required a four-year degree. Sheriff's offices were the most lax, with only six percent being required to have a two-year degree and less than one percent required to have a four-year degree. The majority of all jurisdictions required a GED or high school diploma and six to 12 months of formal training.

Pay scales range considerably for this position-from $12,000 per year for part-time rural deputies to $28,000 starting salary for full-time, big city cops. Unfortunately, the statistically low pay and high risks associated with the job has led to a decline in the number of available officers. Other factors leading to this decline include the odd and often long hours, the high-stress level of the job, the higher divorce and suicide rate, and the inherent danger of dealing with criminals. Nearly every metropolitan area in the U.S. is experiencing a shortage of police officers, making it an ideal career choice for someone looking for a position in the criminal justice field that is not at risk for being downsized.

Other Positions

In addition to the positions outlined above, there are hundreds or even thousands of other criminal justice careers available. Administrators, for one, may find their work just as rewarding as a police officer without the risk.

Juvenile detention workers may find helping teens to be their calling. Court reporting is high-paying without much risk and many are private contractors setting their own hours. Regardless of the criminal justice career you choose, you'll be contributing to society in a positive way.

View a list of online criminal justice schools where you can begin studying to become a police officer, crime scene investigator or forensics expert.