Education and Training

Earning a criminal justice degree requires learning about different aspects of law and how these laws are enforced. Coursework required for earning a criminal justice degree includes areas of the social sciences, such as psychology, in order to help you better understand human thoughts and behaviors.

Employment Opportunities

After earning a criminal justice degree, you will be eligible for employment in a number different areas of the legal field. Some of the most common areas of employment pursued by a person with a criminal justice degree include:

• Probation officer
• Correctional treatment specialist
• Parole officer

Each of these positions is similar and, in some cases, the duties overlap or one person fulfills the role of all three positions. When kept separate, however, there are subtle differences among the three positions.

A probation officer, which is also referred to as a community supervision officer, is in charge of supervising individuals that have been placed on probation. A correctional treatment specialist, on the other hand, is responsible for counseling offenders and creating rehabilitation plans for them to follow after they have completed their prison or parole term.

A parole officer performs many of the same duties as a probation officer, but their role is to supervise individuals that have been released from prison whereas parole officers supervise individuals that were placed on probation rather than sent to prison.

Job Outlook and Salary

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for people with a criminal justice degree interested in pursuing a career as a probation officer, correctional treatment specialist, or parole officer are expected to grow about as quickly as the average occupation. The Bureau reports that the median annual salary of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists employed by State governments was $39,810 in May 2004. Those working for the local government earned $40,560 that same year. The median annual salary of probation officers in May 2004 was $39,600.

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