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Average
Salary & Job Outlook
Detectives
median wages (2005)
$55,790 annually
U.S. Minimum Wage
$10,712 Annually
Police officers
median wages (2005)
$46,290 annually
U.S. Minimum Wage
$10,712 Annually
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
median wages (2005)
$40,210 annually
U.S. Minimum Wage
$10,712 Annually
Earnings for criminal justice workers vary by field, hours and location.
- In 2005 median annual earnings for detectives was $55,790.
- Police officers earned an average of $46,290.
- Annual earnings of private detectives and investigators were $32,650 in 2005.
- The median annual earnings of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists were $40,210.
Employment of criminal justice workers is expected to grow faster
than the average for all occupations through the next ten years.
The criminal justice field is expected to grow up to 20% by 2014.
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Criminal Justice Careers
Law enforcement jobs are some of the most selfless
and rewarding jobs out there today. Getting a degree
in criminal justice is a good way to get into any
number of jobs offered in law enforcement. Departments
are increasingly encouraging potential employees
to take college courses; some even require a college
degree.
Here are just some of the many jobs offered in the
career of criminal justice:
Detectives are investigators who
gather facts and collect evidence for criminal cases.
They conduct interviews, observe suspects activities
and participate in both raids and arrests.
Police officers participate in
duties such as patrolling and responding to 911 and
service calls. Some officers direct traffic at the
scene of an accident, investigate burglaries and
must be able to give first aid to accident victims.
Forensic technologists help criminal investigators
by gathering, classifying and analyzing physical
evidence found at crime scenes. They generally specialize
in DNA and firearm evidence. Main tasks for forensic
science technologists include running DNA tests on
tissues, fibers, hair, skin, blood and other body
fluids. They also perform ballistic and other weapon
analysis. Other responsibilities involve writing
up reports and giving expert opinions to the investigators
based on the evidence they find.
Private detectives and investigators may
provide executive, corporate and celebrity protection
and individual background profiles. These criminal
justice officers investigate everything from such
as identity theft and fraud to missing persons and
infidelity cases.
Probation officers work with people
who are sentenced to probation instead of prison.
They supervise offenders through contact with the
offenders and their families.
Correctional treatment specialists
work in jails, prisons and probation agencies. Their
main focus is evaluating inmates and making release
plans. |
