5 Benefits of Working in the Criminal Justice Industry

The criminal justice industry consists of various fields. There are many job types available in this field. People can make a good career by choosing any of the field related to criminal justice jobs. This industry has a vast range of benefits.

Here are some of the best criminal justice jobs with their benefits:

1. Police And Sheriff’s Patrol Officers

Police and Sheriff patrol officers visit their assigned areas. They do regular patrolling to protect citizens and property from any unwanted issues. The team immediately respond to emergency calls. Officers who work in this field need to identify, pursue and arrest suspects who break motor vehicle and criminal laws.

Annual Income: $61,050

Required Education: A candidate should have a Bachelor’s degree in law enforcement or criminal justice

Qualification Criteria:

  • Good understanding of federal, state and local law
  • Effective training about the use of a firearm and how to respond in an emergency situation
  • Appropriate knowledge of computers to write reports and analyze the data. The candidate should have the capability to run a specialized application of law enforcement such as a database.

2. Detectives

Detectives are the major type of the criminal field. They perform various task to identify the criminal. They generally investigate the case, gather each and every detail about the crime, collect important evidence, ask the relevant questions to the witnesses, check the physical evidence, and interrogate the suspect to get more information about the crime. Once they get the strong evidence against the suspect, they charge him/her with a crime. In the arrest procedure, detectives and criminal investigators generally take part in arrests or raids in suspicious areas in law enforcement, such as homicide, drug trafficking or fraud. These kinds of people generally work for local, state or federal agencies.   

Annual Income: $79,970

Required Education: An applicant should have passed Bachelor’s with an authentic degree, typically in law enforcement or criminal justice

Qualification Criteria:

  • Vast knowledge of federal, state and local law.
  • Additional knowledge of the fields, such as forensics, accounting or computer science.
  • To conduct evidence and to conduct investigations accurate attention required.
  • Superior level of thinking the power to assess evidence and to conduct interviews.
  • Strong judgment power to fulfill the ongoing investigations requirement.

3. Correctional Officers

Correctional officers and jailers keep their eyes on the criminals who have been arrested, are awaiting trial or have been ordered to serve time in jail or prison. People in this job are also asked to search for inmates and their living quarters for contraband. This can include weapons and all kinds of drugs. They also keep track of all the mails for potential contraband, check all the facilities and make sure they meet the defined standards, report the misbehave or any misconduct, etc.

Annual Income:  $43,540

Required Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Qualification Criteria:

  • Detailed information about different institutional policies and state rules & regulations.
  • Well trained with security procedures and self-defence.
  • Junior level understanding requires for counseling, assistance and supervision of inmates.
  • Superior level of investigation skills to fight against potential violations. This includes tracking of drugs and other contraband within the correctional facility.
  • Appropriate knowledge and understanding of criminal statutory and case law.

4. Bailiffs

The main job of Bailiffs is to maintain complete safety and discipline in the courtroom. They protect judges, jurors as well as other court personnel. The Bailiff's job is risky sometimes when they have to handle the dangerous prisoners. This job requires 100% attention. People in this job work in local, state and federal court systems.

Annual Income:  $42,960

Required Education: An applicant with a Bachelor’s Degree

Qualification Criteria:

  • Superior level of knowledge about court policies and regulations.
  • High level of training in safety procedures and self-defence.
  • The extreme level of knowledge about security operations and supervision.
  • Strong decision making power by following management procedures.
  • Fluent communications skills to maintain discipline in the courtroom.

5. Probation Officers And Correctional Treatment Specialists

The main work of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists is to provide effective social services to prisoners or individuals. They provide services to people on probation or parole to help them with their rehabilitation. Generally, these officers work with the individuals who are sentenced to probation following a criminal conviction in lieu of jail time. Monitoring offenders, coordinating rehabilitation services and arranging job training for parolees are some of the most common work of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists.

Annual Income:  $51,410

Required Education: Bachelor’s Degree is compulsory in social work, criminal justice or behavioral science.

Qualification Criteria:

  • Superior level of knowledge about federal, state and local laws and regulations
  • High level of knowledge about the fields like domestic violence or substance abuse
  • Awareness about the reporting and other clerical duty
  • Ability to communicate effectively in writing and personal testimony to the courts as to the state of various parolees
  • Effective skills in communication & writing