If you are considering a career in criminal justice you may be surprised by the diversity and variety of jobs that are available. Opportunities can range from working in prisons or probation, legal aid or public defender positions and even charities serving specific criminal justice interests.
The possibilities are wide ranging and almost all of the jobs help you contribute to society and have a direct impact on people’s lives.
While each of the specific jobs has different requirements you will typically be deeply involved with protecting society and assuring the safety of the general public.
You will be required to interact with people from all different backgrounds and will need to very quickly develop a connection with them.
Your intuition and interpersonal aptitude will be put to the test with almost every encounter, and the more skilled you are in these areas the greater positive impact you will have.
Typical Jobs in Criminal Justice
There are diverse job categories and opportunities within criminal justice. For instance, you may choose to be a police officer that protects the community and keeps people safe from crime. In this role, you will have direct on the street interaction with a wide range of individuals in potentially difficult situations.
If you prefer to work in a different environment, you could consider become a parole officer. In this role you would work with offenders and provide pre-sentence recommendations to the court. You would also work with individuals about to be released from prison and help monitor them and ensure public safety after they are placed back into the community.
Numerous jobs are available for individuals interested in working as a prison officer. These positions are very challenging. You may also want to see if working with youthful offenders is the right path for you. As a youth offending officer you may participate in youth Intensive Supervision programmes and other initiatives that are specifically designed to assure better outcomes among young people.
Other Types of Criminal Justice Jobs
There are extensive options available for criminal justice jobs beyond the typical ones mentioned above. If your calling is to work in defense of those charged with a crime, you could consider a career with the Legal Aid Agency or the Public Defender Service. There are also numerous charities that offer the opportunity to work for criminal justice reform.
Among the careers in criminal justice there are a number of offerings that are health-related. If you focus on offender health you could pursue a role as offender health nurse, pharmacist, mental health nurse or a drug treatment nurse.
There are also specialized opportunities available in the field of substance misuse, including substance misuse recovery workers and nurses.
If you are interested in a career in criminal justice be sure to research the different options there for you. It would also be very helpful to talk with people in the jobs you are interested in and ask for their help and advice as you evaluate your career opportunities.
