There are many aspects to this profession, and not all of them are what most people initially think of. From guarding prisoners to processing crime scenes and a whole range of jobs in between, the people who work in the criminal justice system are often highly trained professionals whose work is vital to the safety and well-being of all members of society.

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Niche Areas
There are seemingly innumerable professional avenues down which you may choose to travel with a degree in criminal justice. They run the gamut from the solitary to the team-based, and there is a great deal of flexibility involved in which deciding which direction to go. Possible areas of emphasis include:

• Data Analysis
• Crime Prevention
• Peacemaking
• Criminal Justice Ethics
• Criminal Justice in a War Zone
• Criminal Investigation
• Child Abuse and Neglect
• Legal Aspects of the Criminal Justice System
• Feminist Justice
• Probation and Parole

Types Of Associate, Undergraduate & Graduate Programs Available
Degrees range from Associate's degrees to Doctorates, and the level of education you choose to pursue will have a very real impact on the aspect of the field in which you eventually work. Of course, there is always room for lateral movement within the field, but because of the often highly specialized training involved, your expertise in one area may be developed far more completely than it will in another. Associate's degrees generally lead to employment in "municipal, state, and private police agencies as well as persons considering employment in local, state, federal, and private correctional facilities" ( http://bchhs.ysu.edu ). Bachelor's degrees can lead to either work with municipalities or serve as stepping stones to law school. Graduate degrees afford the student the opportunity to either work in the field or to teach at the college level.

Typical Admissions Requirements
For graduate degrees in criminal justice, a fair amount of schooling is necessary before applying, as is the case with the vast majority of graduate degrees. However, you can pursue an Associate's or Bachelor's degree without having any academic background in the field. You simply must possess a good academic record up to that point, and demonstrate an interest in the field. As always, however, previous work experience in the field not only makes admission more likely, but it also will enrich your classroom learning. The key is to take classes in as many aspects of criminal justice as you can in order to decide which specific profession in criminal justice you would like to pursue.

Careers In This Field
"Criminal Justice is a broad field that typically spans the criminal justice system itself as well as Law, Criminology, Public Policy, and related issues. Criminal justice can also frequently overlap with fields such as Sociology, Social Work, Population Studies, and Political Science, since those who are trying to run or reform the criminal justice system must understand the causes that feed into the system·Studying criminal justice, therefore, can enable students to work in a variety of positions depending on the areas in which they specialize and their particular interests. A more hands-on aspect of criminology would be the study of Criminalistics, otherwise known as Forensic Science" ( www.gradschools.com ). A partial listing of potential careers includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Detective
• FBI Agent
• Airport Security Officer
• Police Officer
• Criminologist
• Attorney
• Probation and Parole Officer
• Drug Enforcement Agent
• Loss Prevention Specialist
• Secret Service Agent

Salary Ranges In This Field
Because of the wide range of careers available to graduates of criminal justice programs, the salaries run the gamut. And while the job you initially get may be a direct result of the degree you have earned, the work you ultimately do is also a result of your job-performance and specialized training in your particular field. In general, however, the following is a list of what you can expect to make, on average, in the field of criminal justice, according to Walters State Community College:

"Police and sheriffs' patrol officers had median annual earnings of $42,270 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $32,300 and $53, 500. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $25,270, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $65,330. Median annual earnings were $47, 090 in State government, $42,020 in local government, and $41,600 in Federal Government.

In 2002, median annual earnings of police and detective supervisors were $61,010. The middle 50 percent earned between $47,210 and $74,610. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $36,340, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $90,070. Median annual earnings were $78,230 in federal government, $64,410 in state government, and $59,830 in local government.

In 2002, median annual earnings of detectives and criminal investigators were $51,410. The middle 50 percent earned between $39,010 and $65,980. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $31,010, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $80,380. Median annual earnings were $66,500 in federal government, $47,700 in local government, and $46,600 in state government.

Federal law provides special salary rates to federal employees who serve in law enforcement. Additionally, Federal special agents and inspectors receive law enforcement availability pay (LEAP)-equal to 25 percent of the agent's grade and step-awarded because of the large amount of overtime that these agents are expected to work. For example, in 2003 FBI agents enter Federal service as GS-10 employees on the pay scale at a base salary of $39,115, yet earned about $48,890 a year with availability pay. They can advance to the GS-13 grade level in field nonsupervisory assignments at a base salary of $61,251, which is worth $76,560 with availability pay. FBI supervisory, management, and executive positions in grades GS-14 and GS-15 pay a base salary of about $72,381 or $85,140 a year, respectively, and equaled $90,480 or $106,430 per year including availability pay. Salaries were slightly higher in selected areas where the prevailing local pay level was higher. Because federal agents may be eligible for a special law enforcement benefits package, applicants should ask their recruiter for more information." ( www.wscc.cc.tn.us )

Future Outlook
Although it is difficult to quantify the future need for criminal justice majors since unexpected events throughout the world and the country will have a very real impact on the nature of the work itself, trends are apparent. "The growing emphasis on homeland security has created an unprecedented demand for criminal justice and security professionals. The U.S. Department of Labor has predicted that by 2010 there will be more than a 29% increase in the demand for FBI Agents, Police Officers, Private Detectives, U.S. Customs Agents, and many others, but the growing emphasis on homeland security has created an unprecedented demand for criminal justice and security professionals" ( www.directdegree.com) .

In other words, it is a safe bet that the skills you attain over the course of your education in criminal justice will be of ever-increasing use and demand in the future.

Resources

1. www.ncja.org (The National Criminal Justice Administration)
2. www.acjalae.org (The American Criminal Justice Association-Lambda Alpha Epsilon)
3. www.nabcj.org (The National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice)