Criminal Justice 

Career and Major Information
Related Career Titles
Web Sites
Salary Information

 

Walters State Community College offers an Associate of Science degree in Criminal Justice.  This degree is designed to fulfill freshman and sophomore level course requirements of a bachelor’s degree; however, the curriculum is not specific for any one college or university.  Students will need to consult a faculty advisor at WSCC or an advisor at the intended transfer institution for particular courses needed at an individual school.  The link for the WSCC Department of Public Safety is: http://www.ws.edu/publicsafety/default.asp.

 

 

Career and Major Information:

 

Law enforcement personnel are charged with protecting the safety and property of citizens.  These jobs are often stressful and dangerous.  There are different areas of service in criminal justice, and these are discussed below. 

 

Uniformed police officers have general duties.  In small departments, officers may direct traffic, respond to emergencies, or investigate a crime.  In large departments, officers may have specific responsibilities, but all officers are required to write detailed reports and do extensive record keeping.

 

Counties employ sheriffs and deputies.  Sheriffs are usually elected officials.  Deputies perform such duties as patrolling, responding to calls, investigating, fulfilling tasks related to jailed inmates, and participating in court-related activities.

 

State police officers are active statewide and enforce motor vehicle regulations.  They may be called on to assist small law enforcement agencies.

 

Detectives investigate crimes and collect evidence for criminal cases.  They are assigned cases on a rotating basis; they may observe suspects, interview witnesses, and participate in arrests.

 

The Federal Government employs several types of officers.  Federal Bureau of Investigation agents conduct sensitive national security inquiries.   They investigate organized crime, public corruption, financial wrongdoing, fraud against the government, bribery, civil rights violations, terrorism, espionage, drug trafficking, bank robbery, and other violations of Federal statutes.

 

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents investigate the use and distribution of illegal drugs in the United States and abroad.

 

U. S. marshals and deputy marshals protect and ensure the effective operation of the judicial system.  They are involved to some extent in nearly all federal law enforcement efforts.

 

U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service agents and inspectors oversee the entry of legal visitors and immigrants to the United States and attempt to detain and deport illegal those arriving illegally.  U.S. border patrol agents guard land and water boundaries.

 

Special agents work for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms to investigate violations of firearms and explosives laws and regulate tobacco and alcohol provisions.  Customs agents are involved in guarding against illegal activities that are internationally based.

 

Customs inspectors enforce laws governing imports and exports.

 

The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security special agents battle terrorism.

 

Other Federal agencies that employ police and special agents include the U. S. Postal Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Law Enforcement, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, and Federal Air Marshals.

 

Physical and psychological examinations are usually required for employment as a law enforcement officer, and a bachelor’s degree is necessary for most positions with government agencies.

 

 

Related Career Titles:

 

Airport Security Officer	Bailiff
Border Patrol Agent	CIA Agent
Compliance Manager	Corrections Officer
Customs Agent	Deportation Officer
Deputy Marshall	Detective
Drug Enforcement Agent	FBI Agent
Fish and Game Warden	Naval Investigator
Park Ranger	Police Officer
Postal Service Investigator	Loss Prevention Specialist
Secret Service Agent	Sheriff
US Customs Agent	Probation and Parole Officer
Public Safety Officer	US Marshall
Criminologist

 

Some jobs may require additional education or experience. 

 

 

Web Sites:

 

*  Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention- http://osp.its.state.nc.us/deptsearchresults3a.asp?departmentname=DEPARTMENT%20OF%20JUVENILE%20JUSTICE%20AND%20DELINQUENCY%20PREVENTION

 

*  Dept. of Justice http://osp.its.state.nc.us/deptsearchresults3a.asp?departmentname=
DEPARTMENT%20OF%20JUSTICE

 

* United States Secret Service http://www.treas.gov/usss/index.shtml
          
* IRS Criminal Investigation jobs - http://www.treas.gov/irs/ci/recruit/
 
* Naval Criminal Investigative Service jobs http://www.ncis.navy.mil/join.cfm

 

* National Security Agency careers http://www.nsa.gov/programs/employ/index.html

 

* INS Border Patrol Jobs http://jsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/getjob.asp?jobid=18686709

 

* US Park Police job info http://www.nps.gov/uspp/findex.htm

 

* US Postal Inspector jobs - http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/employmt.htm

* FBI jobs https://fbijobs.com/

* CIA careers http://www.cia.gov/employment/index.html

 

* Criminal Justice jobs http://criminaljusticejobs.com/

 

* Police & Detectives http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos160.htm

 

* Careers in Law & Order http://www.saludos.com/cguide/lguide.html#top

 

* Federal Law Enforcement Career Resources http://www.concentric.net/~extraord/law.htm

 

* Criminal Justice Resources http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/NACJD/links.html  

 

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.

According to the International City-County Management Association’s annual Police and Fire Personnel, Salaries, and Expenditures Survey, average salaries for sworn full-time positions in 2002 were as follows:

Total earnings for local, state, and special police and detectives frequently exceed the stated salary because of payments for overtime, which can be significant. In addition to the common benefits—paid vacation, sick leave, and medical and life insurance—most police and sheriffs’ departments provide officers with special allowances for uniforms. Because police officers usually are covered by liberal pension plans, many retire at half-pay after 20 or 25 years of service.

Salary figures quoted are based on national figures. Local or regional salaries may be lower.

 

Citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-05 Edition, Police and Detectives, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos160.htm