| A career in criminal justice isn't just police work, but | | | | Probation offices or departments need staff, the |
| everything about keeping your community safe. Police | | | | courts need more than just a judge and lawyers. |
| work, the court system, crime scene analysis and | | | | Everything having to do with criminal justice needs |
| investigation, and more fit into the category of criminal | | | | people. |
| justice. It's not just a degree you get so you can be a | | | | Take a look at prisons for a moment. A prison doesn't |
| cop. There are many things you can do with a degree | | | | run itself. It needs trained individuals to operate the |
| in criminal justice (CJ). | | | | prison's daily functions and to rehabilitate it's occupants. |
| I'm not saying that police work is bad or unnecessary. | | | | District Attorney's offices, jails, probation offices, police |
| What I'm saying is that there's more to CJ than just | | | | departments, and more need people. There are more |
| working as an officer. For example, after a Police | | | | jobs in the industry than being a Police Officer. |
| Officer arrests a suspect or perpetrator, and that | | | | If you are looking for career options, don't limit yourself |
| suspect is convicted in our courts, where do they go? | | | | by limiting your perception of a particular degree. I will |
| Depending on the sentencing, that person could end up | | | | admit that police work is often the first thing that |
| back out on the streets but under probation, in prison, | | | | comes to people's minds, as far as I have observed, |
| or in the care of a mental treatment facility. These are | | | | when they hear the words "criminal justice." What |
| not all of the possible outcomes, but I use them to | | | | criminal justice is really about, and what a CJ degree |
| make a point. All of these options need people - | | | | can mean for you, is having a balanced education |
| personnel trained for this type of work in the varying | | | | focused on all aspects of crime, safety, and helping to |
| environments required by the nature of the work. | | | | keep a peaceful community. |