Job Opportunities In Criminal Justice For Those With Bachelor's Degrees Research Papers Examples

Abstract

There are a variety of options for young Americans who exit college in the criminal justice department. Interesting options such as careers in the FBI or ATF are available to aspiring individuals. This paper has recorded some of the most important roles that are available to young American graduates of this age. It also provides an insight to other professionals that they may yet have their chance to serve their nation in one of these versatile agencies. Most of the roles discussed in this paper have listed a bachelor’s degree as a requirement. The ones that didn’t press for it during the initial recruitment, eventually looks to send its veteran crime fighters to college courses. The level of educational requirement has increased due to the sophistication that criminals employ in their trade. Moreover an intrinsic knowledge of the law and procedures always aid the case of law enforcement agencies to fight crime effectively.

Introduction

Criminal justice is like a river that runs through the forest; quenching the thirst of its inhabitants. Similarly, the criminal justice system provides legal remedies for different acts of criminal behavior and other social misdemeanors. Moreover, just like the river that has tributaries that branch into the vast expanse of the forest to reach remote areas, the criminal justice department has branched itself to provide the needs of the citizens of this nation. In this paper, we shall look at the key streams of the criminal justice system that shape the functioning of our judiciary and explore the opportunities available for aspirants who seek a career to uphold the law.

Law Enforcement Officer

Law enforcement is a broad spectrum that consists of players in State and Federal agencies. In this section, we explore the key roles of State and Federal law enforcement positions.

Federal

The Federal agencies report to the federal government and regulate federal laws. The following positions are for key agencies within the federal structure.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Job Description
FBI agents have various duties including investigating criminal violations of federal laws, gathering evidence based on complaints, interviewing suspects, collecting scientific evidence such as fingerprints, DNA samples and computer records. They prepare reports, forms and testify before courts and juries for criminal investigations.

Prerequisites

All candidates must be U.S. citizens with no criminal records. They must clear a variety of tests including an entrance test, drug blood test and a routine medical examination. Physical fitness is critical for selection. They should also be proficient in soft skills such as verbal and written communication along with problem solving skills. They should possess a valid driving license. The age limit is set between 23 and 37 years. They should also have three years of work experience in a professional setup (FBI, 2014).

Educational Qualification

All candidates should at least possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Remuneration
The starting salary range in the FBI ranges from $61,100 to $69,900.
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
Job Description
DEA agents are charged with the responsibility to enforce laws pertaining to the production and distribution of controlled substances. They essentially combat the menace of drug abuse. They are required to collaborate with state and international agencies to apprehend smugglers and shut down drug running operations.
Prerequisites
All candidates must hold U.S. Citizenship. They should successfully pass a DEA-administered drug test for illegal drugs. They should complete a DEA drug questionnaire to show compliance with the DEA Drug Policy. They are also required to pass background verification.

Educational Qualification

All candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a grade point average of 2.95 as a bare minimum.

Remuneration

The starting salary for DEA agents ranges from $49,746 to $92,592 based on the hiring grade and location of deployment. DEA agents are also entitled to benefits such as insurance, retirement plans and holidays (DEA, 2014).

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)

Job Description
ATF agents are required to conduct criminal investigations relating to firearms, explosives, arson, tobacco and alcohol violations. They have to prepare case reports, testify for the federal government in courts, gather and document evidence gathered through various investigative procedures. They also have to ensure to limit their activities within the confines of the laws governed by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Prerequisites
All candidates must be U.S. citizens with no criminal records. The age limit is between 21 years and 36 years. They must hold a valid driving license with no DUI records. They must clear a variety of tests including an entrance test, drug blood test and a routine medical examination. Physical fitness is critical for selection. They should also be proficient in soft skills such as verbal and written communication along with problem solving skills. They should clear extensive background checks that include credit checks and criminal records.
Educational Qualification
This position requires no formal degree however, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or homeland security helps establish a firm career path. Additional courses in leadership, team work, research procedures and communication skills are value ads.

Remuneration

The initial salary for an ATF rookie agent is $33,829 per annum. There are benefits such as paid vacations, retirement plans and insurance. Candidates who had prior experience with any other law enforcement agency can earn up to $43,000 (ATF, 2014).

United States Marshals Service

Job Description
U.S. Marshalls perform high risk arrests, witness protection, trial staff safety and transportation of prisoners. They also conduct investigations. They lead the judicial districts.
Prerequisites
U.S. Marshals are highly trained and this makes the candidature for this position more complex. The age limit is between 21 and 36 years. Physical fitness, medical examination, background verifications must be successfully completed. They should also have an excellent traffic record with no violations in addition to no criminal history.
Educational Qualification
A bachelor’s degree in any law or criminal justice related subject is ideal to qualify for candidature. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are also crucial along with a high academic standing.
Remuneration
U.S. Marshals draw a salary in the range of $38,511 and $48,708 per year (U.S. Marshal Service, 2014).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
Job Description
A customs agent protects and secures U.S. borders against the threat of illegal immigrants, smugglers or even terrorists. They are required to patrol the border and monitor shipping cargo that enters U.S. borders through international airports or shipping lines.
Prerequisites
All candidates must be U.S. citizens and must successfully complete a background investigation of criminal, credit and substance abuse checks. The age limit is between 21 years and 40 years. They should be excellent communicators with sharp judgment skills. They should possess a valid driving license.
Educational Qualification
All candidates must have a full time four year bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Although any degree is acceptable, it is recommended to have one in criminal justice to familiarize with the judicial process.
Remuneration
The salary of a customs officer ranges between $71,726, and $85,292 per year along with an assortment of benefits that include assistance in repayment of student loans, health insurance, paid vacations, paid training, transportation subsidy and retirement plans (CBP, 2014).
Job Description
The responsibilities of a State Police Trooper or State Highway Trooper include providing protection of people and property, responding to calls, uphold the law, issue citations, conduct arrests, participation in search and rescue, handle traffic violations, domestic disturbances, testify in court and conduct patrols of the assigned area. They are also expected to write reports and maintain chain of custody forms.
Prerequisites
All candidates must be U.S. citizens and must successfully complete a background investigation of criminal, credit and substance abuse checks. The age limit is between 21 years and 36 years. They must hold a valid driving license with no DUI records. They must clear a variety of tests including an entrance test, drug blood test and a routine medical examination. Physical fitness is critical for selection. They should also be proficient in soft skills such as verbal and written communication skills.
Educational Qualification
Although most Municipal Police Departments only require a high school diploma, it is better to have an associate degree in criminal justice. Most of the police departments ensure that their force takes up college courses during the course of their careers.
Remuneration
The average salary range for the state trooper is between $39,200 and $56,000 plus benefits such as insurance, healthcare and retirement plans (StateTrooperSalary, 2014).

County

Law enforcement in counties is undertaken by the Sheriff’s offices due to their unique service features. They differ from any existing police force and perform several additional tasks.

Sheriffs' offices

Job Description
County Sheriffs handle emergencies, issue citations, assist the judiciary, work for penitentiaries, security services and maintain peace. They are hired or elected by members of the community. They have jurisdiction throughout the county.
Prerequisites
Candidates for the Sheriff’s office should have higher emotional control due to the stress related calls they usually respond to. Their physical fitness and lack of a criminal record are key factors that determine selection. They should possess excellent verbal and written communication skills. They should be exposed to leadership roles.
Educational Qualification
The minimum requirement is a high school diploma however a bachelor’s degree in aw enforcement, criminology or criminal justice would be advantageous.
Remuneration
The average salary for the County Sheriff’s position is $55,010 however; the actual salary depends on the candidate’s experience, location and size of the county (BLS, 2014).

Municipal Police Departments

Municipal Police departments operate based on municipal territories of cities. They are also referred to as Metropolitan Police Departments.
Job Description
The responsibilities of a Municipal Police Officer include providing protection of people and property, responding to 911 calls, uphold the law, issue citations, conduct arrests, participation in search and rescue, handle traffic violations, domestic disturbances, testify in court and conduct patrols of the assigned area. They are also expected to write reports and maintain chain of custody forms.
Prerequisites
All candidates must be U.S. citizens and must successfully complete a background investigation of criminal, credit and substance abuse checks. The age limit is between 21 years and 36 years. They must hold a valid driving license with no DUI records. They must clear a variety of tests including an entrance test, drug blood test and a routine medical examination. Physical fitness is critical for selection. They should also be proficient in soft skills such as verbal and written communication along with problem solving skills.
Educational Qualification
Although most Municipal Police Departments only require a high school diploma, it is better to have an associate degree in criminal justice. Most of the police departments ensure that their force takes up college courses during the course of their careers.
Remuneration
The average salary for a Municipal Police Officer is $53,540 per year however, there could be incentives based on the number of collars/arrests made (CriminalJusticeUSA, 2014).
The judicial system allows citizens to defend cases against them in the court of law. Similarly it falls to the Prosecutor of the state or federal court to represent the case for the government.

United States Attorney

United States attorneys are federal prosecutors who practice federal law.
Job Description
A United States Attorney’s duties include protecting the public, enforcing federal laws and uphold the virtues of the constitution of the United States of America. They are required to appear on behalf of federal agencies in matters of criminal violations, conviction appeals and motions to overturn federal structures.
Prerequisites
Candidates must have legal practice experience of at least five years. They can be from the State prosecutor’s office, private practice or even with military experience. Candidates must have an intrinsic knowledge in federal rules of evidence, rules of criminal procedure and sentencing guidelines. They would also be subject to an intensive background verification process that is usually conducted by the FBI.
Educational Qualification

All candidates should have completed a bachelor's degree, law school and should have passed the bar exam.

Remuneration
The salary structure is defined by the educational qualification obtained by the candidate. Their regular range starts from $ 63,091 to $89,924 (Department of Justice, 2014).

District Attorney

District attorneys are prosecutors who practice state laws and legislature.
Job Description
A District Attorney’s duties include protecting the public, enforcing State laws and uphold the rights of the commonwealth. They are required to appear on behalf of state agencies in matters of criminal violations, state run departments and motions to overturn state legislatures.
Prerequisites
Candidates must have legal practice experience of at least five years. They can be from private practice or military experience. Candidates must have an intrinsic knowledge in state laws, legislature and sentencing guidelines. They would also be subject to an intensive background verification process that is usually conducted by the State Bureau of Investigations.
Educational Qualification

All candidates should have completed a bachelor's degree, law school and should have passed the bar exam.

Remuneration
The salary structure is defined by the educational qualification obtained by the candidate and the State that the attorney belongs to. Their regular range starts from $47,936 to $150,307 (PayScale, 2014).

Corrections Officer

A corrections officer is a law enforcement officer who regulates the smooth functioning of correction facilities such as jails, prisons, reformatory houses and juvenile shelters.
Job Description
Corrections officers supervise inmates of jails, penitentiaries and prisons. They must enforce the rules and regulations of their respective facility. They should conduct searches, document reports, assist rehabilitation programs. They should also possess an intrinsic knowledge of laws pertaining to treatment of inmates.
Prerequisites
All candidates must be U.S. citizens with no criminal records. The age limit is between 21 years and 36 years. They must be proficient in verbal and written communication, interpersonal skills, human resources, stress management and organizational awareness. They should clear extensive background checks that include credit checks and criminal records.
Educational Qualification
All candidates must have a full time four year bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. If they have prior experience in other law enforcement agencies, the degree clause might be relaxed.
Remuneration
Correction officers earn an average yearly pay of $36,840. Experienced officers have the earning potential of up to $67,000 per year. They also have additional benefits such as incentives, health care and retirement (Federal Bureau of Prisons, 2014).

Parole Officer

A Parole officer follows up with ex convicts who are released from prison based on some conditions before completing their original prison sentence.
Job Description
The duties of a parole officer include checking on former inmates who had been released on conditions, visit rough neighborhoods, monitor and oversee the successful completion of parole conditions set by the court and to report parole violations to the police.
Prerequisites
All candidates must be U.S. citizens with no criminal records. The age limit is between 21 years and 36 years. They must be proficient in verbal and written communication, interpersonal skills, human resources, stress management and organizational awareness. They should clear extensive background checks that include credit checks and criminal records.
Educational Qualification
A bachelor's Degree or higher degree in one of the fields including sociology, psychology, social work, counseling, criminal justice, rehabilitation counseling, American studies with concentration in ethnic studies or a law degree. The candidate should have worked for a social organization for a period of three years (New York Department of Corrections and Reforms, 2014).
Remuneration

The salary range for Parole Officers ranges from $31,000 to $72,000 depending on the experience, location of employment and educational qualification.

Relationship Matrix
All the branches of criminal justice discussed in this paper are intertwined. The first stage of enforcing the law and arresting those who violate it is owned by law enforcement officers of various agencies. The second stage of ensuring that the violators pay a price for their crime dwells with the state/federal prosecutor. The third stage of ensuring that the criminal elements are rehabilitated is taken up by the corrections officer. Finally, when the rehabilitated inmate is released on conditional parole; the parole officer ensures that the conditions mandated by the judiciary are adhered to and the rehabilitation process is successful. The U.S. Criminal Justice System requires all these branches to work together in preventing future crimes and apprehending the individuals responsible for violations.

References

ATF Staff (2014). Special Agent. Retrieved from: https://www.atf.gov/content/Careers/careers-at-ATF/special-agent
CBP Staff (2014). Join CBP. Retrieved from: http://www.cbp.gov/careers/join-cbp
DEA Staff (2014). Employment requirements. Retrieved from: http://www.dea.gov/careers/employment-reqs.shtml
PayScale Staff (2014). District Attorney Salary. Retrieved from: http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=District_Attorney/Salary
Criminal Justice USA Staff (2014). How to become a police officer. Retrieved from: http://www.criminaljusticeusa.com/police-officer/
BLS Staff (2014). Police and Detectives. Retrieved from: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Protective-Service/Police-and-detectives.htm#tab-6
StateTrooperSalary Staff (2014). National state trooper salary information. http://statetroopersalary.com/
U.S. Marshal Service Staff (2014), Career Opportunities. Retrieved from: http://www.usmarshals.gov/careers/index.html
FBI Staff (2014). Are you eligible? Retrieved from: https://www.fbijobs.gov/join-us/are-you-eligible.asp?emid=
New York Department of Corrections and Reforms (2014). Parole Officers. Retrieved from: https://www.parole.ny.gov/employment.html
Federal Bureau of Prisons Staff (2014). Correctional Officer. Retrieved from: http://www.bop.gov/jobs/positions/?p=Correctional%20Officer