Careers

Criminal Justice

Individuals in criminal justice earn good salaries and benefits. Examples of career opportunities with a Criminal Justice background:

Read stories of students who are succeeding in different Criminal Justice paths.

Identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.
Provide for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations.
Record facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities.
Render aid to accident victims and other persons requiring first aid for physical injuries.
Investigate illegal or suspicious activities.

Median Salary: $114,051

Conduct head counts to ensure that each prisoner is present.
Monitor conduct of prisoners in housing unit, or during work or recreational activities, according to established policies, regulations, and procedures, to prevent escape or violence.
Inspect conditions of locks, window bars, grills, doors, and gates at correctional facilities to ensure security and help prevent escapes.
Search prisoners and vehicles and conduct shakedowns of cells for valuables and contraband, such as weapons or drugs.
Maintain records of prisoners' identification and charges.

Median Salary: $89,160

Prepare and maintain case folder for each assigned inmate or offender.
Discuss with offenders how such issues as drug and alcohol abuse and anger management problems might have played roles in their criminal behavior.
Gather information about offenders' backgrounds by talking to offenders, their families and friends, and other people who have relevant information.
Supervise people on community-based sentences, such as electronically monitored home detention, and provide field supervision of probationers by conducting curfew checks or visits to home, work, or school.
Interview probationers and parolees regularly to evaluate their progress in accomplishing goals and maintaining the terms specified in their probation contracts and rehabilitation plans

Median Salary: $103,916

Determine response requirements and relative priorities of situations, and dispatch units in accordance with established procedures.
Question callers to determine their locations and the nature of their problems to determine type of response needed.
Record details of calls, dispatches, and messages.
Scan status charts and computer screens, and contact emergency response field units to determine emergency units available for dispatch.
Receive incoming telephone or alarm system calls regarding emergency and non-emergency police and fire service, emergency ambulance service, information, and after-hours calls for departments within a city.

Median Salary: $85,432

Take, receive, or check periodic inmate counts.
Maintain order, discipline, and security within assigned areas in accordance with relevant rules, regulations, policies, and laws.
Maintain knowledge of, comply with, and enforce all institutional policies, rules, procedures, and regulations.
Respond to emergencies, such as escapes.
Supervise and direct the work of correctional officers to ensure the safe custody, discipline, and welfare of inmates.

Median Salary: $102,824

Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.
Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.
Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.
Select jurors, argue motions, meet with judges, and question witnesses during the course of a trial.
Represent clients in court or before government agencies.

Median Salary: $179,264

Ready to learn more and get started? Please contact Ginger Charles, (831) 477-5227 or gicharle@cabrillo.edu.