The criminal justice career field encompasses a wide variety of jobs and roles, from police officers and deputies to lawyers and probation officers. Jobs are available with government institutions, private firms, and agencies, such as jails, prisons, courthouses, and correctional facilities.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that criminal justice jobs will grow by 3% over the next decade. Within the field, there are a wide variety of careers available. Furthermore, if you choose to use your criminal justice career at the municipal, state or federal level you may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
Careers in Criminal Justice
Criminal justice covers a wide breadth of careers and roles. Coursework in Criminal Justice may cover history, government, criminal law, law enforcement, psychology, and sociology.
However, like any field of study, students can zero in on a specific interest. They may fall into one of the categories below:
Advocacy
Individuals who pursue a career in advocacy are compassionate and bent on helping others. They either work with victims or for those working to make amends for past criminal injustices. Jobs in this field include victim advocacy, child advocacy, juvenile probation, immigrant advocacy, and prisoner reentry into the community.
Law Enforcement
When people hear criminal justice, they often think “law enforcement.” While these individuals do need to learn how to safely engage with and protect community members, there is more to it than that.
Law enforcement includes communicating effectively, knowing and understanding the psychology behind human behavior, and how to effectively, ethically, and legally apprehend offenders. Individuals that pursue law enforcement in academic study go on to work for their local police, FBI, or CIA.
Legal
Legal, under the umbrella of Criminal Justice, covers a variety of roles, like lawyers and paralegals. Lawyers and paralegals require critical thinking, logic, and presenting skills. Academically, these individuals will learn how the criminal justice works and the psychology behind human behavior.
Psychology and Social Work
There is a psychological and sociological side of criminal justice. These lines of work seek to help offenders and victims with psychological diagnoses, mental health concerns, and the effects of trauma. Jobs can be found in mental health counseling and social services.
Scholarships for Criminal Justice Majors
Many colleges and universities as well as private organizations provide criminal justice scholarships. Below are just a few within the Fastweb database.
Putnamville Correctional Facility Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: 1/20/23
Available to: Varies
Award amount: $1,400
The Putnamville Correctional Facility Memorial Scholarship is available to employees and legal dependents of employees of Putnamville Correctional Facility. You must be pursuing a career in law enforcement, corrections, or a related area to be eligible for this award.
PFC Shane W. Cantu Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: 1/31/23
Available to: High School Seniors and College Students
Award amount: $2,300
The PFC Shane W. Cantu Memorial Scholarship is available to graduating seniors and past graduates of Shiawassee County area high schools. You must be planning to study in the field of law enforcement and/or studying to become a U.S. Marshall to be eligible for this award.
Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: 2/6/2023
Available to: College and Graduate Students
Award Amount: $10,000
The Ritchie - Jennings Memorial Scholarship is available to full - time undergraduate and graduate students who are pursuing a career in fraud examination or a similar anti - fraud profession. You must be majoring in accounting, business administration, finance, or criminal justice to be eligible for this award.
ASCLD Scholarship Program
Deadline: 2/15/2023
Available to: College and Graduate Students
Award Amount: $1,000
The ASCLD Scholarship Program is available to junior, senior, and graduate students. You must be majoring in forensic science, forensic chemistry, or physical or natural science at an accredited university to be eligible for this award.
Benny McReynolds Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: 2/15/23
Available to: High School Seniors and College Students
Award amount: $5,000
The Benny McReynolds Memorial Scholarship is available to students. Preference will be given to students graduating from Frederick High School and planning to attend Western Oklahoma State College, and to students studying law enforcement at the University of Central Oklahoma or Oklahoma City Community College.
Oregon Sheriffs Association Scholarship
Deadline: 3/1/23
Available to: College Students
Award amount: $1,500
The Oregon Sheriffs Association Scholarship is available to full-time criminal justice majors at Treasure Valley Community College. You must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA to be eligible for this award.
NABCJ Thurgood Marshall Scholarship
Deadline: 3/31/23
Available to: College Students
Award amount: $2,000
The NABCJ Thurgood Marshall Scholarship is available to undergraduate students pursuing a degree in criminal justice or a closely related field. You must have at least a "B" grade average and demonstrate financial need and involvement in community service to be eligible for this award. A 1,000 - word essay is also required.
AFTE Scholarship
Deadline: 4/1/23
Available to: College Students
Award amount: $2,000
The AFTE Scholarship is available to junior, senior, and graduate students who are pursuing a career in forensic science. You must be majoring in a natural, physical, or biological science and have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award.
WIFLE Scholarship
Deadline: 5/1/23
Available to: College Students
Award amount: $1,500
The WIFLE Scholarship is available to full - time students who have completed at least one year of college. You must be majoring in criminal justice or a related field, have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and submit a 500 - word essay that describes your involvement in a community project, and the results or impact of that involvement to the community.
NAGE Scholarship
Deadline: 5/13/2023
Award Amount: $500
The NAGE Scholarship is available to members of NAGE, IBPO, IBCO, NAGE/EMS, and IAEP. The spouses, children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and significant others of members are also eligible to apply.
Brian Terry Foundation Scholarship
Deadline: 5/31/23
Available to: High School Seniors & College Students
Award amount: $2,000
The Brian Terry Foundation Scholarship is available to graduating high school seniors and current undergraduate students. You must be majoring in criminal justice or a related field and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for this award. Only the first 100 applications will be accepted.
Edward J. Kiernan Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: 7/31/2023
Available to: High School Seniors
Award Amount: Varies
The Edward J. Kiernan Memorial Scholarship is available to graduating high school seniors who intend to pursue a career in law enforcement, labor relations, or a related field. Your parent or guardian must be a member of a union affiliated with the International Union of Police Associations to be eligible for this award.
Drinko Criminal Justice Scholarship
Deadline: Varies
Available to: College Students
Award amount: $4,000
The Drinko Criminal Justice Award is open to full-time students enrolled in the criminal justice administration program at Keystone College. To be eligible for this award, you must demonstrate financial need and submit the FAFSA. The award provides up to $4,000 per year for four years.
Corrections Leadership Scholarship Program
Deadline: Varies
Available to: College Students
Award amount: $15,000
The Corrections Leadership Scholarship Program is open to students enrolled full - time in the criminal justice program at Peru State College. Recipients of this award must work part - time at Tecumseh State Correctional Institution while earning credits towards their degree.
Missouri Blue Scholarship for Law Enforcement
Deadline: Varies
Available to: Varies
Award amount: $5,000
The Missouri Blue Scholarship for Law Enforcement is available to students who will enroll in a basic training academy within Missouri. To be eligible for this award, you must be a U.S. citizen and resident of Missouri.
