4 answers
Gisselle
Student
Beaverton, Oregon
1
Question
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when studying for a criminal justice what are some good things to keep in mind that some people is enough to completely change paths.?
How competitive is the field
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4 answers
Lefty Luciano
Music Production
8
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Lefty’s Answer
Studying criminal justice can be a fascinating and rewarding endeavor, but it's also important to keep in mind that the field is multifaceted, and there are various factors that may prompt individuals to change paths. Here are some key considerations to keep in mind:
1. **Diverse Career Paths**: While studying criminal justice, it's essential to explore the wide range of career opportunities available within the field. Criminal justice encompasses roles in law enforcement, corrections, legal services, victim advocacy, forensic science, homeland security, and more. Keeping an open mind and being receptive to different career paths can help you find the right fit for your interests and skills.
2. **Changing Interests and Values**: As you gain exposure to different aspects of criminal justice through coursework, internships, and practical experiences, you may discover new interests or develop a deeper understanding of specific issues. Your values, priorities, and personal experiences may also evolve over time, influencing your career aspirations and motivations.
3. **Work-Life Balance**: The demands of certain careers in criminal justice, such as law enforcement or corrections, can be physically, mentally, and emotionally taxing. It's important to consider how these demands align with your lifestyle preferences, personal well-being, and long-term goals. Some individuals may choose to pursue alternative career paths that offer better work-life balance or less stress.
4. **Ethical and Moral Considerations**: Studying criminal justice often involves grappling with complex ethical and moral issues, including questions of justice, fairness, and social equity. Some individuals may find themselves questioning the ethical implications of certain practices or policies within the criminal justice system, which could lead them to seek alternative career paths aligned with their values and principles.
5. **Professional Growth and Advancement**: Career advancement opportunities within the criminal justice field can vary depending on factors such as education, experience, specialization, and organizational culture. Some individuals may find that they have reached a plateau in their current role or organization and may choose to pursue new opportunities for growth and advancement in different fields or industries.
6. **Market Demand and Economic Factors**: External factors such as changes in the job market, economic conditions, and industry trends may influence career decision-making. Some individuals may choose to change paths in response to shifts in demand for certain skills or occupations within the criminal justice field or broader labor market.
7. **Passion and Purpose**: Ultimately, finding fulfillment and satisfaction in your career often requires aligning your work with your passions, values, and sense of purpose. Some individuals may realize that their true calling lies outside of the criminal justice field and may choose to pursue careers in areas such as education, social work, public health, or nonprofit organizations where they can make a meaningful difference.
Overall, it's important to approach your studies in criminal justice with an open mind, a willingness to explore different paths, and a commitment to self-reflection and personal growth. Keep in mind that career trajectories are not always linear, and it's okay to change paths if you discover new interests, priorities, or aspirations along the way.
1. **Diverse Career Paths**: While studying criminal justice, it's essential to explore the wide range of career opportunities available within the field. Criminal justice encompasses roles in law enforcement, corrections, legal services, victim advocacy, forensic science, homeland security, and more. Keeping an open mind and being receptive to different career paths can help you find the right fit for your interests and skills.
2. **Changing Interests and Values**: As you gain exposure to different aspects of criminal justice through coursework, internships, and practical experiences, you may discover new interests or develop a deeper understanding of specific issues. Your values, priorities, and personal experiences may also evolve over time, influencing your career aspirations and motivations.
3. **Work-Life Balance**: The demands of certain careers in criminal justice, such as law enforcement or corrections, can be physically, mentally, and emotionally taxing. It's important to consider how these demands align with your lifestyle preferences, personal well-being, and long-term goals. Some individuals may choose to pursue alternative career paths that offer better work-life balance or less stress.
4. **Ethical and Moral Considerations**: Studying criminal justice often involves grappling with complex ethical and moral issues, including questions of justice, fairness, and social equity. Some individuals may find themselves questioning the ethical implications of certain practices or policies within the criminal justice system, which could lead them to seek alternative career paths aligned with their values and principles.
5. **Professional Growth and Advancement**: Career advancement opportunities within the criminal justice field can vary depending on factors such as education, experience, specialization, and organizational culture. Some individuals may find that they have reached a plateau in their current role or organization and may choose to pursue new opportunities for growth and advancement in different fields or industries.
6. **Market Demand and Economic Factors**: External factors such as changes in the job market, economic conditions, and industry trends may influence career decision-making. Some individuals may choose to change paths in response to shifts in demand for certain skills or occupations within the criminal justice field or broader labor market.
7. **Passion and Purpose**: Ultimately, finding fulfillment and satisfaction in your career often requires aligning your work with your passions, values, and sense of purpose. Some individuals may realize that their true calling lies outside of the criminal justice field and may choose to pursue careers in areas such as education, social work, public health, or nonprofit organizations where they can make a meaningful difference.
Overall, it's important to approach your studies in criminal justice with an open mind, a willingness to explore different paths, and a commitment to self-reflection and personal growth. Keep in mind that career trajectories are not always linear, and it's okay to change paths if you discover new interests, priorities, or aspirations along the way.
Jared Ettinger
1
Answer
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Updated
Jared’s Answer
A Criminal Justice degree is great! You can go in a ton of different directions...Not only are you learning about the law, but you are also learning how to think critically about complex problems, how to put pieces of a puzzle together to do investigations, how to brief and write for exec leaders and support the field.
I took the knowledge I gained from Criminal Justice degree into opportunities in the national security space, which opened doors to new opportunities and areas of interest. It is never too late to change careers or go in a different path. A criminal justice degree gives you knowledge and methodologies to be expert at becoming expert in almost any field.
It’s maybe less about changing careers, and more about leveraging the knowledge and skills from your Criminal Justice degree to change the world for the better. I am sure you will!
I took the knowledge I gained from Criminal Justice degree into opportunities in the national security space, which opened doors to new opportunities and areas of interest. It is never too late to change careers or go in a different path. A criminal justice degree gives you knowledge and methodologies to be expert at becoming expert in almost any field.
It’s maybe less about changing careers, and more about leveraging the knowledge and skills from your Criminal Justice degree to change the world for the better. I am sure you will!
Mia Huss
Journalist
13
Answers
Sacramento, California
Updated
Mia’s Answer
Criminal justice has a wide range of opportunities from law school to becoming a professor! Explore your options, what makes you so interested in criminal justice? Do you want to be a lawyer, or maybe a forensic scientist? How about a corrections officer or a criminal justice professor? A law enforcement officer? There's SO MANY options, so think about that first of all! Next you want to think about the different pathways you can take. If you're on the path to becoming a lawyer, that has a different need than a police officer. You may have to obtain certificates in a field, a Bachelor's degree, sometimes even a Master's or PhD.
My advice is to explore your options. I just graduated college and WISH I explored more courses throughout my time. In California, criminal justice is a highly impacted major at some of our biggest institutions, this is because everyone is interested in the field. I would suggest apply to a school with a good criminal justice program and explore the coursework they have. I always found criminal justice intriguing, but I know the coursework is rigorous. If you find yourself interested in it DO IT! Follow your gut and your dreams because college is a place that is supposed to help you succeed. Don't stress about taking a criminal justice course or an art history course just because is sounded interesting. That's the point of a higher education institution, to help you understand what you like and don't, to help develop your specialty! Good luck, and I hope you figure it out and pursue your dreams!
My advice is to explore your options. I just graduated college and WISH I explored more courses throughout my time. In California, criminal justice is a highly impacted major at some of our biggest institutions, this is because everyone is interested in the field. I would suggest apply to a school with a good criminal justice program and explore the coursework they have. I always found criminal justice intriguing, but I know the coursework is rigorous. If you find yourself interested in it DO IT! Follow your gut and your dreams because college is a place that is supposed to help you succeed. Don't stress about taking a criminal justice course or an art history course just because is sounded interesting. That's the point of a higher education institution, to help you understand what you like and don't, to help develop your specialty! Good luck, and I hope you figure it out and pursue your dreams!
Kevin Cassella
Financial Crime Compliance
1
Answer
Baltimore, Maryland
Updated
Kevin’s Answer
I graduated with a criminology & criminal justice degree and agree with Lefty and Mia that there are numerous career paths to take. Within the law enforcement track, there are opporunities at the federal (e.g., FBI, Homeland Security, IRS), state and local levels. I had many friends that went to law school after graduating. I decided to double major in criminal justice & criminology and finance which led to me landing a job in the financial crime compliance industry. I work with companies to prevent and detect a wide range of white collar crime issues such as bribery, corruption and money laundering. The skills I learned in school, particularly the psychology behind what leads an individual to commit a crime, comes in handy all the time.
It's a fun industry to be a part of!
It's a fun industry to be a part of!