The previous article on Crimefighters introduced the many career facets of Criminal Justice. Here, we'll clarify skills, entry requirements, earnings, and outlook for specific careers within the fields of Corrections, Law Enforcement, and Protective Services. For more information, visit the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
J.M.Moynahan, Professor of Criminal Justice at Eastern Washington University, recommends that "criminal justice education is essential for those going into the field. Although it isn't required, we feel that a BA should be the entrance standard for the profession. The Feds require it but few state and local agencies do. If one wants to go into administration in most big departments a Master's is required."
IMPORTANT SKILLS FOR CAREERS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Professor Moynahan offers these insights about important skills students will need in preparing for a career in this burgeoning field:
- Writing - this is an area that agencies talk to us about all the time. Employees will spend a great deal of their time writing reports. People must know how to express themselves in the written language. We have received reports that people have lost their jobs as a result of not being able to write clearly.
- Common sense - We can't really teach this at school but employees need to have and USE common sense in their day to day operations.
- Computer skills - Most agencies use computers now more than ever before. Knowledge of the keyboard is essential. The way of the future is via computers. The inside of the typical police patrol car will look so different in 15 years it may appear to be out of Buck Rogers space ship. This in part will be due to electronic and computer innovations. Those going into the field must be computer literate.
- Foreign language - There are many agencies that need bilingual employees. The first choice here in our area is Spanish. Other areas can use people who speak Russian, Vietnamese, Chinese, other far east languages etc. some departments will give bonus pay to those who can speak a second language.
- Interpersonal skills - That is being able to get along with people, those one works with, the bosses, clients etc. This is very important in the profession. One needs to have knowledge of minority cultures and how to effectively deal with members from the group.
- Opening of the field - The profession is opening wide to female and minorities. There are many job opportunities for these groups that did not exist 25 years ago.
The copyright of the article You Want to Fight Crime? (Part II) in Career Planning is owned by . Permission to republish You Want to Fight Crime? (Part II) in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
