Police & Detective Work

Criminal Justice is one of the highly career-oriented subjects these days. Apart from careers in Courts, Judiciary or investigation agencies, qualification in Criminal Justice also open entry into the police department. There are many lucrative professional careers waiting for you if you have the required potential and education. An associate or graduate degree in criminal justice makes you eligible for law-enforcing agencies like Federal Police, State Police, City Police, correction departments, probations offices, corporate loss prevention departments and Forensics. You may also apply for jobs in private organizations such as Resume Services, L.E. Companies, L.E. Links, and Online private investigation agencies etc. While a master’s degree in Criminal Justice enables you to apply for the coveted police jobs like Police Sheriff, Marshal etc. Career opportunities in law-enforcing agencies are also expanding day by day with the increasing complexities of security problems.

Careers in police guarantee sound financial future. Though there is slight difference of salaries in smaller and big states. But the overall benefits and salary packages are thought to be lavish in comparison to other services of the similar status. The data collected by the United States Labor's Bureau states that median salaries at entry level in police service with graduate degrees in Criminal Justice are $61,060 to $136,810. The salaries may also vary a little bit with the difference of the nature of jobs.

It should be kept in mind that the selection of career is always a sensitive issue and requires correct and latest information on the part of the candidate. You must have a thorough knowledge about the existing opportunities in the field against various levels of qualification. The decision taken with incomplete or incorrect information does not lead you to your preferred careers. For public guidance, there are many useful websites launched by the relevant departments which give thorough information as well as suggestions on your future plans. One should visit these websites before taking any practical step.

The basic duties entrusted to the police department are to maintain law and order. The police officials have to protect people against all criminal acts like theft, robbery, rape, homicide, traffic problems and all sorts of acts of violence. They arrest those who are convicted of breaching law, investigate crimes and bring the accused to the Court. They also help in judicial prosecution of various cases by providing evidence in the court. They also give assistance to people in emergency situations. The police sheriffs monitor the working of the personnel deputed under their subordination while their deputies are assigned various tasks related to their official duties. The division and the nature of duties assigned to the police officers may vary in different regions of the world. But generally speaking their main concern is the maintenance of law.

The investigation agencies work hand in hand with the police officers in investigating crimes. The personnel of the investigation agencies are called detectives. The police department also recruits detectives and they are called the police detectives. While there are private detectives also who are officially licensed by the authorities and help the police in detecting the criminals.