Overview of careers in the criminal justice field

Although a degree in a related discipline (such as criminology) may be beneficial, it is by no means necessary, as most criminal justice professions have intensive training programs that will allow you to obtain the qualifications you need at work. Continue reading this article on the Study Abroad. You will find more information about the top criminal professions.

　　1, the police

　　 As a police officer, you will face criminal justice, reduce the number of crimes in your community, and protect the personal safety of people living there. The police will work in public view and behind the scenes, adopting a flexible working model in a series of professional positions.

　　In many countries, there are graduate career programs for those who want to become police officers, allowing you to develop your leadership skills, as well as problem-solving, decision-making and negotiation skills, which will greatly help personal progress.

　　2, criminal intelligence analyst

　　 The main responsibility of criminal intelligence analysts is to use data analysis to detect and prevent organized crime in the community. The crimes you will help prevent may include terrorist attacks, drug trafficking, or cybercrime.

　　 To do this, you will use professional software to identify potential agents and targets, and build intelligence pictures. You will present your findings to government workers in the form of reports or reports.

　　To get this position, you need to be able to work well under pressure, have a good insight into details, and be able to handle various IT applications.

　　3, criminal lawyer

　　 Legal professionals will be needed throughout the criminal court proceedings.

　　 What you do in the legal system depends on which country you work in. For example, in the UK, lawyers will deal face-to-face with clients, represent clients in police stations, collect evidence, help defend cases, and proceed with litigation. The barrister uses the evidence collected by the legal officer to represent the client in court. When barristers are not in court, they will prepare for the next trial and provide legal advice.

　　To become a criminal lawyer in the UK, you need to have a law degree, or an undergraduate degree in another discipline and a law conversion course. Then, depending on whether you want to be a lawyer or a barrister, you need to complete a legal practice course (LPC, trainee lawyer) or a professional training course for lawyers (BPTC, trainee barrister).

　　 For example, in the United States, all legal professionals are lawyers. To engage in legal work, you need to obtain a lawyer’s license. Once you have obtained this license, you will become a lawyer (to be able to represent clients in court) and a legal counsel (to advise on legal matters).

　　4, private detective

　　As a private investigator, you may work for a law firm, insurance company, corporate client or member of the public. Your job may include monitoring, investigating fraud, investigating commercial piracy, and conducting background checks on employees.

　　Private detectives must have good analytical skills, pay attention to details, be patient, and have strong communication skills. You should also have a driver's license.

　　 5. Criminal psychologist

　　As a forensic psychologist, you will use psychological theories to further criminal investigations, use your knowledge to gain a psychological understanding of criminal behavior, and find ways to prevent it from happening again. You can also help with the treatment of criminals. You will often conduct your own research and analyze the research of other professionals.

　　 This position requires you to have good interpersonal relationships and written communication skills. You should also study a degree in psychology to get this position.

　　 6. Probation Supervisor

　　 The probation officer ensures that community orders are enforced and supervises criminals after they are released to prevent them from committing crimes again. As a probation officer, he will work with criminals, victims, police and prison service colleagues. This position will provide pre-sentence reports to those accused of crimes to help the court decide what penalties should be imposed on them. It will also work with victims of crime to ensure that they are supported and their demands are heard.