Criminal Justice USA

Recent Court Cases Reveal the Importance of Criminal Justice Degree Jobs

Posted by Site Administrator on 07/12/2010 | 0 Comments

We can’t go a day without hearing about a horrific child abuse case, domestic abuse case, or capital murder case in this country.  Actually, I take that back – maybe if you live in Big Sky, Montana, you can go a while without hearing of any atrocities, but for those of us in major US cities, the criminal justice system resides in our backyards and city streets.  I think Houston had a miraculous day some time last year in which there were absolutely no violent crimes committed. I may have just hallucinated and misheard that, but it seems about right for Houston, a city ripe with locations for shady drug deals and other crimes that stem from the areas. 

After hearing all this, it seems somewhat disheartening that we not only live in this country, we live in these violent towns.  However, the criminal justice system and those who work for it are at the forefront of these cases, working to both prevent crime and bring criminals to justice.  Court cases are a common result of violent crime, although it is amazing how many judges and juries sentence these criminals to either probation for one, or the other extreme, to the death penalty/life in prison.  It’s always difficult to procure an adequate punishment when you are a judge or a member of the jury, but sometimes this realm of the criminal justice system appears to be one that should be lightly treaded upon. 

Our major news networks sensationalize nearly every major violent crime story, leading to a misheld belief that we live in a country in which crime lurks around every corner, searching for its next victim.  We live in a relatively safe country, despite what the media tries to tell us on an every-day basis.  Today the big news involves a bank hold-up (do we still need to use this word?) and a possibly disgruntled employee who shot several coworkers.  While this is sad, and our hearts go out to the victims’ families, this does not necessarily mean that our criminal justice system is in complete disarray.  Crime happens on a regular basis, despite what we can try and do to prevent it.  Criminal justice degree jobs teach students this exact same message, and encourages most students to try and get jobs that make a difference within the criminal justice system.

The ending of the criminal justice system brings some sense of closure to most families who sit in the courtrooms to watch the jury deliberate and confirm that the defendant is, in fact, guilty.  There is probably little else we could compare to this experience, and it is one the criminal justice system strives to maintain for any person who has been criminally wronged. 

Are Criminologists the New Sherlock Holmes?

Posted by Site Administrator on 06/29/2010 | 0 Comments

Sherlock Holmes has caught our imagination since Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created his character in the late nineteenth century based on events of the time.  The fictional work has spawned several movies, cartoons, spoofs, sequels, and contributed greatly to current pop culture of the criminal justice system.  However, while Sherlock Holmes has typically been defined as a detective, the (relatively) new title of criminologist seems to fit in well with his fictional understanding of crime.

Criminologists are defined as those who study the nature, extent, causes, and control of criminal behavior in individuals and society.  This does not seem too different from the tasks that many detectives take on throughout their line of duty, especially Sherlock Holmes.  Understanding the sociological background of crime as well as the causes and consequences of crime help many law enforcement officers (and criminologists) apprehend the criminals through an understanding of their mindset. Criminologists follow many different schools of thought, as they are one branch in the criminal justice system that focuses more on the sociological writings about the subject, rather than on hard facts about the specific cases.

However, criminologists continue to play a widely important role throughout the criminal justice system because they look at any contributing factors to the criminals’ background, as well as the crime itself.  In this sense, Sherlock Holmes predated the notion of a criminologist by only a few years, but his mere fictional character can help people outside the system better understand what goes on with the study of crime.  Criminologists are typically not involved with the “nitty-gritty” work of apprehending dangerous criminals, but are typically called in for a more theoretical outlook on the crime itself, especially when it is out of the ordinary.

The social order of a community can lead greatly to increased amounts of crime, and criminologists are typically called upon to analyze crime-ridden communities.  Some theories suggest that neighborhoods high in poverty with large population turnovers lead to the failure of social structure because it is too difficult for any type of social organization to take place, instead leading to crime.  Other theories focus on social ecology, which is essentially “white flight”, creating neighborhoods of the disadvantaged that spawn criminal behavior as well.  The many different schools of thought that are involved in criminology allow students of criminal justice to take on a more sociological outlook of crime, rather than settle with the “on-the-go” criminal mischief.  If Sherlock Holmes has taught us anything, it’s that an understanding of the criminal brain will truly reveal the purpose behind the completion of the crime. 

Probation Officer Duties

Posted by Site Administrator on 05/17/2010 | 0 Comments

Probation officer duties can range from being in charge of some of the most violent criminal offenders to simply ensuring that juvenile delinquents do not violate their parole.  There is a delicate balance in the criminal justice system between criminal prosecution and the probation that is offered when a judge is being lenient, the understanding being that a probation officer will ensure the offender follows the court-appointed rules.  However, probation officers in general came under strict scrutiny recently with the revelation that the people who kept a young girl hostage in their backyard for 18 years had frequent visits from parole officers who did not notice anything out of place.

Philip Garrido is the California man who kidnapped Jaycee Dugard and kept her in his backyard for 18 years, despite a prior rape and kidnapping conviction, a sentence which was still carried out by visits from probation officers several times a month.  The question on everyone’s mind after the story broke (besides how he managed to keep her for so long), was how the probation officers did not notice the young girl in his backyard.  Apparently, most probation officers speak to every member of the family and do a walk-through of the house.  The thoroughness with which they do the walk-through, however, is up to the probation officer and the rules of the court or state.  If the walk-through triggers any concern, the probation officer is required to follow up with a more thorough walk-through or call police officers to the scene. 

Other officers additionally do follow-up interviews with the parolee’s family and neighbors when they are not home, being careful not to worry anyone and prevent their re-integration into society.  Additionally, in cases like Garrido’s, probation officers typically ensure that children have not been seen around the house.  If there is any violation in any of the tests or visits the officer conducts, the parolee will be carefully monitored and the parole has an option of being revoked.  However, someone Garrido’s file slipped through the cracks, as his probation officer did not notice anything amiss at his residence during the 18 years of probation when Jaycee was in the backyard.  Most probation officers carry an average of 70 cases at a time, according to California sources, although some can have anywhere from 30-200 cases, causing many to slip through the cracks. 

While probation officers serve an important role in our criminal justice system, it is evident that some states do not employ enough officers to appropriately cover the amount of parolees in the state.  Once every parolee is covered by an officer, the criminal justice system will be able to relax and note that their citizens’ probation sentences are accurately covered.  However, until this point, many states will continue to monitor the accuracy of their probation officers and the behavior of the parolees. 

How the Recession is Affecting Criminal Justice Careers

Posted by Site Administrator on 01/25/2010 | 0 Comments

Throughout the country, there has been a cold chill in the air, quite unlike that related to the changing season.  Instead, economic forecasters have frightened many of us into believing that there is no hope for recent college graduates in an economy which was once considered to be the most stable in the world.  While these economists may paint a dismal picture, this does not have to be a permanent painting, but is instead already in the process of changing in the same manner as the seasons change.  No economic disaster remains around for longer than a few years, and our country even bounced back from the Great Depression which should give all of us hope.

Criminal justice careers are one area that have had economists worried due to the amount of expanding programs throughout colleges, although this is one area that remains relatively unscathed.  Criminal justice careers have experienced a “boom” of sorts, akin to that of the health care industry, indicating that the economy has not closed out options for every graduate.  Far from it, criminal justice careers have become more prevalent within every major cities, which should be a sign that crime is on the rise, but fortunately it is not.  Instead, criminal justice careers have increased due to advances in technology as well as a new flexibility the degree offers to recent graduates.  No longer is criminal justice only useful for a future in law enforcement, but it can now be used in a variety of fields ranging from law to psychology.

One of the largest criminal justice programs in the country is in a small town in Texas within Sam Houston State University in Huntsville.  This was the first school to offer a doctorate program in criminal justice, and if its statistics are any indication of the popularity of the program, it is evident that criminal justice degrees are in no danger of slowing down.  Instead, students are finding new niches to break into every year that require a deeper understanding of the criminal mindset and the history behind criminal justice. 

Law enforcement only touches the surface of studies of this nature and instead of boxing students into a future in the field, criminal justice allows a wide array of options for the future.  The criminal mind is a curious thing to study, and the psychology behind it can lead to a future in psychology or even in a type of criminal sociology career.  The possibilities are endless, which fortunately does not mean that we have reached an era of high crime rates.  Instead, we have reached an era that holds a deeper understanding of the criminal justice system and offers recent graduates up as evidence of this new progression in the field. 

Best Criminal Justice Jobs

Posted by Site Administrator on 06/12/2009 | 0 Comments

 Criminal justice degrees offer students a wide range of options in regards to their future.  They can choose to enter law enforcement and see criminal justice at work first-hand, or even delve into the legal/judiciary aspect of it all.  However, most students will agree that the more fulfilling jobs center on upholding the law and prosecuting wrongdoers.   These are three of the most popular criminal justice jobs that students of criminal justice aspire to earn. 

Becoming a police officer does not necessarily take a criminal justice degree, unless you want to become an officer in one of the larger cities or metropolitans.  However, the police force is one of the most intense forms of criminal justice jobs because it directly introduces you to the seedy underbelly of society.  Criminal justice jobs are not about shelter from the dark side of society, but rather force you right into the center of it all.  Therefore, at least an introductory course in criminal justice can help prepare you for the job that may await you upon graduation.  If you simply throw yourself into police work, the results could be devastating and you may experience a type of culture-shock.  Criminal justice jobs involve dealing with many people who have a disregard for the normalcies of civilized society and instead insist on breaking many of the most fundamental human laws. 

A career in the FBI may also open up for many students of criminal justice, although this career is not degree-specific.  This is one of the most heightened forms of a criminal justice job and allows employees to delve even deeper into criminal justice.  Most FBI careers are not easy to come by, but they introduce you to one of the peak forms of criminal justice jobs.  FBI agents must undergo a vast spectrum of medical and psychological tests before they are admitted into the program, although previous work and education experience should prepare applicants for the career they will face.  FBI agents are among the most respected of law enforcement agents and therefore a background in law enforcement usually helps applicant chances. 

Finally, another popular criminal justice job is that of DEA agent.  The specialties that go into this type of work deal directly with criminal justice, although in a more specified area.  The drug industry has boomed in the past decades, causing a greater need for this type of enforcement.  DEA agents are involved in the same type of work as other law enforcement officers, such as criminal investigations and tracking dangerous criminals, although they simply operate in a much smaller spectrum.  DEA agents are respected within the field because they are in charge of combating some of the most dangerous criminals of modern society: the drug wars that are going on in border towns are living proof that we need such criminal justice jobs in the country. 

Criminal Justice Jobs in a Justice Entrenched Society

Posted by Site Administrator on 06/09/2009 | 0 Comments

We like to think that we live in a democratic nation in which our justice system convicts the guilty and releases the innocent, but we know every system has its problems.  The innocent are not always released, and the guilty are not always punished.  This is a growing problem in our nation, and many criminal justice jobs exist to straighten out this endless mess of justice.  While it is difficult to make changes in a justice system that is so heavily entrenched in its ways, new criminal justice jobs have sought to try.

While we live in a nation that is more or less consistent with its criminal justice system, each state has its own methods of delivering justice, causing a drastic difference both in punishments and in trials.  Michigan, for example, denies appellate lawyers to most poor people who plead guilty to a crime.  This is a far cry from most of its neighboring states who believe that any person should be entitled to defense, regardless of their economic state or the severity of their offense.  While these seem to be more about public policy changes, it holds firm that criminal justice jobs can deliver the changes that are needed through many criminal justice students’ extensive backgrounds in the justice system.

It is unlikely that we will ever reach a point where our nation’s justice system is congruent in every state, but we may reach a point where various changes can be implemented into the federal system so at least criminal justice can begin to be more uniform than it currently is.  Public defenders are the epitome of a criminal justice job and many of them have challenged rules similar to that in Michigan, which seeks to preserve the state’s criminal justice costs by denying prisoner’s rights to counsel in a move which is seemingly unconstitutional.  However, every state has similar little quirks in their justice system, all of which can be challenged by banding together a group of public defenders (as was the case in Michigan) or even law enforcement.  Criminal justice does not have to be confined to one specific area of the law or criminal defense, but instead encompasses the wide array of topics within the justice system.

Criminal justice jobs are typically known as those which are most popular, such as a detective, or forensics analyst.  However, there are many opportunities within criminal justice and many ways to help expand and promote the justice system.

Careers in Criminal Justice in a Global Society

Posted by Site Administrator on 06/09/2009 | 0 Comments

Our criminal justice system has been turned upside down in recent years due to the increasing pressure on different nations to prosecute dangerous war criminals.  This is a difficult task for a global society because every nation has their own justice system, and the possibility of combining all of them together causes many conflicts between nations and a general complexity in prosecuting international terrorists.  However, with programs like the UN and the European Union, these issues are becoming easier to solve and many countries have begun to work together in matching their justice systems with each others.  As a result, careers in criminal justice have taken a dramatic turn away from their previous status as law enforcement positions, and have become more about prosecuting international terrorists and developing a plan as to their trials. 

The difficulties in trying international terrorists has become a dilemma across the Western world.  We are all unsure how to proceed and many high ranking officials in the criminal justice system have been forced to make decisions that can vastly affect our international standing as well as the true justice of the criminals we are prosecuting.  As a result, careers in criminal justice need to ensure even further that justice is upheld than they had to in past years.  This has grown increasingly difficult in a global society in which we are fighting a war without boundaries.  It is difficult to determine who is dangerous and who should be let go, and due to the longevity of most detainee’s imprisonment, the issue is in immediate danger of growing out of control.  Criminal justice jobs now revolve around this debacle and developing new plans for justice in the international sphere. 

Even more difficult has become the task of combining various international justice systems to prosecute dangerous war criminals around the world.  Because each nation has their own self-interests at heart, it is hard to administer what we consider to be justice, as compared to what they consider justice.  Criminal justice careers have never before had so many intricacies to deal with in past years, and therefore the jobs have become wider and farther set apart, allowing much more experience into the justice system than ever before.  While this may seem like a difficult task to take on, many criminal justice employees love their position and love the ability to participate in an atmosphere that is “uncharted territory” to say the least.  

Understanding Careers in Criminal Justice

Posted by Site Administrator on 06/07/2009 | 0 Comments

Careers in criminal justice are largely unrecognized for the respect they deserve by the general public.  As a result, most Americans do not understand the amount of work that goes into criminal justice degrees nor the hardships many encounter within their career.  Deciding on a career in criminal justice may mean that you will not be respected for the contribution you are making to society, but knowing that your career helps preserve the balance of society.

Most careers in criminal justice are comprised of law enforcement (police officers, detectives, government agents) or judicial careers (county clerks, legal assistants).  Most law enforcement careers are known for their lack of respect within the community: police officers are often illustrated as ego-trip careers in which post citizens are unwilling to look beyond.  Contrary to this belief, law enforcement agents play a vital role in securing the peace within most communities. Without such agents, chaos would ensue as criminals would run amuck and drugs would easily be trafficked within borders.  Since we have agents in place to prevent this from happening, modern society can function without any major disruptions aside from those we cannot predict. 

Law enforcement agents perform a vital role in the community, from picking up repeat offenders, to protecting the streets from wrongdoers.  The majority of the American population does not consider this to be that vital of a commitment after having an unfortunate run-in with a law enforcement officer.  Getting pulled over for a traffic citation, however, is vastly different from more serious criminal offenses that officers must endure.  Therefore, most citizens assume that police officers spend all their time pulling people over for the most minute infractions (expired inspection stickers); as a result, this has impacted the popular perspective of most law enforcement officers.  However, when we find that are home is burglarized, what is the first number that we call?  Therefore, the career of a law enforcement agent is almost double-sided, as many people seem to nearly loathe these agents but call on the same officers when they are in need. 

Other careers in criminal justice involve less prominent positions, such as legal assistants or clerks, although they are involved with the same manner of upholding the law.  Legal assistants are part of the criminal justice sector in a different way than law enforcement agents, although they too help prosecute the wrongdoers of society.  Similar to law enforcement agents, legal assistants are often lumped into the same pile as that of lawyers, including the misconception that they are dishonest in their dealings.  However, they play an important part in the criminal justice community in making sure that criminals are justly punished for the wrongs they commit.  While careers in criminal justice are only truly understood by those who are within the field, slowly they are gaining the recognition they deserve. 

The New Need for Criminal Justice Jobs

Posted by Site Administrator on 06/01/2009 | 0 Comments

The days of small law enforcement offices are long gone, as crime has risen dramatically over the last few decades.  Even more, we have witnessed a new growth in terrorism-related law enforcement units as our country has swelled in population and international acclaim.  As a result, new law enforcement sectors have opened up in every department which has increased the need for criminal justice students tremendously.

Police stations alone have witnessed a rise in departments, as there are now special units for various types of crimes; anything from homicide to burglary contains a special crime unit now, causing a new need for professionals in each field.  The amount of detectives has increased in many police departments, and many of them require a criminal justice degree in order to understand the mindset of criminals and a background in each crime.  Crime is much more complicated than it appears to many ordinary citizens, and criminal justice jobs really unearth the true significance of each and every crime, as well as analyze statistics regarding the rate of crime in various cities.

Without criminal justice jobs, the country would fall into disarray as there would not be a way to police criminals and citizens.  This is common knowledge for many of us, but what is new in this regard is the way new crime units affect crime rates across the country.  Crime is finally starting to come down in many cities thanks to the increase of criminal justice jobs, and without these specialty positions, the crime rate would skyrocket once more.  Additionally, units within the FBI and CIA have become essential to protecting the threat of terrorism or other attacks on the nation.  Without these units, we would be even more susceptible to attacks on our own soil. 

It is amazing how much our need for criminal justice jobs has grown over the past few years, but what is not astounding is how the country has matched this need with more criminal justice students than ever before.  As technology advances, and criminals find new ways to complete crimes, this amount of potential units to combat crimes is only positioned to increased, creating more criminal justice jobs in the coming years.  Criminal justice is exactly what it sounds like: bringing criminals of heinous crimes to justice for their transgressions.  Without a system that completed this task, criminals would run amuck in our cities, and roam free without fear of punishment.  However, due to the many units and law enforcement positioned around the country, this fear is now present in the hearts of many criminals. 

Careers in Criminal Justice to Look At

Posted by Site Administrator on 05/15/2009 | 0 Comments

It’s a scary out there right now for potential job-seekers, especially in industries where jobs are scarce for many recent college grads.  However, careers in criminal justice are on the rise, and what better way to illustrate this then to just think about the masses of law enforcement that have developed over the past few years.  There are very few fields that have experienced this type of rise, and belonging to such a field is an excellent way to begin your career.  As a fresh graduate, you will probably get many entry-level positions in law enforcement or similar organizations, but keep in mind that these positions are only temporary and involve a great deal of upward promotions over the years.

When you first start out in criminal justice, you should look for jobs that are easily accessible, first of all, but also look at jobs that cater more to a specialty you may have studied in school.  If you were well trained in certain levels of crime, you will be better equipped to begin a career in this field.  If you have more of a general understanding of criminal justice, don’t despair, because many of these jobs additionally allow you some leeway to learn on the job.  However, many employers like to give jobs to people who have some background in the subject.  While internships and previous jobs help this case, simply studying a certain subject (maybe your senior seminar class) will help sway employer’s decisions.  City law enforcement offices usually have the best options for recent graduates because their organizations are so wide spread. 

If you want to gain more experience within the criminal justice sector, then looking at jobs that give you the opportunity to learn more about a specialty are probably the best for you.  While careers in the FBI and CIA can be difficult to attain, they are well worth it in the end and allow you insight into many of the top tiers of law enforcement.  Regardless of what your specialty in criminal justice was, these organizations will ensure you have the proper training before they send you out into the world.

Finally, if law enforcement positions are not for you, you can always get a job with the more judicial aspect of criminal justice, working for a lawyer or a judge.  While these are pretty set positions (there is only so far you can move up as a law clerk), they might entice you to go on to study law and allow you to experience the inner workings of court houses.  Criminal justice degrees equip students with the understanding of the judicial system and of the punishments that go along with crimes, making many students excellent candidates for working with criminal defense attorneys.   Regardless of what type of field you wish to enter into with your criminal justice degree, it is a relief to keep in mind that there are many opportunities within the criminal justice industry.