Prospective criminal justice professionals should keep in mind that almost all entry-level Idaho criminal justice jobs require a bachelor degree and law enforcement officers generally are required to complete criminal justice classes prior to entering a law enforcement academy.
A few common criminal justice career choices are police or sheriff’s patrol officer, probation officer and correctional treatment specialist. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008-2009 Edition, there were 648,000 police and sheriff’s patrol officers working in the United States, making a mean annual wage of $52,810 ($25.38 per hour) in 2006. The BLS projects that this industry will experience an 11% growth rate by 2016, which would result in 70,000 new jobs in this field across the country.
The same report shows that there were 94,000 probation officers and correctional treatment specialists working in the U.S. in 2006, making an average of $42,500 per year. Projections show that these two criminal justice careers are set to experience an 11% growth rate as well. Those considering an Idaho criminal justice career can expect to see a similar rate of growth in criminal justice job opportunities in Idaho.
If you would like to find out more information about criminal justice careers, or are ready to take the first step towards your Idaho criminal justice career, browse through the comprehensive list of schools below to find the criminal justice program that is right for you.