Criminal justice programs help law enforcement officers prepare for law enforcement academies, future attorneys prepare for law school, and anyone going into the criminal justice field prepare for entry-level positions, which usually require a bachelor degree in criminal justice.
Examples of popular criminal justice careers include probation officer, correctional treatment specialist, police patrol officer and sheriff’s patrol officer. Data found in the Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008-2009 Edition, put out by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, shows that there were 648,000 police and sheriff’s patrol officers employed in the U.S. in 2006 and that the average annual wage for these positions was $52,810. The data also shows that there were 94,000 correctional treatment specialists and probation officers, with an average annual wage of $42,500. This report includes growth projections that estimate an 11% increase in job opportunities in these criminal justice professions, culminating in 80,000 new job openings by 2016. Those seeking criminal justice careers in Missouri can expect to see a similar rate of growth in Missouri criminal justice jobs.
If you would like to learn more about the field of criminal justice, or are ready to find the Missouri criminal justice program that is right for you, browse our comprehensive list of schools offering criminal justice programs listed below.