What is Criminal Justice? What exactly is criminal justice? There are three major parts of the criminal justice system. A criminal justice degree or criminal justice degree online can lead you to many career opportunities in one of these areas: Legal In the legal field, lawyers—and those supporting them— work in the court system to decide on the guilt or innocence of accused people or corporations. The legal field can be broken down into two parts: civil and criminal law.
- Civil laws are rules governing transactions and grievances between individuals. To resolve a civil lawsuit, there can be agreements between the parties, and the defendant can be forced to pay compensation but can't go to jail.
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- Criminal law is concerned with actions which are dangerous to society, and for which prosecution is carried out by the state rather than by individuals. It is only in criminal law that the guilty can be sentenced to jail.
Without being a lawyer, there are many legal jobs you can get with paralegal training or a criminal justice degree online: paralegal, legal secretary, law office manager and court reporter are just a few. Featured Paralegal Articles Visit our Paralegal Career Center for more information on paralegal degrees and careers.  Law Enforcement Policing deals with crime prevention and the apprehension of criminals. But people with a criminal justice degree online don't only become cops. They can work for the FBI or the Department of Homeland Security (and other federal agencies). They can also become security guards, working for department stores, corporations or schools and universities to guard against theft and protect people from aggression. A criminal justice degree is also a great start in a career as a private investigator. Other important parts of law enforcement are the fields of criminology and criminalistics (aka forensic science). Criminologists study crime and criminal behavior, and with forensic science, criminalists help police interpret the physical evidence they find at crime scenes. See criminalist vs. criminologist for more details on these careers that you can pursue with a degree in criminal justice. Featured Law Enforcement Articles Visit our Criminal Justice Home Page for more information on law enforcement degrees and careers. Helping law enforcement agents apprehend criminals and bring them to justice, forensic scientists are at the crossroads of science and the law. Forensic scientists evaluate physical evidence and present their findings in language that juries can understand. Forensic psychologists and computer forensics experts also play an indispensable role in the criminal justice system. If you have a scientific bent and are passionate about law and the legal system, a forensics career may be your calling. Visit our Forensic Science Career Center to learn about required education and career options in this dynamic and exciting field. Corrections The corrections system punishes and/or reforms criminals, and after they finish serving their sentences, helps keep them from recommitting crimes and reintegrates them back into society. Offenders are turned over to the correctional authorities after they have been found guilty of crimes in the court system. Many modern prisons offer schooling or job training to prisoners as a chance to learn a vocation and thereby earn a legitimate living when they have served their sentence and are returned to society. From corrections officers who supervise the daily routine of prisoners, to higher-level correctional administration positions, and parole or probation officers who help people once they leave prison, there are various job opportunities for those with a criminal justice degree. There are also many schools that offer a criminal justice degree online so you can fit a much-needed criminal justice education into your busy schedule. Featured Corrections Articles Visit our Criminal Justice Degree Home Page for more information on corrections degrees and careers.
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