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Research Criminal Justice Careers & Paralegal Studies

Everything you need to know about today's fastest growing criminal justice and paralegal careers,
including online criminal justice degree resources.

What Is Criminal Justice?

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We see criminal justice every day on TV and in movies, but its fictional portrayal is often very different from its day-to-day reality on the streets, in court and in prison. Criminal Justice careers can be organized into three categories, each one playing a distinct role in our society: legal, law enforcement and corrections.

  • Legal Careers—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.
  • Law Enforcement Careers—Policing deals with crime prevention and the apprehension of criminals.
  • Corrections Careers—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.

Visit our Paralegal Career Center to learn about paralegal education, certification and salaries, and read advice from current paralegals.

Also see our Criminal Justice Degree Resources to read about online criminal justice degrees, view a typical syllabus, learn the differences between a criminologist and a criminalist, and more.

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Criminal Justice Degrees and Salaries

Find information on education and job opportunities in criminal justice at the local, state and federal levels, and in the private sector.

Legal Career Center

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While lawyers are the highest profile members of the legal world, you don't have to go to law school to work in the legal field. Whether you want to be a paralegal, legal assistant or legal secretary, you'll find answers to all of your education and career questions here.

Paralegal Career Center

The paralegal field is one of the fastest growing in the legal industry. As lawyers learn that they can find competent paralegals to do much of their work while saving the client money, the paralegal field continues to grow with no end in sight. Find out if this challenging and dynamic career is right for you in our Paralegal Career Resource Center.

Paralegal Industry Information

What is a Paralegal
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How to Get Entry-Level Paralegal Jobs
Paralegal Studies - Choose the Right Degree for You
Earning Your Online Paralegal Degree
Top 10 Reasons to Pursue your Paralegal Studies Online
Court Cases For Your Paralegal Studies
Quiz: Legal Latin Terms
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Other Legal Professional Careers

Law Enforcement Career Center

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Policing includes both crime prevention and law enforcement. Whether you want to work as a police officer, a forensic scientist, as a federal law enforcement agent, or a private investigator, find out the education requirements, salary and career path for jobs in our law enforcement career center.

 

Forensics Careers and Criminology

Those who work in forensics and criminology help law enforcement prevent and solve crimes. Criminologists study crime, criminals and criminal behavior and corrections. Criminalists (or Forensic Science Technicians) use forensic science to solve crimes. Forensic psychology is the intersection between psychology and the legal system, while criminal psychology is the study of the thoughts and intentions of criminals. Learn more about careers in these criminal justice specialties below.

Corrections Career Center

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Once criminals go to jail the work doesn't stop; it's just beginning. Criminals are in jail to pay their debt to society, but there is a lot of work that happens in jail to reform criminals and make sure they don't recommit crimes once they're released. Learn more about the corrections career options below.

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Criminal Justice Home
Paralegal Articles & Resources | Find Criminal Justice Schools