By: Anna Baluch
Criminal justice careers that don’t require a gun or a badge
When most people think of criminal justice jobs, they often assume that a gun or badge is required. The reality, however, is there are a number of meaningful careers that don’t involve either.
“There are many directions students can explore. Some are scientific. Others focus on working directly with people,” said Kenya Brumfield-Young, Associate Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at St. Louis University.
If you’re interested in a criminal justice career but prefer a path without a gun or badge, consider these options.
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Emergency response or public safety positions
If you like fast-paced environments, look into emergency response or public safety roles. Dispatchers and 911 operators are the first point of contact for many emergencies. Emergency management specialists design preparedness plans, coordinate response efforts and help communities recover after major events.
Policy and research roles
For a chance to assess programs and help shape legislation, you may become a data analyst, research specialist or policy staff member. You can also work for a nonprofit organization focused on violence prevention, restorative justice, community safety or wrongful conviction.
According to Brumfield-Young, these organizations frequently hire people with criminal justice backgrounds who want to work outside traditional enforcement.
Court and legal roles
There are a wide range of court and legal careers that don’t involve enforcement. Paralegals, legal researchers and mitigation specialists support trial teams and post-conviction work. Pretrial services officers interview defendants, assess risk and recommend supervision plans without carrying weapons. Court clerks and judicial assistants keep the courts organized and ensure cases move efficiently.
Educational positions
If you’re passionate about criminal justice and want to share your knowledge with others, you may be able to teach. “Whether in community college, traditional four-year university or graduate school, there are opportunities to educate students at various levels,” said Rod Hoevet, Assistant Professor of Forensic Psychology at Maryville University.
Keep in mind that you will likely need to pursue a master’s degree or doctorate to go this route.
Forensic psychology jobs
While your degree and experience level ultimately dictate what you can do within the forensic psychology field, you may be able to perform criminal assessments or work in the civil side of the law on cases that involve divorce/custody disputes, workman’s compensation and personal injury. “You can also work in private practice, a hospital or clinic setting or an academic environment,” Hoevet explained.
Correctional setting roles
Case managers deal with specialized parts of the population, such as the mentally ill or intellectually disabled and help secure resources while they are in jail or prison and/or after they get out.
Many incarcerated men and women do not have good education backgrounds, so educators help provide basic K-12 (or even college) educations. They may run classes, teach the same subjects others may teach in a typical school environment and help offenders earn a GED.
Mental health professionals at the master’s and doctoral levels provide a variety of services in correctional settings, including individual and group therapy, suicide risk assessments, supervision and administrative tasks.
Forensic science jobs
The field of forensic science encompasses a wide range of jobs that analyze physical crime scene evidence. This could include analyzing DNA samples to nail a suspect, matching shell casings to guns, examining fingerprints and much more. Some forensic scientists work for a law enforcement agency—and therefore may be an actual officer with firearm training—while others are civilians that work directly for laboratories or other scientific facilities.
Advice for pursuing a criminal justice career without a gun or badge
With these tips, you can find and take steps to secure the criminal justice position that suits your personality, goals and preferences.
Get exposure early
Internships, volunteering and short shadowing experiences may help you understand which environment fits your skills and strengths. Work with your school to learn about the types of opportunities at your disposal.
Hone your soft skills
In these types of positions, soft skills like communication and writing are important, since they often involve working directly with people, typically those in very difficult situations who require patience and empathy. Focus your efforts on improving both of them.
Work with a mentor
“I highly recommend sitting down with a professional, mentor, advisor and having a practical conversation about what your options are,” Hoevet said. In his experience, students benefit from having someone with experience in the field to help them zero in on and shape their goals and plans.
Consider additional education
“It can be very helpful to earn a minor or double major in a field you’re interested in,” said Kevin Angelo Brown, Criminology Professor at Arkansas State University.
For example, knowing a second language like Spanish is crucial in states like California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, especially for victim advocates and many other roles. A degree in data or analytics is advantageous for crime analysts, while specialized skills such as computer science are often needed for digital forensics.
Maintain a clean record
These types of criminal justice careers involve access to sensitive or classified information. For this reason, it’s essential to maintain a clean background, stay out of legal trouble and build positive relationships with others.
Be realistic
Brown explained that many of these jobs are highly competitive and often require you to work your way up. For example, working for the FBI straight out of college is uncommon. Pursuing graduate studies, working at a local agency or joining the military as an intelligence officer are ways to gain relevant experience. Focus on baby steps and what you can do to get to where you want to be.