There is nothing more interesting than a mystery, and what makes a human being tick is one of the biggest ones. If you love anything and everything crime-related and helping people, a career in the criminal justice sector might be for you. An online Bachelor of Science degree in criminal science will open many doors where you can serve, help your community and keep people safe.

However, taking an online criminal justice degree does not limit you to a career in law enforcement. In fact, criminal justice applies to many jobs in various fields. For example, choosing an online college that offers this degree, such as the Central Christian College of Kansas, will kickstart your career in a new, exciting world of opportunities. The courses are designed by experienced experts and taught by instructors with a rich background in law and policing. Programs will cover a wide range of subjects related to protecting others, solving crimes, and dealing with offenders. In addition, the courses include criminal law, forensics, crisis management, and corrections.

To help you decide whether taking a criminal justice degree is the right step for you, let’s consider what skills you need in this field. We’ll also go through the career paths you can choose in criminal justice after taking the course.

Essential soft skills for the criminal justice field

Soft skills are just as necessary, if not more so than hard skills. These core skills take your work above and beyond the job description and elevate your role and the service you provide. People working in the field of criminal justice have multi-faceted functions. They must protect the community while making quick, critical decisions under pressure or in a crisis. Learning to rely on your gut but remaining vigilant and observant are crucial for a successful outcome of any situation. These skills come with experience and learning about them from professionals.

Leadership

Being a good leader isn’t about you but your team. Strong and healthy leadership brings out the best abilities of all your squad and motivates them to work towards a common goal. A good leader understands that everyone’s voice and opinion are essential. However, they can take a painful decision while bringing everyone on board. You can practice leadership skills at any level of an organization – you don’t need a title to be a good leader. Giving a good example to those around you and teaching what you know will lift others. So does being organized and keeping everything on track.

A strong leader will shine in a career in criminal justice. Whether leading a team, working with colleagues, or helping the public, this skill will help you climb the career ladder while providing value to society.

Active listening and learning

Change is the only constant in life. Learning new information and life skills keeps our brains and bodies thriving instead of surviving. One of the best ways to achieve this is to listen actively. Law enforcement and criminal justice people need to learn how to listen. Actively listening to what people have to say with an open mind allows you to gather information, give grounded advice and understand different points of view. Through active listening, criminal justice professionals can take in what is being said verbally and non-verbally, analyze it and provide helpful feedback. The speaker also feels seen and heard without being judged.

Critical thinking

Individuals with criminal justice careers sometimes need to make split-second decisions. Working in a fast-paced environment means you need to be able to assess a situation and act quickly. Thinking on your feet requires a cool head and sharp observation skills. The thought process where you observe, analyze, interpret, and problem-solve often occur in minutes, if not seconds.

Observation

No detail is too small or insignificant, especially in criminal justice. Whether working in law enforcement, as a private investigator or learning about international fraud patterns, the skill of observation is essential. People on this career path are detail-oriented, meticulous, and observant as they know that everything can give them more information. Giving importance to details can make or break a case or solve or lose a crime. Learn how to sharpen your observation prowess with tried techniques by former law enforcement tutors.

Communication

This soft skill is at the top of the list to help you succeed in criminal justice. Effective communication goes beyond speaking or sending the correct email. This skill involves many factors, including body language, confidence, respect, listening, empathy, and emotional intelligence. It consists of knowing when and how to use the suitable medium. Communication helps create a connection between people, even with different points of view. Those working in law enforcement and related areas need to be effective communicators, whether speaking to victims, police officers, journalists, writing legal documents, or testifying in court.

Ethical decision making

Criminal justice professionals sometimes need to make a split-second decision when under pressure or pressed for time. However, these decisions must protect the community while preventing harmful actions. Learning to navigate any field with an ethical background in racial issues and socioeconomic challenges, for example, while protecting citizens’ rights, allows any professional to uphold the law and their principles.

Integrity

The importance of maintaining high standards as a criminal justice worker today holds true more than ever. A high standard of personal and professional integrity means that the right decision will be taken whether or not someone else is watching. Listening to other people’s viewpoints and giving them the space to be seen and heard will lead to trust and confidence in your work and the system. It will also help create a connection with the victim, person, and department, leading to understanding.

Important Technical Skills in Criminal Justice

Photography

Images are a vital tool for anyone working in criminal justice. They can provide the final evidence stamp to reports, discredit testimony or challenge a statement. Learning to take clear photos with the proper lighting and exposure can help win your case.

Report writing

Working in criminal justice means that you will need to write up official reports. These might even be presented in court as evidence. Good writing skills and a clean writing style with clear descriptions are essential for effective communication.

Computer literacy

Research is integral to any role in the criminal justice profession. Libraries and departments are now online. Computer literacy is essential with all the information available online, including official documents.

Interviewing

One of the main ways to get information is by speaking to people. With research and preparation, you will know the right questions to ask and how to listen for the answers.

Career paths in criminal justice

Jobs in criminal justice go far beyond working in law enforcement. You can choose to work in the private and public sectors through an in-depth course. We’ll give you an idea of what you can choose, and the salary range you can expect.

US Marshal

The US Marshal Service was set up in 1789, making it the oldest federal law enforcement agency. Marshals have the broadest arrest authority in the country compared to other federal law enforcement agencies. They help local and state agencies find and catch the most violent fugitives. Recent data by the US Marshal department reveals that, on average, they arrest 337 offenders daily. They also ensure the health, security, and safety of government witnesses and their immediate family.

Such witnesses need protection to testify against criminals such as drug traffickers, organized crime members, and terrorists. Marshals are also responsible for transporting criminals across the country on the ground and in the air. They manage and dispose of seized and forfeited properties bought by criminals through criminal activities. The Marshals Service currently manages more than $3.1 billion worth of properties across the US. The starting salary for a Marshal ranges from $38,500 to $48,000 and rises to $128,690. The average salary is around $77,210.

Crime scene officer

This previously little-known law enforcement department has become a household name thanks to the hugely popular television series and its spinoffs. Crime scene investigators provide the police with the evidence they need to close a case. They also help state prosecutors make their cases in court.

Crime scene officers collect evidence from a crime scene and put it together to recreate the incident. However, their role goes beyond boiler suits and rubber gloves. They need to be able to present and explain their findings clearly in court as a state witness. This career requires observation, attention to detail, communication, and problem-solving skills. A Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice is the first stepping stone to becoming a crime scene officer. The average wage is $48,401 and can go up to $79,000.

Private investigator

The role of a private investigator has evolved from the stereotypical search for the spouse’s secret lover. Although that is still a popular service, modern private investigators can provide background checks, locate missing persons, asset investigations, surveillance, insurance and fraud investigations, and much more. Some even offer screenings of potential tenants or employees to provide extra peace of mind.

Gone are the days when a private investigator was the underdog trying to scrape by. A modern investigator needs a unique skill set to succeed. These include critical thinking, observation, responsiveness, and being quick to act. A legal background is crucial to know when to toe the line before taking action. A private investigator needs good communication skills to liaise with the client or give testimony in court.

Education and experience directly relate to a private investigator’s salary like any other job. Private investigators are usually paid by the hour, and a recent study found that the highest earning private investigators receive up to $90,000 a year. An online course can give you the right skills you need to take the first steps on this career path.

Fish and game warden

Fish and game wardens work with federal or state agencies to protect and conserve wildlife and fish by enforcing laws. They are also responsible for preserving and managing wildlife and improving natural habitats. This job combines enforcement, education, and conservation with state agencies. Wardens can also issue hunting and fishing licenses, organize or participate in search and rescue operations and provide backup to law enforcement agencies in rural areas. They also focus on preventing illegal poaching and can appear as witnesses in court. Wardens have the power to impound vehicles or weapons used illegally or confiscate illegally caught fish or game. Aside from this, they carry out census counts of wildlife and monitor industrial polluters. They typically cover vast amounts of terrain. In fact, there are only 35 wardens for the state’s 110,000 square miles in Nevada. This job is for those who love to be out in the wild, at one with nature. The average wage is around $60,730 and can go up to $79,330.

Immigration and customs enforcement agent

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, also known as ICE, protects the country’s borders from illegal immigrants, terrorists, drug traffickers, and cross-border crime. With thousands of officers across the US, ICE is the largest investigative agency in the Department of Homeland Security. Their duties range from border patrol, human trafficking, child exploitation, cyber-crime, deportation, and intelligence gathering. ICE agents also collaborate with other federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Border Patrol, and others within the Department of Homeland Security. A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice is a must to get started in ICE, which offers a variety of roles, including:

• Deportation Officer (DO)
• Detention and Deportation Officer (DDO)
• HSI (Homeland Security Investigations) Special Agent
• Immigration Enforcement Agent (IEA)
• Intelligence Officer
• Management and Program Analyst
• Mission Support Specialist
• Auditor
• Criminal Research Specialist
• Investigative Assistant
• Technical Enforcement Officer

The starting salary for an ICE agent is $41,200 and goes up to $128,690, with an average salary of $80,000.

Police officer

Police officers are the first responders in the community, and are responsible for public safety and law enforcement. In addition, their role is educational and preventative. Officers investigate crimes and accidents, patrol areas to ensure that civilians obey the law, arrest suspects, and collect evidence. They can issue citations for minor offenses like traffic violations and testify in court. However, police officers also help build relationships with the community, especially the vulnerable. They are the first point of contact that many people have with criminal justice professionals, giving the role a huge responsibility. Police officers must continue to further their education to keep up with the latest research. A law enforcement officer’s base salary is an estimated $55,500 year, while the most experienced can make up to $80,000.

FBI agent

There is no such thing as a typical day for an FBI agent. This criminal justice professional enforces many federal laws and performs various roles in the Bureau. More than 35,000 people work with the FBI, including special agents, intelligence analysts, language specialists, scientists, and information technology specialists. Agents in the field offices testify in federal court, execute search warrants and gather evidence. Some agents focus on specialized fields like training, fingerprinting, lab services, and public affairs, while others are supervisors or managers.

FBI agents must be ready to work long hours and relocate to different parts of the world at a moment’s notice. The duties of a special agent include compiling information and developing a case, working with local law enforcement, gathering evidence, and carrying out surveillance. Agents also investigate foreign operatives, criminals, and terrorists, participate in raids and arrests and interview suspects.

Although the entry process to join the FBI is rigorous, a criminal justice degree will pave the way to becoming an agent. With so many people working at the FBI, it is hard to pinpoint an average salary. However, the starting salary is around $20,175 and can go up to $536,075, with a median range of about $96,709.

Why not study for a Bachelor of Science in criminal science degree with the Central Christian College of Kansas? The course works around your needs, whether these are financial or time-bound. It is offered several times during the year, allowing you to find a six-week gap that works in your schedule. You can even take it during the summer when the kids are on holiday and busy with their own activities. Because the modules are only six weeks long and online, the course is completely accessible. Aside from this, you won’t be charged any application or transcript fees to sign up for the online criminal justice degree. There is no hassle with entry requirements either. All you need is your high school diploma, GED, or higher education transcript. You can also transfer previous college credits to speed up your degree.