The Law Dictionary

Your Free Online Legal Dictionary • Featuring Black’s Law Dictionary, 2nd Ed.

How to Get a Job in Criminal Justice Administration

As the name suggests, careers in criminal justice administration prepare graduates to take on managerial functions in a criminal justice setting. Those in criminal justice administration can choose to work in corrections, rehabilitation, parole, probation, law enforcement, the court system, organized crime or white collar crime divisions, or private security.

Criminal justice administration professionals combine their managerial skills with their knowledge of law enforcement to keep departments and agencies running efficiently and effectively.

Another career option includes analyzing crime control theories and developing the best crime control or crime prevention plan for your department or geographical region.

Administrators can work with court and justice systems to ensure the agencies are following due process, upholding constitutional rights, and following case law.

Criminal Justice Administration Salary

Salary for administrators in criminal justice ranges widely depending on where the administrator works. Administrators at the federal level earn anywhere from $30,000 to $90,000. State level administrators earn from $30,000 to $80,000 per year.

Education Requirements

A Bachelor of Science in criminal justice administration provides students with principles, practices, concepts, and theories of criminal justice along with management skills. Students will learn about the operations of a police department, court room, agency, and correctional facility.

Graduates of a bachelor’s in criminal justice administration will learn management skills such as public relations, management, human resources, communication, leadership, human interaction, crisis strategies, organizational behavior, and writing skills.

Students of the bachelor’s program will learn about how legal and civic matters work together. Examples of these ideas include neighborhood development and planning, urban politics, current social problems, interracial communications, minorities, criminology, psychology, and ethics.

For those who want to take their education one step further, a Master of Science in criminal justice administration is available. In order to advance in the FBI, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), U.S. Marshals, or Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS), a master’s degree is essential. Most master’s degree programs in criminal justice take three years to complete.

In order to be considered for an entry level position in criminal justice administration, candidates often need to have at least five years’ experience in criminal justice, good job performance reviews, and a bachelor’s degree.

Schools For Criminal Justice Administration

[qs_listing areaofinterest=”CRIMINAL-JUSTICE-ADMINISTRATION”]

Disclaimer

This article contains general legal information but does not constitute professional legal advice for your particular situation. The Law Dictionary is not a law firm, and this page does not create an attorney-client or legal adviser relationship. If you have specific questions, please consult a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.