Police Training and Employment in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement

Why Criminal Justice?

The Criminal Justice career field is becoming one of the fastest and most demanding careers in the United States and worldwide. According to the Department of Justice (website) expenditures and employment statistics, the department had the following expenditures for 2006.

The main purpose of the police is to pursue and apprehend individuals who break the law and then issue citations or give warnings. Each department has a different focus, but they all work together towards the vision of making their city, town, or county safe for the community.

Most police officers patrol their jurisdictions and investigate any suspicious activity they notice. A large proportion of their time is spent writing reports and maintaining records of incidents they encounter.

Sounds good so far? Then read this... When, how and where to get your law enforcement and criminal justice degrees, obtain your police training, and land the better police jobs.

Outlook for Law Enforcement Careers

As reported by the Department of Labor (Occupation Handbook) the job outlook is as follows: Job opportunities in most local police departments will be excellent for qualified individuals; a good time to become a police officer.

• In fiscal year 2006, federal, state, and local governments spent an estimated $214 billion for police protection, corrections, and judicial and legal activities; this is a 5.1% increase over the previous year.
  
• In fiscal year 2006, state and local governments spent a combined 83% of all direct justice dollars; the federal government spent the rest.
  
• The federal government spent more than $36 billion on direct expenditures for criminal and civil justice in fiscal year 2006.
  
• State governments spent over $69 billion and local governments spent over $109 billion.

Employment change. Average employment growth is expected. Employment of police and detectives is expected to grow 11 percent over the 2006-16 decade, about as fast as the average for all occupations. A more security-conscious society and population growth will contribute to the increasing demand for police services.

Job prospects. Overall opportunities in local police departments will be excellent for individuals who meet the psychological, personal, and physical qualifications. In addition to openings from employment growth, many openings will be created by the need to replace workers who retire and those who leave local agencies for Federal jobs and private sector security jobs.

Job competition. There will be more competition for jobs in Federal and State law enforcement agencies than for jobs in local agencies. Less competition for jobs will occur in departments that offer relatively low salaries or those in urban communities where the crime rate is relatively high.

Military experience. Applicants with military or college training in police sciences will have the best opportunities in local and State departments.

Local, state, or federal opportunities. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree and several years of law enforcement or military experience, especially investigative experience, will have the best opportunities in Federal agencies.