Criminal Justice Careers: Local Government

If you are seeking a criminal justice career with the local government, you will most likely require a minimum of an associates degree in the field (that is, if you haven't already obtained on-the-job training). Some of the local level criminal justice employment opportunities to consider include a local level corrections officer, a park police officer, a county police officer, a juvenile justice officer, or working for the sheriff's department. Take the following into consideration as you research career opportunities in law enforcement/criminal justice:

• Visit local government facilities and interview people in the field. This will give you an accurate depiction of what it is like to work in these areas, to get a feel for these environments and to inquire what level of education is required for both entry level and promotional opportunities.
• Research the jobs that interest you. Find job descriptions, average salary, and get contact information to conduct interviews with people in the field.
• Go to the library and check out books related to this type of employment and see if the specific areas and duties assigned are of interest to you.
• Sit in on a couple of classes (per professors approval) prior to starting your criminal justice degree) to get a "feel" for what to expect.