Monday, September 2, 2013

Criminal Justice Degree

Criminal justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts. Those accused of crime have protections against abuse of investigatory and prosecution powers.
In the United States, criminal justice policy has been guided by the 1967 President's Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice, which issued a ground-breaking report "The Challenge of Crime in a Free Society". This report made more than 200 recommendations as part of a comprehensive approach toward the prevention and fighting of crime. Some of those recommendations found their way into the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. The Commission advocated a "systems" approach to criminal justice, with improved coordination among law enforcement, courts, and correctional agencies. The President's Commission defined the criminal justice system as the means for society to "enforce the standards of conduct necessary to protect individuals and the community."
The criminal justice system in England and Wales aims to "reduce crime by bringing more offences to justice, and to raise public confidence that the system is fair and will deliver for the law-abiding citizen." In Canada, the criminal justice system aims to balance the goals of crime control and prevention, and justice (equity, fairness, protection of individual rights).In Sweden, the overarching goal for the criminal justice system is to reduce crime and increase the security of the people. Overall, criminal justice plays a huge role throughout society as a whole in any place.
Law is a system of rules usually enforced through a set of institutions. The purpose of law is to provide an objective set of rules for governing conduct and maintaining order in a society.
The oldest known codified law is the Code of Ur-Nammu, written in the Sumerian language circa 2100 BC-2050 BC. The preface directly credits the laws to king Ur-Nammu of Ur. In different parts of the world, law could be established by philosophers or religion. In the modern world, laws are typically created and enforced by governments. These codified laws may coexist with or contradict other forms of social control, such as religious proscriptions, professional rules and ethics, or the cultural mores and customs of a society.
Within the realm of codified law, there are generally two forms of law that the courts are concerned with. Civil laws are rules and regulations which govern transactions and grievances between individual citizens. Criminal law is concerned with actions which are dangerous or harmful to society as a whole, in which prosecution is pursued not by an individual but rather by the state. The purpose of criminal law is to provide the specific definition of what constitutes a crime and to prescribe punishments for committing such a crime. No criminal law can be valid unless it includes both of these factors. The subject of criminal justice is, of course, primarily concerned with the enforcement of criminal law.
The criminal justice system consists of three main parts: (1) Legislative (create laws); (2) adjudication (courts); and (3) corrections (jails, prisons, probation and parole). In the criminal justice system, these distinct agencies operate together both under the rule of law and as the principal means of maintaining the rule of law within society.
For the purposes of section 8(6) of the Criminal Appeal Act 1995 and section 194A(6) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, the criminal justice system includes, in particular, the investigation of offences and the treatment of offenders.
The first contact an offender has with the criminal justice system is usually with the police (or law enforcement) who investigate the suspected wrongdoing and make an arrest, but if the suspect is dangerous to the whole nation, a national level law enforcement agency is called in . When warranted, law enforcement agencies or police officers are empowered to use force and other forms of legal coercion and means to effect public and social order. The term is most commonly associated with police departments of a state that are authorized to exercise the police power of that state within a defined legal or territorial area of responsibility. The word comes from the Latin politia ("civil administration"), which itself derives from the Ancient Greek πόλις, for polis ("city").The first police force comparable to the present-day police was established in 1667 under King Louis XIV in France, although modern police usually trace their origins to the 1800 establishment of the Marine Police in London, the Glasgow Police, and the Napoleonic police of Paris.
Police are primarily concerned with keeping the peace and enforcing criminal law based on their particular mission and jurisdiction. Formed in 1908 the Federal Bureau of Investigation began as an entity which could investigate and enforce specific federal laws as an investigative and "law enforcement agency" in the United States; this, however, has constituted only a small portion of overall policing activity. Policing has included an array of activities in different contexts, but the predominant ones are concerned with order maintenance and the provision of services.
The courts serve as the venue where disputes are then settled and justice is administered. With regard to criminal justice, there are a number of critical people in any court setting. These critical people are referred to as the courtroom work group and include both professional and non professional individuals. These include the judge, prosecutor, and the defense attorney. The judge, or magistrate, is a person, elected or appointed, who is knowledgeable in the law, and whose function is to objectively administer the legal proceedings and offer a final decision to dispose of a case.
In the U.S. and in a growing number of nations, guilt or innocence (although in the U.S. a jury can never find a defendant "innocent" but rather "not guilty") is decided through the adversarial system. In this system, two parties will both offer their version of events and argue their case before the court (sometimes before a judge or panel of judges, sometimes before a jury). The case should be decided in favor of the party who offers the most sound and compelling arguments based on the law as applied to the facts of the case.
The prosecutor, or district attorney, is a lawyer who brings charges against a person, persons or corporate entity. It is the prosecutor's duty to explain to the court what crime was committed and to detail what evidence has been found which incriminates the accused. The prosecutor should not be confused with a plaintiff or plaintiff's counsel. Although both serve the function of bringing a complaint before the court, the prosecutor is a servant of the state who makes accusations on behalf of the state in criminal proceedings, while the plaintiff is the complaining party in civil proceedings.

Criminal Justice Career


The Criminal Justice field provides an extensive range of Criminal Justice career opportunities in the private sector, as well as with federal, state, and local government agencies.
The majority of people with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice use the degree to begin their career in law enforcement, criminal law, corrections, or social work.
Available careers in Criminal Justice for those with a Bachelor degree include police officer, detective, corporate security specialist, criminologist, crime scene investigator, sheriff, marshal, corrections officer, DEA agent, INS agent, ATF agent, Homeland Security agent, and CIA agent

A Bachelor in Criminal Justice degree also provides job opportunities in protective services, such as:

U.S. Secret Service
Federal Bureau of Investigation
U.S. Marshal’s Office
Department of Homeland Security
Security and Loss Prevention
Municipal and State Police Departments

In addition, a Bachelor in Criminal Justice degree provides job opportunities in crime-related prevention and support, such as:

Rape Crisis Centers
Shelters for Abused Women and Children
Drug and Alcohol Programs
Crime Prevention and Diversion Programs
Halfway Houses

Finally, a Criminal Justice Bachelor’s degree provides job opportunities in law and corrections, such as:

Legal Aid/Paralegal
Court Administration
Juvenile Court Personnel
Delinquency Prevention Programs
Probation and Parole Officers
Jails and Prisons
Juvenile Residential Institutions.

criminal justice salary information

Salary ranges of employees with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree:


Paralegal: $29,695 to $61,972
Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer: $30,579 to $80,462
Security Manager: $36,162 to $94,363
Probation Officer or Correctional Treatment Specialist: $25,111 to $55,925

Median salaries of employees with a Bachelor’s of Criminal Justice degree, by practice area:

Litigation & Appeals: $44,891
General: $43,398
Personal Injury & Wrongful Death: $37,088
 Family Law: $35,483
Corporate, Business, Mergers, & Acquisitions: $51,380
Criminal Law: $32,370
Trusts & Estates: $36,332

Median salaries of employees with a Bachelor’s of Criminal Justice degree, by industry:

Law Enforcement: $46, 527
Law Firm/Law Office: $39,982
Insurance: $50,437
Legal Services: $42,898
Police agency: $47,756


Criminal Justice Institutes

Florida State University

Florida State University’s (FSU) online Bachelor’s degree in Criminology prepares students for careers such as: social services case manager, detective, crime intelligence analyst, corporate security specialist, private investigator, and other criminal justice careers.
FSU’s faculty includes two of the top criminologists in the nation, as well as other prominent criminologists. College faculty members serve as Editor or Co-Editor for some of the most important scholarly journals in the criminology field.
In 2012, FSU was ranked #46 in the “Top Public Schools” list by U.S. News & World Report. In 2010, the school was named a “Budget Ivy” university by the Fiske Guide to Getting into the Right College, and that same year, the Princeton Review and USA Today both ranked FSU #4 in their list of public “Best Value Colleges.”


Penn State World Campus

Penn State World Campus offers an online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree program, which  provides students with the tools to lead, serve, and protect national, state, and local interests.
The program covers the theoretical and practical aspects of crime control. Students are prepared for leadership positions in security management, law enforcement, court administration, corrections, and crime prevention.

Coursework covers subjects such as:

Introduction to Law, Policing, and Corrections in America
Criminology
Security and Police Administration
Ethics in Criminal Justice
Concepts of Social Science Research
Aspects of the Juvenile Justice System
Alternatives to Incarceration

In 2012, Penn State University was ranked #12 by U.S. News & World Report in its “Top Public Schools” list. In 2011, the university was ranked #12 nationally by SmartMoney Magazine in its “Colleges That Help Grads Get Top Salaries” list. Penn State World Campus was included in the top 15% in the category of Bachelor’s programs: Student Services and Technology, and in 2011, the Sloan Consortium named Penn State the winner of the Excellence in Institution-Wide Online Education Award.


Washington State University

Washington State University (WSU) has the second-oldest academic program in criminal justice. The founding chapter of the Alpha Phi Sigma criminal justice honor society was established at Washington State University.
The online Bachelor in Criminal Justice program can be completed with 49 credit hours if students have transferable credit hours of core classes.
The program provides electives such as Juvenile Justice and Corrections, Comparative Criminal Justice Systems, Juvenile Delinquency, Law of Evidence and Criminal Procedure, and Sociology of Race Relations.
Notable professors teaching the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice program regularly assist law and corrections organizations.
In 2011, WSU was ranked #57 among all public universities, and #6 in the category of Top Online Bachelor’s Programs: Student Services and Technology, by U.S. News & World Report.


Arizona State University

ASU Online is the online school of Arizona State University.
The online Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice program provides the same high academic quality as the on-campus program.
The program provides an interdisciplinary approach to studying crime and criminal justice, based in social sciences. The curriculum focuses on the practices and policies of criminal justice system components, including law enforcement, corrections and the courts.
Students learn from criminal justice professionals, experts in policing, fraud, gangs, crime, and the court system.
ASU was named one of America’s Best College Buys” by Forbes magazine, and U.S. News & World Report ranked it among the top tier U.S. universities. In 2010, ASU was ranked #81 in the world and #45 in the United States by the Academic Ranking of World Universities, a publication established by Shanghai Jiao Tong University.


Colorado State University-Global Campus

Colorado State University (CSU)-Global Campus offers an online Bachelor in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Administration degree program, which provides the knowledge and tools required to advance into leadership and management roles in criminal justice organizations.  The program thoroughly covers the trends and developments regarding managing a criminal justice organization.
Courses focus on law enforcement, criminology, corrections, and juvenile justice, as well as research methods designed for criminal justice professionals, and consist of eight weeks with multiple start dates every semester.
The Bachelor in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Administration program provides the critical thinking, leadership, and effective decision-making required in law enforcement, court, corrections, and community-based justice delivery offices. Students may take a specialization in a career-relevant field.
Princeton Review named CSU as one of the nation’s best institutions for undergraduate education.


St. John's University

St. John’s University, a Catholic institution located in New York City, offers an online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree, which thoroughly covers the criminal justice system.
The program includes courses in criminal justice theory and application, as well as a solid interdisciplinary liberal arts foundation. It also reviews the theories behind the causes of crime.
Students receive the knowledge and skills to identify and evaluate the results of patterns and practices of differential treatments of suspects and offenders based on race, class, gender, and ethnicity. They also learn how criminal justice agencies use technology to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
Students are required to completed at least 126 semester hours.
St. John’s University has been ranked in the first tier of American universities by U.S. News & World Report, and was named a “Best Northeastern College” by the Princeton Review in 2011.


Drexel University Online

Drexel University Online’s Bachelor in Criminal Justice online degree curriculum provides a rigorous academic foundation, which along with specialized coursework prepares students for a broad range of positions.
Those with the degree can apply for positions in criminal justice, the legal profession, or private security.
Students receive a strong foundation in criminology and criminal behavior. The online Criminal Justice Bachelor degree program also reviews policies, administration, structure, and procedures of the agencies of crime control and criminal justice, including corrections, law enforcement, and the judiciary.
In 2011, Drexel University was included among the top 100 colleges and universities by U.S. News and World Report. In addition, Drexel University Online has received the 2010 Sloan Consortium Award for Excellence in Institution-Wide Online Education, as well as the 21st Century Best Practice Award for Distance Learning from the United States Distance Learning Association.


Portland State University

Portland State University (PSU) offers an online Bachelor in Criminology and Criminal Justice curriculum covering criminology and criminal justice topics from prevention, enforcement, and the justice system to punishment, corrections, and rehabilitation. Industry-experienced faculty members teach the courses.
Applicants should have an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree, or else 30 semester hours of transferable college credit.
Students can complete the online program for a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice in two years.
PSU was ranked among the country’s best colleges in five categories which lead to student success by U.S. News & World Report. The school is also included among the Best 376 Colleges in the Princeton Review‘s 2012 edition of “The Best in the West.”


University Of Nebraska Kearney

The University of Nebraska Kearney (UNK) offers an online Criminal Justice bachelors degree completion program that is designed for students who have an associate’s degree or who have completed the majority of their general education courses.
Students learn about current trends in justice. They also take an internship—which is completed at a convenient location—to gain valuable experience.
Graduates can apply for criminal justice jobs in law enforcement, the courts, corrections, and other areas.

The online Criminal Justice Bachelor degree program provides courses such as:

Correctional Services and Systems
The Police Service
Theories of Crime and Criminal Law
Criminal Evidence
Procedure and the Courts
The Juvenile Justice System
Community Based Corrections
Technology in Criminal Justice

In 2011, UNK was ranked as a top-10 public Midwest regional university by U.S. News & World Report.


Eastern Kentucky University

Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) offers an online Bachelor of Science in Corrections & Juvenile Justice Studies curriculum.
This program covers subjects such as the juvenile justice system, rehabilitation strategies for adult and juvenile offenders, applied criminal justice analysis, delinquency interventions, school-based interventions for at-risk youth, diversity in corrections, and the offender in the community.
The instructors have substantial experience in their field.
EKU was included by Forbes magazine in the top 10% of America’s colleges and universities. U.S. News and World Report also included EKU as a first-tier regional university in its annual listing of top colleges and universities. In addition, the university was ranked #2 in the nation in the “Best for Vets: Colleges” issue by Military Times EDGE magazine, and was named as one of America’s most Veteran Friendly campuses—and ranked in the top 15% of educational institutions doing the most to embrace veterans as students—-by GI Jobs magazine.


Florida International University

Florida International University (FIU) offers an online Criminal Justice Bachelor’s degree curriculum.

This program includes courses such as:

The Criminal Justice System
Criminological Theory
Measurement and Analysis in Criminal Justice
Research Methods in Criminal Justice
Comparative Criminal Justice Systems

Applicants to the Bachelor in Criminal Justice program are required to meet all the lower division requirements, including CLAST and completing 60 semester hours.
FIU was named a “Best Buy” in higher education by U.S. News & World Report, and was included among the best values in public higher education in the nation by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine’s “100 Best Values in Public Colleges” 2011 survey. The university is listed as tied for #3 in the category Top Online Bachelor’s Programs: Student Services and Technology by U.S. News & World Report.


University Of Texas At Arlington

The Carnegie Foundation has classified the University of Texas at Arlington as a high research activity institution.
The Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice program reviews crime causation, trends, and issues associated with the criminal justice system.
Faculty members have expertise in criminological theory, corrections, and management.

The online Bachelor in Criminology and Criminal Justice program covers areas such as:

Criminal Justice
Theoretical Criminology
Ethics and the Criminal Justice System
Juvenile Justice Systems
Criminal Justice Statistics
American Judicial Systems


University Of Houston-Victoria

The University of Houston-Victoria is a separate and distinct institution of the University of Houston System.
The Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice program provides an understanding of criminal behavior, reviews how crime can be prevented, and covers effective criminal rehabilitation methods.
Students are prepared for criminal justice careers such as police officer, sheriff, deputy sheriff, probation/parole officer, juvenile/adult corrections officer, and department of public safety officer.

The Bachelor degree in Criminal Justice program includes courses such as:

Foundations of Criminal Justice
Ethics of Social Control
Criminal Justice Administration
Research Methods in Criminal Justice
Criminology
Quantitative Analysis in Criminal Justice


Saint Leo University

Saint Leo University, a catholic university, offers an online Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice degree program.
This program covers substantive criminal law, the law and legal system, ethics, criminal procedure, police organization and administration, and criminal behavior. It also provides a foundation for advancement to administrative levels.
The Criminal Justice Bachelor degree program includes 120 semester credits.
Saint Leo University has been named one of the “Top Universities in the South,” and ranked #11 in the category of Top Online Bachelor’s Programs: Faculty Credentials and Training, by U.S. News & World Report. The university was also ranked #29 in the category of Top Online Bachelor’s Programs: Student Engagement and Assessment, by the same magazine.


Fort Hays State University

Fort Hays State University (FHSU) offers a Bachelor in Justice Studies, an interdisciplinary program focusing on the cause of crime and society’s response to crime.
Students take the program to change careers, receive a promotion, or an increase their salary. Some of the students are criminal justice practitioners and military veterans working at the federal, state, or local level.
The degree includes 124 hours.

Graduates of the online Bachelor in Justice Studies program are prepared for careers such as:

U.S. Secret Service
State and Federal Special Agents
Customs Agents
U.S. Marshals
Law Enforcement Agents
Court Administrators
Correction, Parole, Probation, and Community Correction Officers
Victim Service Personnel
Juvenile Intake Personnel

FHSU was ranked #35 in the category of Top Online Bachelor’s Programs: Faculty Credentials and Training, and #6 in the category of Top Online Bachelor’s Programs: Student Engagement and Assessment, by U.S. News & World Report.


Grand Canyon University

Grand Canyon University is an all-online university providing an education from the context of its Christian heritage.
Graduates of the Bachelors of Science in Justice Studies program can apply for positions in law enforcement, social work, governmental and private agencies, political science, and other fields.
The curriculum covers the components of the justice system from a systems perspective, including function, issues, organization, and practices, as well as the interrelationships between law enforcement agencies, the courts, and the corrections system. The degree includes 120 credits.

The online Bachelor of Justice Studies degree includes courses such as:

Crime and Criminology
The Police Function
The Adjudication Function
The Correctional Function
Criminal law
Criminal Procedure
Juvenile Delinquency and Justice
Social Research and Statistics


University Of Maryland University College

University of Maryland University College (UMUC) offers an online Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice program.
The curriculum reviews the nature of crime, as well as the personnel, institutions, and processes which prevent and respond to crime. The program covers theory and practice of the criminal justice system, as well as crime, criminal behavior, courts, law enforcement, security, corrections, and investigation.  The degree includes 120 credits.

The online Criminal Justice Bachelor degree also reviews subjects such as:

 Security Management
Correctional Administration
Ethical Behavior in Criminal Justice
Crime Scene Investigation
Criminal Investigation
Drugs and Crime


Walden University

Walden University offers an online Bachelor in Criminal Justice degree program, which provides students with the knowledge and skills required for careers in law enforcement, corrections, the justice system, social services, and homeland security.
The program combines theory on the nature, extent, and causes of crime with study of national and international criminal justice practices.

Online students can select from concentrations such as:

Crime and Criminals
Computer Information Systems and Security
Homeland Security
Criminal Justice Management and Administration
Human Services for Criminal Justice


Herzing University

Herzing University offers a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree program, which provides students with a solid academic foundation in law enforcement, criminology, corrections, and the criminal justice system. The program also includes the techniques and skills used in these disciplines.
The online Bachelor degree in Criminal Justice reviews the American Criminal Justice System, the interactions among its parts, and the impact of each part on public safety. Students need a minimum of 125 semester credit hours to graduate.

The online Bachelor of Criminal Justice program includes courses such as:

Criminal Law
Introduction to Criminal Justice
Introduction to Law and Judicial Practices
Introduction to Criminology
Evidence Forensics
Juvenile Justice
Criminal Investigation
Criminalistics

Herzing University was ranked #39 in the category of Top Online Bachelor’s Programs: Student Engagement and Assessment by U.S. News & World Report.


Post University Online

Post University Online offers an online Bachelor in Criminal Justice degree program, which includes courses such as Criminal Procedure, Forensic Science, Criminal law, and Ethics and Discretion in Criminal Justice.
The faculty members teaching the courses have extensive experience.
Students are prepared for criminal justice careers in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors in law enforcement, public and private investigation, and security management.