Criminal Justice

There are plentiful career opportunities in Criminal Justice: in the court system, police agencies, emergency response systems, prison and parole systems, and federal agencies such as the U.S. Marshals, Department of Homeland Security and the FBI.

Sometimes known as Legal and Protective Services, Criminal Justice programs provide career exposure to the range of agencies that work within the criminal justice system. Students also achieve technical certifications that are relevant to careers in law enforcement, public safety, emergency response, animal welfare, child welfare and the legal system.Topics covered include Community Policing, Crime Scene Investigation, Criminal and Constitutional Law, Environmental Safety, Court Stenography, Emergency Preparedness, Surveillance and Interviewing Techniques, and Cybersecurity, among others.

Some schools offer State-Approved (Chapter-74) programs in Criminal Justice. These programs provide all of the training required to begin entry-level work in the field. Other schools may offer a more condensed version of this training, which has been designed at the local level. This is known as Non-Chapter 74 or "Perkins-Only." Learn more about the difference between State-Approved and Local CTE programs.