Why is Criminal Justice a Good Major: How Can it Help Me Make a Difference?
Most people who enter in the criminal justice field do so not because they want an exciting life of combating criminal masterminds, but because they want to help people. In our nation these days, the opportunities to do just that in the criminal justice field are abundant.
Job Diversity in Criminal Justice
Most who seek a job in criminal justice have a strong sense of right and wrong. They want to defend members of society against those who may have gained an unfair advantage, seek to hurt others in a violent crime, or take advantage of people by committing embezzlement, fraud, extortion, blackmail, or cybercrime. The desire to help others is the main reason individuals choose to study criminal justice.
Some who enter criminal justice are motivated by a desire to protect resources such as parks and wildlife from the depredations of vandals, poachers, and thieves. Still others feel called to help protect the nation's borders by joining Border Patrol or Immigration and Customs Enforcement, while others may opt to help monitor those on probation or parole.
As our world has gotten more complicated, those who would break laws have become more sophisticated and innovative. To keep up with these new threats, law enforcement departments must be continually adapting, evolving, and expanding, adding personnel with job titles that didn't exist a few years ago. A degree in criminal justice could lead to a future as anything from good ol' fashioned patrol officers to newfangled digital forensics technicians.
Using Your Mind
When we hear the term 'criminal justice' we tend to picture a forceful individual armed to the teeth with weapons and trained in martial arts, seeking out violent and dangerous confrontations. These days, criminal justice personnel are more likely to rely on their mental prowess than dramatic physical strategies. Law enforcement and other criminal justice professionals need mental acuity, critical thinking skills, and the ability to quickly analyze and process information before taking action.
Criminal justice majors are increasingly gravitating towards the forensics field. This intricate aspect of investigative police work can yield a lot of satisfaction for those who love solving problems and puzzles.
Helping People
But let's get back to what may be your main motivation for seeking a career in criminal justice: helping people.
No matter what field you ultimately choose, you should have an opportunity to make the world and your community a better place, be it in apprehending and convicting criminals, investigating white collar crime, patrolling natural resources, or helping to ensure the safety of our borders and citizens by monitoring immigration and customs.
Along with that drive to help others, other qualities could also boost your success. Yes, being physically fit and having courage so you can face confrontation is important, but the best law enforcement personnel also have the qualities of empathy -- that is, putting themselves in the place of others and righting wrongs when they can, as well as integrity, in that they value being honest and on the right side of the law.
Interested in law enforcement? If you want to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice, ECPI University offers this degree program in an accelerated format. For more information, connect with a helpful admissions advisor today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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