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Career Opportunities

Jobs in the field of criminal justice are plentiful, with over 700,000 positions estimated to exist nationally. The State of Washington alone has over 10,000 sworn police positions in local police departments and county sheriff's offices, not including civilian positions in these agencies. The Seattle Police Department, for example, has over 600 non-sworn positions such as records clerk, administrative specialists, and evidence technicians. A sampling of potential criminal justice career opportunities is contained in the following, but by no means exhaustive, list.

 

 

 

LAW ENFORCEMENT

  • State police agencies and highway patrols (49 agencies; none in Hawaii)
  • Local police departments: municipal, township, village police (approximately 16,000 agencies nationally; approximately sworn law enforcement positions in the state of Washington)
    • Police officer
    • Detective
    • K-9 Officer;
    • Motorcycle Officer
    • Mounted Patrol
    • Bicycle Officer
    • Bomb Squad
    • Swat Team
    • Hostage Negotiator

 

 

LAW 

  • Prosecuting attorney*; District attorney*
  • City attorney*; City prosecutor*
  • United States Attorney*
  • Criminal defense attorney*
  • Judge*
  • Paralegal
  • Court reporter
  • Bailiff
  • Court clerk
  • Judicial administrator

* Requires a graduate degree from an accredited School of Law

 

 

CORRECTIONS

  • Uniform jail and prison corrections officers
  • Prison superintendents

 

PRIVATE SECURITY

  • Campus security officer
  • Corporate and industrial security manager
  • Uniform and undercover security officer
  • VIP security (Bodyguard)
  • Private investigator
  • Polygraph specialist

 

OTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE CAREER POSSIBILITIES