3 Ways to Develop the Essential Skills for a Criminal Justice Career

When it comes to the world of criminal justice, there are several different career options available to you. You might decide to work in law enforcement, either as a local cop or a federal agent, or you might want to focus on the legal side of things and work as a lawyer or public defender. Many criminal justice graduates also go on to work within the prison system, either as a guard or a probation officer, helping convicted felons and criminals rehabilitate themselves and become upstanding members of the community after their release. 

But one thing's for sure; whatever career pathway you choose in the criminal justice system, you're going to need a lot of skills to be good at what you do. Every day you're going to be working with people from different walks of life, many of whom may be vulnerable, so you're going to need patience and empathy, great communication skills, and a dedication to your work at the very least. If you've decided that a career in criminal justice is an ideal fit for you, here are some of the ways you can build on the skills you need for the job. 

Learn About Criminal Justice

The degree program that you choose to study at college will vary depending on the type of career that you've chosen. If you want to go into the legal field and spend your career as a prosecutor, defense lawyer, or judge, it makes sense that you major in law and eventually pass the bar. On the other hand, if you prefer the idea of a career at the front line of law enforcement or working closely with ex-offenders in the probation system, this online associate degree in criminal justice will be an ideal fit for you. There are several options to consider, which include:

• Studying at a traditional campus-based college for a degree in law, criminal justice, public safety, or similar. 

• Enrolling on an online degree program, which can be ideal if you are already working in the criminal justice system and want to improve your knowledge, skills, and qualifications in order to be eligible for a promotion or change careers within the field. 

• Learning more about criminal justice by getting an entry-level job that allows you to work within or closely with the field. 

Shadowing Professionals

Working in the criminal justice system is no easy feat for most, and for many career paths, no two days are the same for the professionals that work in them. It's a fast-paced, ever-changing environment and in order to thrive, you need to be ready for the unexpected and able to think quickly on your feet in order to make the right decisions, sometimes in a split second.

One of the best ways to both get a feel for the industry itself and figure out which part of the criminal justice system you would like to be a part of, is to shadow the professionals who are already working within it. Ask around in your local area if you can shadow professionals such as:

• Probation officers

• Police officers

• Security officers

• Court officials

• Lawyers

• Public defenders

Shadowing means that you spend some time observing them as they do their job, and many professionals will be happy to have a chat with you and answer your questions at the end of the day. While you won't be able to get involved, it's a great way to learn about the skills you'll need and how these professionals use and display these skills in action. 

Volunteer Work

Volunteer work is perhaps one of the best things to do if you want to develop the skills you need for a successful career in criminal justice. And, there are many different ways in which you can volunteer your time and energy to help vulnerable people. For example, you may want to consider volunteering to work with victims of crime to offer them support and help when needed. This will certainly help you get a well-rounded view of the industry by observing the effects of criminal activity first-hand and will help you develop crucial skills like empathy, communication, and listening skills. Some other ideal volunteer posts for those looking to work in criminal justice include:

• Visiting inmates who do not get visits from family or friends regularly. 

• Mentoring young offenders. 

• Working with witness protection to help provide safe places for witnesses. 

Note that in order to successfully land a volunteer role within the criminal justice system, you will usually need to pass a background check. 

Working within the criminal justice system requires a broad range of skills from thinking on your feet to listening with empathy. Learn from others, seek out learning opportunities, and get hands-on experience to improve these skills and boost your career.