A Hard Road Home
For reformed lawbreakers, basic life skills like getting a job, a place, and a car can be difficult. Thankfully, parole officers, probation officers, and other corrections specialists are there to show the way, and to keep their charges in line. If you want the satisfaction of reforming lawbreakers, consider a career in corrections.

A Growing Vocation
Increased use of probation and parole has led to a greater demand for correctional specialists. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the correctional field is expected to grow by as much as 17% between now and 2014. If you want to fill one of the many positions expected to become available, you can impress prospective employers with a college degree.

Education
While you don't need a degree to enter the field, an education can provide you with the training you'll need to navigate the modern criminal justice system. Degrees in criminal justice are available at the associate, bachelor, and master's degree levels. Course content ranges from training in basic issues like law enforcement, courts, corrections, and security. Other courses provide training in issues like prison overcrowding, inmate rights, and juvenile corrections. Most criminal justice degree programs also include general liberal arts courses.

With a degree in criminal justice under your belt, you'll be ready to enter the field of corrections at the county, state, or federal level. While pay is generally low for parole and corrections officers, the top 10% made upwards of $67,000 in 2004, while the middle 50% pulled in between $32,000 and $52,000. All pay aside, though, you'll have the satisfaction of making a difference every day. So get started, pursue a degree in criminal justice today.

Source
"Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists," U.S. Bureau of Labor Statisticsv

Online Degrees in Correctional Training

Kaplan University

There are countless specialties of study available at Kaplan University. The major departments include: more

Correctional Training Degrees Offered:

A.A.S. in Criminal Justice/Corrections
This program focuses on the corrections aspect of the field of criminal justice. Students looking to complete a two-year degree as a base for a bachelor’s degree as well as people seeking entry-level employment in the criminal justice field should consider this program. It provides a solid foundation in the areas of law enforcement, courts, corrections, and security. It also provides a liberal arts knowledge base and the technical skills required in specialized employment areas.
B.S. in Criminal Justice/Corrections
Learn the administrative and operational aspects of the U.S. correctional system, both institutional and community based. Confront issues such as overcrowding, inmate rights, and juvenile justice. As a graduate you may qualify to pursue opportunities at local, state, and federal jail facilities and juvenile detention centers in administrative, tactical, and managerial roles.
MSCJ/Corrections
Learn the administrative and operational aspects of the U.S. correctional system, both institutional and community based. Confront issues such as overcrowding, inmate rights, and juvenile justice. As a graduate you may qualify to pursue opportunities at local, state, and federal jail facilities and juvenile detention centers in administrative, tactical, and managerial roles.

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FMU Online

The focus of Florida Metropolitan University's online program is to provide students with the opportunity to earn a degree from an accredited university while still meeting the demands of their everyday lives. Part of Corinthian Colleges, Inc., one of the biggest post-secondary education providing corporations in North America, FMU offers a quality education that emphasizes practical skills. more

Correctional Training Degrees Offered:

Criminal Justice (Associate)
An Associate's degree in Criminal Justice focuses on crime, law enforcement, corrections, and the criminal justice system. Applying an interdisciplinary approach, the program helps students understand the mechanisms of social control and the resolution of criminal justice problems, including currently accepted procedures, which are updated on a continuing basis. Graduates take on positions including counselor, juvenile parole or correctional officer, private investigator, social worker, or caseworker.

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Most Requested Programs for Legal

Salary earnings of legal professions depend on education, training, experience, the type and size of employer, and the geographic location of the job. For more information on online legal degrees, review our program listing and decide which path is right for you.

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