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
