Essay Example about Criminal Justice Jobs

Having an interest and degree in Criminal Justice allows an individual to be able to have access to a multitude of jobs within the field. Although these job opportunities differ given that there are many sub-categories and specializations that an individual may want to go in, many share an overarching theme and other similarities. More specifically, positions in corrections, policing, juvenile justice, and private security, numerous similarities despite being different departments within the Criminal Justice Field. The parallels found within these job positions revolve around the salary, essential functions, requirements, and benefits. Regardless of these positions forming part of distinct sectors, you can cross-examine and find common elements within them. 

The job positions from corrections, policing, juvenile justice, and private security all seemed to provide a relatively adequate and comfortable salary to be able to live in California, without necessarily living paycheck to paycheck. The annual salary for a correctional officer position in Santa Ana is $70,164.00 - $85,284.00, similar to a juvenile correctional officer position in Contra Costa County is $52,932.12 - $64,339.32 annually. With the juvenile correctional officer position, although it does seem as less than the correctional officer position, many opportunities for promotions are listed but, even without wanting to be promoted, the annual salary would be enough to comfortably live. Regarding policing and private security, there was a rate of earning $39.77 - $49.99 at an hourly rate, where the workday lasted 10 hours, where approximately $400 - 500 were made per day, similar to the $480 – $540 daily rate in private security. These job positions in the criminal justice field ensure a good salary, as it is well above the minimum wage rate at $14 per hour, lessening economic concerns and worry of living day by day. 

There are various similarities between the essential functions of these job positions where they all seem to heavily revolve around being able to ensure the safety and security of the place they are employed in or with. A correctional officer is called to be able to ensure the safety of the staff and inmates under the correctional facility by direct supervision, paralleling the situation with a juvenile correctional officer where they are expected to supervise and direct the daily activities of the detained youth. Alongside having immensely similar main missions, all of these jobs expect their employees to be physically fit to be able to physically restrain when necessary to be able to protect as seen with private securities and correctional officers. Along with having to physically restrain to meet their employer’s standards, employees must be able to properly complete reports and similar paperwork. With positions such as a juvenile correctional officer they are expected to be able to complete investigation reports similar to a general correctional officer position where they even have to complete citations, and in the case of police officers where they need to be able to develop preliminary investigation reports. All of these essential functions found in all of these potentials revolve around being able to supervise and ensure the safety of those they are employed in or with. 

These four job positions in Criminal Justice had similar requirements where they were required to have an education, have physical capabilities, have a driver’s license, pass a background check, and have basic computer and communication skills. All of these positions call at the very minimum a G.E.D., such as with correctional officers, private securities, and police officers. Being able to pass physical tests are requirements for these tests all to ensure that the employees are able to employ safe and effective physical restraint tactics to be able to protect themselves, ranging from passing a physical agility exam as a police officer to being able to lift a 165-pound life-like dummy as a correctional officer. Having a valid driver’s license is an additional requirement in all of these positions as they are required to be able to operate vehicles and be able to drive to pick up, drop off, and around. Being able to pass background checks is required to be able to obtain these positions where having felonies could mean an automatic disqualification. Similarly, these jobs demand their employees to have basic computer knowledge and communication skills to be able to properly log and fill out reports, along with being able to communicate effectively with their employers, coworkers, and the general public to be able to fulfill their essential functions. 

Benefits

The common benefits these criminal justice jobs offer range from health care plans, paid leaves, and life insurance. A correctional officer, police officer, private security driver, and juvenile correctional officer are all provided with medical, vision, and life insurance with retirement plans. And in the case of correctional officers and police officers, they are provided with sick leaves and paid vacations that are set accordingly to their years of employment. The benefits that are offered with these job positions are the basic necessities a person desires and does not always receive with their job. Despite these positions forming part of distinct sectors of criminal justice, there are commonalities found within the salary, essential functions, requirements, and benefits.