As a graduate student in criminal justice, you can learn to decipher patterns of crime and create solutions for safer communities. Whether it’s fighting corruption or rehabilitating criminal offenders, your efforts will make a positive impact on society. You may not save a life every day, but you will help prevent crime and other forms of wrongdoing from hurting people you’ll never meet.
Criminal justice is a multi-faceted field that involves law enforcement, judicial proceedings and correctional strategies. This career path calls for a wide range of skills, from psychology and communication to research and data analysis. It’s a challenging field, but it’s one that provides professionals with a sense of purpose and meaning in their work.
The criminal justice process begins with law enforcement agencies detecting and investigating criminal activity. During this stage, officers collect evidence and interview witnesses in an effort to identify and apprehend suspects. They also determine whether a suspect has committed a crime and decide to file charges against them. Defendants are afforded certain rights during this phase, including the right to a fair trial and the right to an attorney.
After a guilty verdict is delivered by the judge or jury, the accused will be sent to a corrections facility. Depending on the severity of the offense, a judge or a jury will assign a penalty for the crime. This punishment could include incarceration, fines or rehabilitation and reintegration options.