Written by Michael Feder
Reviewed by Christina Neider, EdD, Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
This article was updated on April 15, 2024.
Written by Michael Feder
Reviewed by Christina Neider, EdD, Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
When people think about criminal justice, they might think of the monologue at the beginning of a popular TV show or think that it’s just about lawyers or the police. However, there are more careers in the criminal justice system.
Those who want to make a difference and contribute to this vital societal resource have plenty of options — as corrections officers, as social workers, in medical services and more.
Let’s explore common corrections careers at every level of the system.
When we talk about corrections, we usually discuss three main types of facilities: prisons, jails and detention centers. Each serves a specific purpose in the criminal justice system and supports different career paths. And each has its own set of resources available to help promote safety and security among detainees, officers and society at large:
Criminal justice isn’t just about incarceration. It’s about rehabilitation. We spoke with Franzi Walsh, DBA, MPA, associate dean of Criminal Justice, Public Administration, and Security at UOPX, who emphasizes: “It should be remembered that the majority of individuals involved with the criminal justice system are individuals that have made mistakes but are very capable of being rehabilitated and reentering society as productive citizens.”
If helping those in need of rehabilitation interests you, or if you have questions about what to do with a criminal justice degree, the following careers are often a starting point.
Prisons employ people for roles ranging from direct oversight of prisoners to support positions from corrections officers and more. Some of the most common applications for a Bachelor of Science in Correctional Program Support Services or criminal justice degrees include the following roles:
Like social services managers, case managers need a bachelor’s degree. Requirements can vary by jurisdiction, but some treatment specialists can make their way into the field with a Bachelor of Science in Correctional Program Support Services.
Salary ranges are not specific to students or graduates of University of Phoenix. Actual outcomes vary based on multiple factors, including prior work experience, geographic location and other factors specific to the individual. University of Phoenix does not guarantee employment, salary level or career advancement. BLS data is geographically based. Information for a specific state/city can be researched on the BLS website.
The Bachelor of Science in Correctional Program Support Services is an educational degree program that provides a foundation or knowledge in the field of correctional program support services. This program does not prepare students for any type of professional certification or licensure as a correctional officer, social worker or counselor.
As well as correction officers, county and city jails might also be staffed by corrections specialists, jail officers, deputy jailers and more. To prepare for these roles, individuals can learn relevant skills through an Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice program.
Detention centers serve a specialized mission pertaining to the rehabilitation of juveniles or maintenance of individuals being detained pending immigration hearings and potential deportation. For example, detention centers can refer to facilities that hold immigrants while their legal status is determined.
Walsh shares: “Detention facilities are twofold: Juvenile corrections — the mission is rehabilitation of the youth. Detention facilities maintain individuals pending immigration status hearings and potential deportation. They are two separate classifications of detention facilities.”
Detention facilities hire many of the same professionals that jails and prisons do, although their individual job duties can differ. For example, juvenile corrections versus adult corrections differs in training based on the forms of management and rehabilitation. Social workers and caseworkers are common careers in juvenile detention centers too.
Now that you have an understanding of the types of correctional facilities and the opportunities available within them, learn more about whether a career in criminal justice is right for you. If you’re interested in learning more about criminal justice degree programs at University of Phoenix, here are a few options to explore:
Criminal justice is a rewarding career that helps keep communities safe and, in many cases, can improve lives and help rehabilitate individuals. To learn more about criminal justice degree programs (among other flexible online educational opportunities), request information today.
The University’s Criminal Justice programs are educational degree programs. These programs do not prepare students to become certified peace officers. For those interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement, in corrections or as a peace officer with any particular local, state, federal, tribal or international agency, there are numerous additional qualifications (and often disqualifications), depending on the position. Before enrolling in a criminal justice program, potential students are highly encouraged to check with the relevant agency for a complete list of position requirements and disqualifications.
A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and its Writing Seminars program and winner of the Stephen A. Dixon Literary Prize, Michael Feder brings an eye for detail and a passion for research to every article he writes. His academic and professional background includes experience in marketing, content development, script writing and SEO. Today, he works as a multimedia specialist at University of Phoenix where he covers a variety of topics ranging from healthcare to IT.
Christina Neider is the dean of the University of Phoenix College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Neider’s career spans more than 30 years in academia, healthcare and the U.S. Air Force. She has held several academic leadership roles at University of Phoenix, and she is the Vice President of membership for the Arizona Chapter of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society.
This article has been vetted by University of Phoenix's editorial advisory committee.
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