Kangan Institute Blog

Start Planning Your Career in Criminal Justice

There are a variety of criminal justice careers that students can choose from, your first step is to decide which field you would like to pursue. At Kangan Institute, we have put together a list of some of the popular career outcomes in the criminal justice sector. By examining your interests and skills you can find a position that is going to be a great fit for you and set you up for a great career.

Whether you are a huge CSI fan or generally interested in the world of criminal justice many students are searching for career opportunities available with a criminal justice certification. It is crucial to get all the information you can before making the decision for your education and future career.

Getting Certified

Kangan Institute’s justice courses offer a wide range of career opportunities in the criminal justice system, government, private and legal practice. Whether you choose flexible, part-time, full-time or online studies, you can be confident you are educated from the best in industry experts to help prepare you for a career in criminal justice.

Our Diploma of Justice (22594VIC) will provide students with knowledge of the Australian criminal justice system and the social and legal context in which it operates. These justice courses will equip students with the necessary skills required to work in areas such as the police force, correctional services, as well as the government and non-government organisations.

Career Opportunities

Police Officers

Always highly in demand, police officers are necessarily the most visible members of the criminal justice profession. Police officers issue traffic regulations, investigate minor crimes, traffic incidents and assist members of the public whilst they patrol the local communities. Police officers can also become criminal investigators and detectives and will collect evidence and gather facts of possible crimes. Police officers work in an environment that can be physically demanding and sometimes dangerous.

Prison and Probation Officers

Prison officers are responsible for supervising inmates for dangerous activities, investigating prison cells for illegal goods and weapons or dealing with security issues and maintaining the overall security of the prison. Probation officers work with offenders that have been sentenced but will not go to prison for their crimes. A probation officer is to ensure they are meeting the terms specified in their probation and parole agreements. Responsibilities include administering drug tests, interviewing and reporting on the development of offenders and also assisting them in finding guidance and support for any mental health or substance abuse issues.

Paralegal and Legal Assistants

The job of a paralegal is to work directly alongside attorneys and to help them prepare legal documents and other preparations for upcoming trials. Paralegals provide research assistance, investigate claims and assist lawyers determine how to proceed with legal cases. Paralegals perform the same functions that attorneys serve, except they are prohibited from arguing cases in a courtroom. Like lawyers, paralegals can enter a number of different types of law such as criminal, family, immigration and corporate.

Detective and Criminal Investigators

Detectives and criminal investigators specialise in certain areas such as burglary, crimes against people such as battery, domestic violence, robbery and homicide. Detectives are required to conduct in-depth investigations and interviews. They offer many services that range from protecting people, investigating computer crimes and tracing missing persons.

Required Skills

Studying a career in criminal justice will help develop your understanding of the social and personal aspects of crime and responses to crime, as well as developing specific skills, which include:

Generating and evaluating evidence
Making rational arguments and ethical judgements
Ability to identify and analyse social issues and develop solutions
Critical thinking and report writing
Analysing and interpreting data

Work Experience

Employers highly regard experience and a range of paid and voluntary opportunities are available to students to help start your career in criminal justice. These opportunities include work with offenders, criminal justice agencies, social work and victims of crime. Specific roles could include prison visiting, working as a special constable and involvement in drug rehabilitation schemes or youth hostels for young offenders.

Some certifications available offer a placement year which is significantly helpful to test out certain areas of work and provides a great networking experience for future job prospects. Consider the type of environment you would like to work with and find ways to get involved with local support groups and projects that will allow you to focus on a specific area within criminal justice.

The career outlook for criminal justice students is increasing annually and the available positions in the criminal justice field are unlimited. With the right qualifications and the right amount of dedication, you can expect to enjoy a great deal of success in the criminal justice sector.

Work Experience

If you are considering a career in Justice, then our Diploma of Justice (22594VIC) is the perfect starting point. And the great news is, you may be eligible to study this course with Free TAFE^*.

Want to study Justice at Kangan Institute? You can find out about more about our courses on our website, call us on 138 233, or apply online now.

^* Eligibility Criteria Applies. See kangan.edu.au/free-tafe-for-priority-courses.