Careers in Criminal Justice That Aren’t Law Enforcement

When you think of criminal justice as a field, what’s the first job that comes to mind? More than likely, you associate criminal justice with a career in law enforcement or policing. And while it’s true that law enforcement is a common path for those who study criminal justice, it’s far from the only option.

With a better idea of the many career paths available to criminal justice graduates beyond law enforcement, you may be in a better position to decide whether this industry could be right for you. If you know criminal justice is a great fit, in law enforcement or otherwise, jump straight to some of the great programs from Bryant & Stratton College, such as our associate degree in criminal justice online or on-campus.

Exploring Criminal Justice Beyond the Badge

While many people associate criminal justice with law enforcement, the two are far from synonymous, and the career opportunities for somebody who has studied the broad field of criminal justice are more diverse than you might expect.

Why Many People Think Criminal Justice Equals Policing

The strong association between criminal justice and law enforcement exists for good reason. For much of the public, police officers are the front-line entry point of the criminal justice system. They’re often the most visible and accessible connection between the public and the criminal justice system as a whole.

Opportunities Are Broader Than You Might Expect

In reality, of course, the system is a lot more complex, with many moving parts that aren’t always as visible to the public. Beyond policing, for example, the justice system consists of the courts and corrections as well, opening opportunities for roles in legal support, social services, research, policy, and beyond.

Explore some careers in criminal justice beyond policing below, then consider whether any of these criminal justice degree opportunities could be right for you.

1. Paralegal or Legal Assistant

Paralegals and legal assistants play a hands-on role in the justice system by supporting attorneys with case research, document preparation, and client communication.

Role Overview

Paralegals or legal assistants provide valuable support to lawyers and attorneys, keeping legal offices running smoothly by maintaining files and drafting important legal documents. Legal assistants may also be responsible for performing research related to a case, filing legal documents with the court, and interacting with clients one-on-one.

How a Criminal Justice Background Helps

Despite being one of many non-law enforcement criminal justice jobs, paralegals can benefit greatly from having a criminal justice background. Specifically, this type of background may provide paralegals with a better knowledge of how the justice system works, as well as commonly used terminology within the court system.

Potential Work Environments

Most paralegals or legal assistants will work directly for private law firms. However, it is also possible for paralegals to be hired by larger corporations, nonprofits, and government agencies.

2. Victim Advocate or Social Services Specialist

For those drawn to criminal justice out of a desire to help others, victim advocacy offers a way to guide individuals through one of the most difficult experiences of their lives.

Role Overview

Victim advocates, sometimes referred to as social services specialists, provide support to those who have been affected by crime or other trauma. Often, they serve not just as a source of emotional support but assist in navigating the complex legal system while providing valuable resources and advocacy services as needed.

How a Criminal Justice Background Helps

As with a number of criminal justice jobs for civilians, working as a victim advocate requires a strong understanding of the legal procedures victims and their family members may be up against. This, in turn, may help them better represent and advocate for their clients while ensuring their rights are protected throughout the process.

Potential Work Environments

Victim advocates or social services specialists can work in a diverse range of settings, including nonprofits and government agencies. In some cases, hospitals or other medical facilities may even hire victim advocates to work with patients who have experienced trauma or been affected by crime.

3. Probation or Parole Case Manager (Non-Sworn)

Not all probation and parole work requires a badge. Case managers help individuals transition back into their communities by connecting them with resources and monitoring their progress.

Role Overview

Another option to be aware of when it comes to alternative criminal justice careers is that of probation or parole case manager. These professionals are responsible for supervising offenders to ensure they comply with their court-ordered provisions, maintaining detailed records of their behavior and meeting with them regularly to review their progress.

How a Criminal Justice Background Helps

A background in criminal justice can be beneficial to probation and parole case managers because it helps them not only navigate the complex court/legal system but better understand the support offenders need to successfully reenter society after being convicted of a crime.

Potential Work Environments

Probation and parole case managers most often work for government agencies at the local, state, or federal level. They may also be found in correctional facilities directly.

4. Crime Analyst or Intelligence Analyst

Crime analysts turn raw data into actionable insights, helping agencies identify patterns, allocate resources, and prevent future criminal activity.

Role Overview

Interested in criminal justice job options that allow you to support the critical work of law enforcement? If so, then a career as a crime analyst or intelligence analyst could be right for you. Professionals in these roles are responsible for reviewing crime data and pinpointing trends/patterns that help law enforcement make predictions and even prevent future crime.

How a Criminal Justice Background Helps

A criminal justice background is especially useful to a crime or intelligence analyst because this type of work requires an extensive understanding of criminal behavior, the legal system, and the justice system. This is especially evident when it comes to developing crime reduction strategies.

Potential Work Environments

These professionals are most often employed by agencies at the local, state, and federal levels (including the Department of Homeland Security). However, some private sector employers may also hire crime and intelligence analysts, including banks and insurance companies.

5. Compliance or Regulatory Specialist

Compliance specialists work behind the scenes to ensure organizations follow the laws and regulations that keep industries accountable and communities safe.

Role Overview

Across a wide range of industries, compliance and regulatory specialists work to ensure that organizations meet critical regulatory and legal requirements at all times. This may include creating compliance policies and procedures, conducting compliance audits, and investigating potential violations.

How a Criminal Justice Background Helps

Knowledge of the criminal justice system can be especially applicable to a career in compliance and regulatory affairs. This type of background may provide professionals with the knowledge/experience they need in risk assessment, investigation, ethical decision-making, and critical thinking needed in many regulatory/compliance roles.

Potential Work Environments

Compliance and regulatory specialists can work for any organization or business that is required to follow strict compliance laws. Some of the industries that most commonly hire these professionals include finance/insurance, healthcare, and corporate settings.

6. Forensic Science or Crime Lab Technician

Forensic professionals bring science into the courtroom, analyzing physical evidence that can make or break a criminal case.

Role Overview

If you’re interested in a role that allows you to work alongside police and detectives without necessarily becoming a sworn officer, then a career as a forensic science or crime lab technician may be right for you. These professionals are responsible for collecting and analyzing evidence that helps investigators solve crimes and bring criminals to justice, which may include documenting crime scenes and conducting laboratory tests.

How a Criminal Justice Background Helps

Forensic science and crime lab technicians need a solid understanding of how the criminal justice system works. This type of background provides essential knowledge in how legal procedures are carried out, how to conduct a thorough investigation, and what is/isn’t admissible in court. Likewise, a background in criminal justice may allow for better collaboration with law enforcement and other interdisciplinary professionals.

Potential Work Environments

Most crime lab and forensic science technicians work for government agencies. However, some may also be employed by universities/research labs or for private forensics testing labs.

7. Legal Investigator

Legal investigators dig into the details that attorneys need to build strong cases, from interviewing witnesses to uncovering key pieces of evidence.

Role Overview

As part of the criminal justice system, legal investigators play a critical role in the legal process by collecting, analyzing, and preparing the evidence needed to support lawyers in specific cases. From conducting in-depth research into those involved in a case to preparing important legal documents and interviewing witnesses, legal investigators are very involved in both criminal and civil cases.

How a Criminal Justice Background Helps

A criminal justice background can be especially applicable to a career as a legal investigator, especially when it comes to building the legal/procedural knowledge and investigative skills needed to build strong cases and influence outcomes.

Potential Work Environments

Legal investigators mostly work for private law firms, although they may sometimes be hired directly by government agencies. Some insurance companies may also hire legal investigators to look into potential cases of fraud. 

8. Policy Analyst or Researcher

Policy analysts shape the future of criminal justice by studying current systems, evaluating programs, and recommending reforms grounded in data and research.

Role Overview

Policy analysts and researchers are responsible for evaluating, developing, and making recommendations regarding policies that may affect the public. Their work often involves conducting thorough research, analyzing data, drafting reports and recommendations, and advocating for policies related to such critical issues as healthcare and crime prevention.

How a Criminal Justice Background Helps

Having a criminal justice background can be useful as a policy analyst because it may help you gain better insight into the processes by which policies are drafted and implemented. A criminal justice program may also prepare policy analysts for the rigorous research, analysis, and critical thinking that goes into this type of work.

Potential Work Environments

Policy analysts and researchers work in a wide range of settings, including government agencies, non-profits, and even lobbying groups.

9. Security Manager or Corporate Security Specialist

Security managers apply criminal justice knowledge in the private sector, developing strategies to protect organizations from threats ranging from theft to cyberattacks.

Role Overview

Interested in protecting and serving others without necessarily becoming a sworn police officer? Consider a career as a security manager or corporate security specialist, where you can provide physical protection to an organization’s employees while keeping spaces secure.

How a Criminal Justice Background Helps

Working as a security manager or corporate security specialist often requires a background in criminal justice because this line of work involves such related responsibilities as risk assessment, risk management, incident response, and investigations.

Potential Work Environments

Security specialists often work for larger corporations, especially in corporate offices and headquarters. However, they may also be employed to oversee banks, tech/data centers, and accounting firms.

10. Cybercrime or Digital Forensics Specialist

As crime increasingly moves online, digital forensics specialists are in high demand to investigate cyberattacks, recover electronic evidence, and help bring cybercriminals to justice.

Role Overview

If you’re interested in the digital side of crime, then a career as a cybercrime or digital forensics specialist could be up your alley. These professionals play an important role in protecting organizations from cybercrime, as well as reacting to and investigating incidents of cybercrime when they occur.

How a Criminal Justice Background Helps

In addition to needing a strong knowledge of investigation procedures covered in a criminal justice program, cybercrime specialists can also benefit from an understanding of the criminal justice system. This includes chain of custody for digital evidence and criminal law.

Potential Work Environments

Many cybercrime and digital forensics specialists work for IT companies, although some may be hired on directly by government agencies or consulting companies.

Explore Criminal Justice Programs at Bryant & Stratton College

As you can see, there’s a lot more to a degree in criminal justice than a career in law enforcement. Interested in learning more? Explore Bryant & Stratton College’s diverse degree and diploma options in criminal justice, including:

• Criminal Justice and Security Services Diploma
• Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Criminal Justice Studies
• AAS in Paralegal Studies
• Bachelor of Science in Human and Social Services
• and more!

Eager to take the next step? Request information today or complete an online application for free!