Criminal Justice and Legal Services Pathway
Why Choose A Career in Criminal Justice and Legal Services?
Think law enforcement, uniformed officers and keeping the peace. Think investigating crimes – everything from armed robberies to murders. Think prosecuting and defending offenders and staffing a prison or correctional facility.
If you walk down the Criminal Justice & Legal Services Pathway you could find yourself patrolling a beat, pulling hairs and fibers from a crime scene to determine DNA or sitting as an impartial judge in a case and handing down a sentence at the end of a trial.
If your favorite show is “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” or any one of its spin offs, then this could be the pathway for you.
Do you like to help other people who are in danger? Can you see yourself in a high energy and at times stressful work environment? Are you a tenacious person who could search endlessly for evidence in a criminal case? Do you enjoy studying law and debating issues with your friends?
Then consider a career as a police officer or detective, forensic science technician or forensic chemist, lawyer or legal assistant or probation officer and correctional officer. Still not sure? Not to worry as there are many more jobs focused on Criminal Justice & Legal Services.
Pathway
For a plan of study that should serve as a general guide throughout your career path, see the Plan of Study.
- High School Expectations
- Find out what you need to be studying now. Information about earning college credit and career related learning experiences.
- Preparing for College
- How prepared are you? Learn about college expectations at PCC and beyond.
Occupations
Click on the occupations below and read the job description. You can also explore resources on the Oregon Labor Market Information System (OLMIS) website. Once at the website, click on the “full report” and view the employment outlook, current job openings, industry licensing information, wage information and skills employers want for specific occupations.
Related Resources
- International Association of Correctional Training Personnel - IACTP is an international professional association of trainers, training administrators, and educators representing all aspects of the field of adult and juvenile justice.
- FBI Training Academy
- Oregon Juvenile Justice Training Academy - The Oregon Juvenile Justice Training Academy (OJJTA), located in Woodburn, was established in 1994. As part of the Oregon Youth Authority's (OYA) Training and Development Unit, the Academy provides a wide range of training and orientation services for state and county juvenile justice system workers.
