Criminal Justice Schools in Maine | ME

Maine State Criminal Justice Degrees

Maine concentrates its conservation efforts to protect more than 1.5 million acres of land under the Maine Natural Areas Program. With wondrous wilderness areas, like Baxter State Park and the White Mountains National Forest, it’s no surprise that Maine is one of five states with the highest concentration of fish and game wardens. Some of the criminal justice schools in Maine offer law enforcement, wildlife & forestry, environmental science or conservation degrees to prepare you to become a successful fish and game warden and make between $40,000 and $46,000 a year. You will notice in the list of colleges and universities that some offer the choice between online or on campus routes of study.

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Maine is also one of the top five states for its concentration of arbitrators, mediators and conciliators, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. More clients are looking to settle or reach peaceful resolution before filing a lawsuit or going to court. If you are interested in playing the role of a neutral negotiator (and getting paid between $50,000 and $60,000 a year), consider taking a criminal justice degree in Maine that focuses on alternative dispute resolution (ADR).

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Maine Criminal Justice Career Outlook

Although the criminal justice career outlook for Maine may not be as abundant as Texas, California or Florida, there are still opportunities to enter the legal and justice industry. Completing a criminal justice degree in Maine will increase the chances of securing a relevant position upon graduation, especially if you take advantage of potential co-op or internship opportunities.

Some criminal justice careers in Maine that show a positive employment outlook include Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers (60 new job openings per year), Lawyers (50 openings/year), Paralegals (30 openings/year) and Correctional Officers (30 openings/year), according to Projections Central. Probation Officers and Emergency Management Specialists show a career outlook of 12% and 11% growth respectively.

Look for information on online or campus programs in law enforcement, paralegal studies, corrections, emergency management, human services and probations among the lists of criminal justice schools in Maine. Receiving relevant education in a particular field will help you stand out from the rest of the crowd, not to mention in many cases it is now required.

Top Criminal Justice Employers & Agencies

Some of Maine’s top employers are its Army National Guard in Houlton and Air National Guard in Bangor with at least 8,000 personnel, according to Career One Stop. When you become a member of the National Guard, once your basic and advanced training are completed, you usually become a part time reservist. This allows you time to pursue post secondary education and depending on the field you select, some of your tuition may be covered by the National Guard. (Guard representatives analyze this on a case by case basis). You can also receive training from the National Guard for professions such as military police and intelligence.

The Office of the Maine Attorney General also offers valuable employment opportunities for research assistants, detectives, legal secretaries and lawyers. Some of the criminal justice schools in Maine offer either online or campus legal studies, paralegal and other related degree programs that could help get your foot in the door and also lay the foundation for a degree in law.

Maine Criminal Justice & Legal Job Outlook & Maine Criminal Justice Salary

CareerEmployment Growth through 2018Current Average Salary
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers2%$38,000-43,000
Detectives and Criminal Investigators8%$60,000-64,000
Paralegals and Legal Assistants10%$42,000-44,000
Correctional Officers and Jailers2%$32,000-36,000
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists12%$38,000-42,000
Emergency Management Specialists11%$43,000-50,000

Sources: Growth Projections projectionscentral.com ~ Salary Range bls.gov

Maine Crime Rate

Maine’s crime rate is approximately 19% lower than the country’s average. More specifically its property crime rate is 13% lower and its violent crime rate is 67% lower than the national average, according to the National Institute of Corrections.

In 2010, the FBI reported approximately 2,479 cases of property crime per 100,000 people and 122 cases of violent crime per 100,000 people. (Property crime includes burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft; violent crime includes murder, rape, aggravated assault and robbery).

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Maine’s Correctional System Stats

FacilityNumber of Facilities & OfficesNumber of Inmates
Jails151,642
Prisons62,081
Probation & Parole157,347

Source: www.nicic.gov

Degrees by State