Criminal Justice Schools in Massachusetts | MA

Massachusetts State Criminal Justice Degrees

Charles H. Houston is a revered lawyer who fought for equality for African Americans and other minorities throughout his career. He is credited with inventing civil rights law. Houston was the only Black graduate in Massachusetts’ Amherst University’s Class of 1915 and his legacy and practice live on at the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice at Harvard University.

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Are you inspired by Charles H. Houston and wish to pursue a legal career, fighting for the rights and freedoms of fellow Americans? Check out the list of criminal justice schools in Massachusetts for information on degree or certificate programs in legal studies, law, paralegal and legal administration/clerking specialties. Several of these schools offer on campus and/or online options. The employment level for legal professions is favorable in Massachusetts. For example, each year there is an average number of 110 new job openings for legal secretaries, 180 for paralegals and 430 for lawyers, according to Projections Central. In fact, Massachusetts is one of five states with the highest concentration of lawyers in the country.

Alternatively, you may choose to take a criminal justice degree in Massachusetts with a major in law enforcement. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Boston’s Police Department is among the top 20 largest local law enforcement agencies in the country. According to Projections Central, in all of Massachusetts, there are approximately 460 new openings for police and sheriff’s patrol officers per year. If you wish to serve and protect, look for information on law enforcement degrees among the criminal justice schools in Massachusetts; most police departments require a minimum of an Associate’s (2-year) degree.

Massachusetts Criminal Justice Career Outlook

Massachusetts is one of the five states with the highest level of employment for mediators, conciliators and arbitrators, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These professionals help clients negotiate favorable terms before an issue has to go to trial or results in stressful lawsuits. Several criminal justice schools in Massachusetts offer ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) training. If you are interested in this up-and-coming career, check the list of universities and colleges for either online or campus programs.

The following criminal justice careers in Massachusetts are just some that show a positive employment outlook. (The average number of new job openings per year is provided by Projections Central):

  • Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers – 460 openings/year
  • Security Guards – 610 openings/year
  • Lawyers – 430 openings/year
  • Paralegals and Legal Assistants – 180 openings/year
  • First-line Supervisors of Police and Detectives – 170 openings/year
  • Detectives and Criminal Investigators – 50 openings/year
  • Private Detectives and Investigators – 20 openings/year
  • Legal Secretaries – 110 openings/year

If you are interested in any of these careers, consider taking a criminal justice degree in Massachusetts with a specialization in law enforcement, legal studies, paralegal studies, criminal justice or other relevant disciplines.

Top Criminal Justice Employers & Agencies

Boston’s Police Department is one of Massachusetts’ largest employers with approximately 3,000 personnel, states Career One Stop. In addition to recruiting police officers, the Boston PD also has employees that work in the crime lab, media relations, records and other departments. To become qualified to work for the Boston Police Department, look for information on law enforcement, forensics science, media, administration and other relevant degree programs among the list of criminal justice schools in Massachusetts.

Career One Stop adds that the EMC Corporation is also one of Massachusetts’ largest employers with approximately 5,000 personnel. There are various EMC offices across the state, including Franklin, Milford, Hopkinton, Southboro and Bedford. EMC2 hires IT professionals including those who specialize in information security. If a career within the digital world interests you, consider taking a criminal justice degree in Massachusetts with a specialization in cyber security, computer forensics or information security.

Other important agencies in Massachusetts include the Crime and Justice Institute (CRJ) and one of Homeland Security’s Special-Agent-in-Charge field offices, both located in Boston. The CRJ conducts research and looks for students and professionals with an educational background in public policy, corrections, public administration, criminal justice and other related disciplines. To work for Homeland Security, look at the list of criminal justice schools in Massachusetts for information on degrees in homeland security, counterterrorism, cyber security and others.

Massachusetts Criminal Justice & Legal Job Outlook & Massachusetts Criminal Justice Salary

CareerEmployment Growth through 2018Current Average Salary
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officerswill remain roughly the same$49,000-52,000
Detectives and Criminal Investigators5%$74,000-80,000
Private Detectives and Investigators14%$43,000-49,000
Paralegals and Legal Assistants12%$49,000-52,000
Security Guards6%$27,000-31,000
Lawyers1%$125,000-130,000+

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

Massachusetts Crime Rate

Overall Massachusetts’ crime rate is 12% lower than the country’s average, states the National Institute of Corrections. However, its violent crime rate (which includes murder, rape, assault and robbery) is approximately 28% higher compared to the rest of the nation.

In 2010, the FBI reported over 30,000 cases of violent crime (or 466/100,000 people) in Massachusetts. More specifically, there were approximately 331 cases of assault and 105 robberies per 100,000 people

Massachusetts’s Correctional System Stats

FacilityNumber of Facilities & OfficesNumber of Inmates
Jails2213,214
Prisons1711,388
Probation & Parole21 community corrections offices, 9 parole field offices180,677 probationers 3,365 parolees

Source: www.nicic.gov

Degrees by State