Criminal Justice Schools in New Jersey | NJ

New Jersey State Criminal Justice Degrees

New Jersey is one of five states with the highest level of employment for fire inspectors and investigators. These professionals perform inspections to make sure buildings abide by state fire codes, but they also may be called in to investigate a cause of a fire or determine whether it was arson or an accident. If this career path interests you, check out the list of criminal justice schools in New Jersey for information on fire science degree and certificate programs. Some schools offer online courses while others offer campus programs. In New Jersey, fire inspectors and investigators earn an average salary between $58,000 and $62,000 per year.

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Additionally, in 2008 the U.S. Department of Justice determined that New Jersey is one of five states with the highest ratio of law enforcement officers per citizens out of all the country (over 300 sworn personnel per 100,000 people). In that same year, the Department counted 550 local and state law enforcement agencies with over 33,000 full time sworn personnel (including police officers and sheriff’s deputies). If you would like to protect citizens and their property, it is a good idea to take a criminal justice degree in New Jersey with a specialization in law enforcement or a similar discipline. (Most agencies like officers to have a minimum of an Associate’s degree and/or related experience).

New Jersey also has opportunities for other legal and criminal justice careers, from paralegals to emergency management specialists. Check out the criminal justice schools in New Jersey to look at your online and on campus educational options to start your career!

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New Jersey Criminal Justice Career Outlook

Several criminal justice careers in New Jersey show a positive growth outlook. Here are some examples, with their average number of job openings per year provided by Projections Central:

  • Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers – 120 openings/year
  • Detectives and Criminal Investigators – 70 openings/year
  • Lawyers – 540 openings/year
  • Paralegals – 170 openings/year
  • Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists – 90 openings/year
  • Security Guards – 1,030 openings/year
  • Private Detectives – 20 openings/year
  • Emergency Management Specialists – 20 openings/year
  • Correctional Officers and Jailers – 300 openings/year

If any of these career paths peak your passion, check out the lists of criminal justice schools in New Jersey for information on relevant educational programs. For example, to become a paralegal, you can complete a degree or certificate program, often either online or on campus. Examples of other programs are corrections, emergency management, legal studies, law, law enforcement, human services, sociology, criminology, criminal justice and other degrees.

Top Criminal Justice Employers & Agencies

The largest federal prison in the United States is the Fort Dix Federal Correctional Institute in Burlington County, New Jersey. Correctional officers hired by the Federal Bureau of Prisons supervise over 4,300 inmates there. In all of New Jersey, although the demand is not expected to increase, there is still an average of 300 new positions offered for correctional officers each year, according to Projections Central. If this career interests you, complete a criminal justice degree in New Jersey with a specialization in corrections.

Other New Jersey top employers are Gateway Group One (which hires security guards and patrol officers) and the New Jersey State Police. Each employs over 4,000 personnel according to Career One Stop.

It cannot be forgotten that New Jersey also boasts three U.S. Secret Service field offices, one Homeland Security’s Special-Agent-in-Charge field officers and one of the FBI’s Regional Computer Forensics Laboratories. To work for one of these top agencies, you might consider a homeland security, computer forensics, counter terrorism or information security degree. Consult the list of criminal justice schools in New Jersey for information on these types of educational programs.

New Jersey Criminal Justice & Legal Job Outlook & New Jersey Criminal Justice Salary

CareerEmployment Growth through 2018Current Average Salary
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers7%$75,000 – 84,000
Detectives and Criminal Investigatorswill stay roughly the same$90,000 – 94,000
Private Detectives and Investigators8%$56,000 – 66,000
Paralegals and Legal Assistants11%$50,000 – 56,000
Lawyerswill stay roughly the same$123,000 – 128,000+
Emergency Management Specialists9%$55,000 – 63,000
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists9%$62,000 – 70,000
Security Guards4%$27,000 – 31,000

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

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New Jersey Crime Rate

According to the National Institute of Corrections, New Jersey’s crime rate is about 26% lower than the national average. More specifically, its property crime rate (including burglary, motor vehicle theft and larceny) is 27% lower; its violent crime rate (including robbery, murder, rape and assault) is 16% lower.

In 2010, the FBI reported approximately 2,080 cases of property crime and 307 of violent crime per 100,000 people.

New Jersey’s Correctional System Stats

FacilityNumber of Facilities & OfficesNumber of Inmates
Jails2518,380
Prisons1325,017
Probation & Parole 124,176 probationers & 15,356 parolees

Source: www.nicic.gov

Degrees by State