Criminal Justice Schools in Oregon | OR

Oregon State Criminal Justice Degrees

In 2010, the number of parolees per capita in Oregon was 181% higher than the national average, according to the National Institute of Corrections. As the state’s Community Corrections division supervises both those on probation and parole, it is no surprise that Oregon is one of five states with the highest concentration of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists (Bureau Labor of Statistics). Projections Central reports an average annual opening of 70 positions in this profession per year. Check out the criminal justice schools in Oregon for information on corrections, law enforcement, psychology, social work, criminology or other related degrees if you would like to become a probation/parole officer or correctional treatment specialist.

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Additionally, Oregon is the state with the fifth highest concentration of forensic science technicians. If you would like to collect and scientifically analyze key evidence as part of criminal investigations, earning between $55,000 – 60,000 a year, consider completing a forensic science degree online or on campus.

In Oregon, a range of careers show positive growth. You could complete a law enforcement, paralegal, law, court reporting or another criminal justice degree in Oregon to start a worthy profession. Check out the list of online and campus institutions (below) to explore your options.

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Oregon Criminal Justice Career Outlook

Several criminal justice careers in Oregon show a positive outlook. Here are some examples with average number of job openings provided by Projections Central:

  • Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers – 200 openings/year
  • Correctional Officers and Jailers – 140 openings/year
  • First-line Supervisors of Police and Detectives – 70 openings/year
  • Lawyers – 160 openings/year
  • Paralegals and Legal Assistants – 50 openings/year
  • Detectives and Criminal Investigators – 20 openings/year

Criminal justice schools in Oregon offer relevant programs to qualify you for these blossoming careers. For example, if you would like to become a police officer or sheriff’s deputy, many agencies prefer candidates to have a minimum of an Associates Degree in Law Enforcement or a similar major. Or complete a criminal justice degree in Oregon, specializing in corrections, to become a jailer or correctional officer.

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The Forensic Services Division of the Oregon State Police analyzes evidence for all of the state’s law enforcement agencies and is nationally accredited. It is extremely competitive to gain employment with one of the division’s forensic laboratories. Most often candidates will only be considered once they’ve completed a relevant degree (i.e. in forensic science or criminalistics) and have related volunteer experience.

One of the FBI’s Regional Computer Forensic Laboratories (RCFL) is located in Oregon (the Northwest RCFL in Portland). It is responsible for analyzing digital evidence and for training law enforcement agencies in the northwest region of the country. Check out the online and campus criminal justice schools in Oregon for computer forensic and information security degrees if you are interested in working for the RCFL.

Finally, several U.S. Coast Guard units are located in Oregon including in Warrenton, Astoria and North Bend. Serving in the Coast Guard is the perfect launch pad for a long term, successful career with the Department of Homeland Security. You have the option of working for the Coast Guard part time so that you can pursue post secondary education online or on campus at the same time as gaining valuable on-the-job training. If you wish to rise up the ranks within the Department of Homeland Security, complete a criminal justice degree in Oregon majoring in counterterrorism, cyber security, information security, intelligence management or homeland security.

Oregon Criminal Justice & Legal Job Outlook & Oregon Criminal Justice Salary

CareerEmployment Growth through 2018Current Average Salary
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers11%$57,000 – 60,000
Correctional Officers and Jailers9%$46,000 – 52,000
Court Reporters10%$80,000 – 84,000
Detectives and Criminal Investigators7%$74,000 – 76,000
Private Detectives and Investigators11%$38,000 – 42,000
Paralegals and Legal Assistants13%$49,000 – 52,000
First-line Supervisors of Police and Detectives11%$80,000 – 83,000
Forensic Science Technicians9%$55,000 – 60,000
Lawyers12%$95,000 – 104,000
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists10%$48,000 – 51,000

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

Oregon Crime Rate

In 2010, Oregon’s crime rate was slightly over the national average by 2%, according to the National Institute of Corrections. More specifically, its property crime rate was 6% higher, whereas its violent crime rate was 31% lower. For that same year, the FBI reported 252 violent crimes and just over 3,000 property crimes per 100,000 people.

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Oregon’s Correctional System Stats

FacilityNumber of Facilities & OfficesNumber of Inmates
Jails366,708
Prisons1414,071
Probation & Parole3663,118

Source: www.nicic.gov

Degrees by State