Criminal Justice Schools in Vermont | VT

Vermont State Criminal Justice Degrees

Although Vermont’s crime rate is 25% lower compared to the rest of the country (according to the National Institute of Corrections), it is still a state that takes criminal justice seriously. Its Department of Public Safety administers several vital divisions including the State Police, Emergency Management and the Vermont Forensic Lab. Criminal justice schools in Vermont offer educational programs to help work for these state agencies or other related employers. Check out the list of online and campus institutions for information on a plethora of programs, such as law enforcement, corrections, information security, forensic science, law or paralegal degrees.

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For example, if you would like to become a police or sheriff’s patrol officer, complete a criminal justice degree in Vermont with a specialization in law enforcement. To work as a corrections officer or jailer, it is a good idea to complete a corrections, criminal justice or law enforcement degree first.

Choose between online or campus programs to select an educational path that fits your daily routine, but more importantly your passions and goals.

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Vermont Criminal Justice Career Outlook

Paralegals and Legal Secretaries show a particularly positive career outlook, at 25% and 19% growth from now until 2018, according to Projections Central. If you are fascinated by the legal justice system and would like to assist an attorney either with research, court preparation or key administrative skills, these professions are ideal choices. Criminal justice schools in Vermont offer programs to help prepare you for these careers, including paralegal, legal studies and administration degrees. After working as a paralegal or legal secretary, you may wish to upgrade your education to complete a law degree and become an attorney. According to Projections Central, Vermont has 60 new openings per year for lawyers.

Other criminal justice careers in Vermont that show a positive outlook are police officers and sheriff’s patrol officers or deputies. Approximately 40 new positions for these occupations open up each year in the state. Complete a criminal justice degree in Vermont specializing in law enforcement or a similar discipline as most departments prefer officers to have a minimum of an Associate’s degree.

Top Criminal Justice Employers & Agencies

According to Career One Stop, one of Vermont’s top employers is the Air National Guard in South Burlington, with approximately 980 personnel. The Air Guard provides basic and technical training which can count as credits towards a college program you may be pursuing off campus. The National Guard also offers educational benefits to help pay for tuition at an institution of higher education, such as one of the criminal justice schools in Vermont.

Additionally, Vermont has a U.S. Coast Guard unit – Station Burlington. Becoming a member and training with the Coast Guard is an ideal stepping stone if you wish to pursue a career with the Department of Homeland Security. As you serve with the Coast Guard, you can complete a criminal justice degree in Vermont specializing in homeland security, counterterrorism, intelligence or cyber security, to move up within this federal department.

Vermont Criminal Justice & Legal Job Outlook & Vermont Criminal Justice Salary

CareerEmployment Growth through 2018Current Average Salary
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers5%$40,000 – 46,000
Correctional Officers and Jailerswill remain roughly the same 
Detectives and Criminal Investigators7%$70,000 – 76,000
Paralegals and Legal Assistants25%$40,000 – 45,000
Legal Secretaries19%$35,000 – 39,000
Lawyers9%$90,000 – 96,000
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists12% 
Security Guards14%$25,000 – 30,000

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

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Vermont Crime Rate

Vermont’s violent crime rate is 64% lower and its property crime rate is 20% lower than the national average. (Violent crime includes things like non-negligent manslaughter and murder, rape, aggravated assault and armed robbery; property crime includes larceny, burglary and motor vehicle theft.

According to the FBI, in 2010 Vermont had approximately 130 violent crimes and 2,282 property crimes committed per 100,000 people.

Vermont’s Correctional System Stats

FacilityNumber of Facilities & OfficesNumber of Inmates
Combined Jail-Prison System82,201
Probation & Parole17 field offices7,920

Source: www.nicic.gov

Degrees by State