Degree Programs for Criminal Justice Jobs in New Hampshire

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) states in its 2012 Uniform Crime Report that New Hampshire has the third lowest rate of violent crime in the nation, at 187.9 per 100,000 residents. New Hampshire had the lowest rate of murder and non-negligent manslaughter in the nation, at 1.1 per 100,000 residents. The state can also boast the third-lowest rate of motor vehicle theft, at 77.5 per 100,000. Many of these low crime rates can be attributed to the dedicated professionals that make up the state’s criminal justice community – from law enforcement officers and crime scene investigators, to paralegals and correctional officers.

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The criminal justice personnel ensure the state’s judicial and correctional systems run effectively. It is an exciting time to consider criminal justice jobs in New Hampshire:

  • Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in May 2013 there were 1250 paralegals and legal assistants employed within New Hampshire. The New Hampshire Employment Security Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau estimates that there will be an increase of 11.1 percent in job opportunities for paralegals statewide by 2022.
  • Jobs for criminal investigators are expected to increase by 6.2 percent between 2012 and 2022, from 372 to 395 statewide, per the NH Employment Security Bureau.
  • A similar increase of 6.7 percent is projected for jobs for police and sheriff’s officers in New Hampshire, which should rise from 2012’s total of 2971 to 2022’s projected total of 3169.
  • Likewise, jobs for correctional officers in New Hampshire are expected to increase from 1084 in 2012 to 1189 in 2022, representing projected growth of 6 percent.

The job market for criminal justice jobs in New Hampshire is expected to remain favorable over the next decade, particularly for those with the right education.

Law Enforcement Jobs in New Hampshire

City police officers, county deputy sheriffs, state troopers and criminal investigators are the protectors of New Hampshire’s criminal justice system, enforcing laws.

How to Become a New Hampshire Police Officer or Sheriff’s Deputy

Police and sheriff’s officers in New Hampshire must meet varying requirements dependent upon jurisdiction, but must always meet the minimum standards expected of the state’s law enforcement officers. These include possessing U.S. citizenship, being at least 18 years old, holding a high school diploma or GED, and having no felonies or misdemeanors on record. Although criminal justice education beyond high school is not mandatory for law enforcement professionals in New Hampshire, it is recommended and may give one candidate an edge over another uneducated candidate.

Police officers and deputy sheriffs are found within city, town and county police and sheriff’s departments, such as:

  • Amherst Police Department–Amherst
  • Durham Police Department– Durham
  • Cheshire County Sheriff’s Office–Keane
  • Strafford County Sheriff’s Office– Dover

How to Become a Detective in New Hampshire

Criminal investigators, otherwise known as detectives, generally rise from the ranks of police and sheriff’s officers in New Hampshire. They must meet the requirements of those jobs before being promoted to detective. At the state level, detectives must often first be state troopers and meet one of the following requirements:

  • High school diploma/GED AND two years of experience as a fill-time certified police officer or two years military service

OR

  • An associate degree or 60 credit hours in criminal justice or a related field, and no experience required

Detectives may work for New Hampshire law enforcement agencies such as:

  • Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Division – Goffstown, Manchester and Nashua
  • Portsmouth Police Department Detective Division – Portsmouth
  • New Hampshire State Police Investigative Services Bureau – statewide
  • New Hampshire Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General Criminal Justice Bureau- Concord

Joining New Hampshire’s State Police

The New Hampshire State Police does not only consist of state troopers, or the Field Operations Bureau. The State Police also houses the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit, K-9 Unit, Crisis Negotiation Unit, Special Enforcement Unit, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit, and many more. Becoming a state trooper in New Hampshire is a challenging yet achievable task for candidates who meet the following requirements:

  • Have a high school diploma or GED and two years of full-time police officer experience or military service

OR

  • Have an associate degree or at least 60 credits in criminal justice or a related discipline

New Hampshire State Police Officers are stationed all across the state, in barracks at:

  • Troop A – Rockingham and Strafford Counties (Epping)
  • Troop B- Hillsborough County (Bedford)
  • Troop C- Cheshire and Sullivan Counties (Keene)
  • Troop D- Merrimack County (Concord- Headquarters)
  • Troop E- Belknap and Carroll Counties (Tamworth)
  • Troop F- Coos and Grafton Counties (Twin Mountain)
  • Troop G-Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (statewide)

Forensic Scientists and Crime Scene Investigation Jobs in New Hampshire

Crime scene investigators, commonly known as CSIs, collect and analyze evidence from New Hampshire’s crime scenes. Forensic scientists make sense of that evidence in a scientific manner.

Examples of job sites for CSIs and forensic scientists in New Hampshire could include:

  • New Hampshire Department of Safety Division of State Police Forensic Laboratory – Concord
  • Nashua Police Department Crime Scene Unit – Nashua
  • Manchester Police Department Criminal Investigation Unit – Manchester

Becoming a New Hampshire Forensic Scientist

Forensic scientists in New Hampshire must have a minimum of a bachelor degree in their scientific specialty area, whether it is digital forensics, toxicology, or forensic science.

There are many options for forensic scientists in New Hampshire to become professionally certified if they desire. The International Association for Identification is a popular certification among New Hampshire’s forensic scientists, as certifications are provided in job-specific areas, such as Latent Print Certification, Forensic Art Certification and Bloodstain Pattern Analyst Certification.

Becoming a New Hampshire CSI

Crime scene investigators in New Hampshire should have some specialized criminal justice or forensic science education, although it might not be mandatory for the job.

Certification is not a requirement for CSIs in New Hampshire, but is available through groups such as the Association of Firearms and Toolmark Examiners. Professional certifications they offer include Firearm Evidence Examination and Identification, Toolmark Evidence Examination and Identification, and Gunshot Residue Evidence Examination and Identification.

Correctional Officer Jobs in New Hampshire

Correctional officers in New Hampshire carry the responsibility of maintaining law and order in the state’s prisons. As of2011, they managed 2644 inmates in three facilities across the state. Additionally, 1185 inmates are managed at the state’s only federal prison facility.

Qualifying to Work for the New Hampshire Department of Corrections

Correctional officers in New Hampshire must possess U.S. citizenship, be at least 20 years old and hold a high school diploma or GED. They will complete 320 hours of training when hired.

Correctional officers working for the New Hampshire Department of Corrections may find work at these facilities:

  • New Hampshire State Prison for Men – Concord
  • New Hampshire State Prison for Women – Goffstown
  • Northern New Hampshire Correctional Facility – Berlin

Qualifying to Work for the Federal Bureau of Prisons in New Hampshire

Conditions – Aspiring federal correctional officers in New Hampshire must be U.S. citizens less than 37 years old and meet education or experience requirements as listed below:

  • Have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree

OR

  • Have three years of full-time general work experience in responding to emergencies, counseling others, supervising others, teaching others, sales or related areas

There is just one federal prison facility in New Hampshire: FCI (Federal Correctional Institution) Berlin.

Paralegals and Legal Support Jobs in New Hampshire

New Hampshire’s paralegals are paid one of the highest annual salaries in the country, averaging $46,330 as of May 2013.
Potential employers of paralegals in New Hampshire include:

  • New Hampshire Justice Department – Concord
  • Liberty Mutual- Dover
  • The Nagler Group – Portsmouth
  • Grove Street Fiduciary, Inc. – Peterborough

Becoming a Paralegal in New Hampshire

Many educational possibilities exist for aspiring paralegals in New Hampshire. Examples of certificates or degrees they typically earn include:

  • Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies
  • Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies
  • Certificate in Paralegal Studies
  • Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies
  • Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies
  • Master of Science in Legal Studies

National certifications signify that a New Hampshire paralegal has the highest ethics and standards of the profession. The New Hampshire Paralegal Association recommends the following certifications for paralegals by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA):

  • PACE (Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam) – – passing the exam earns the RP (Registered Paralegal) credential
  • PCCE (Paralegal Core Competency Exam) — passing the exam earns the CRP (Certified Registered Paralegal) credential

Homeland Security and Emergency Management Jobs in New Hampshire

Another aspect of New Hampshire’s criminal justice system deals with prevention of and response to emergency and security situations. These situations fall under the responsibility of those working in homeland security and emergency management. Jobs within these sectors typically require a minimum of a bachelor degree, in criminal justice or a related field such as emergency management, homeland security, international security or terrorism.

Jobs in homeland security and emergency management are not only found at the state and federal government levels in New Hampshire. Examples of probable employers of these types of professionals within the state include:

  • New Hampshire Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management- Concord
  • Elliot Hospital – Manchester
  • American Red Cross- Concord
  • Center for Life Management – Derry

Degrees by State