Degree Programs for Criminal Justice Jobs in Wisconsin

From national security to everyday law enforcement and corrections, trained emergency management directors, police officers, correctional officers, and paralegals among others professionals, ensure that Wisconsin’s criminal justice system is covered from every angle.

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Although property crimes have been declining over the past decade, the trend in violent crime has trended in the wrong direction, with FBI statistics showing more than 15,500 violent crimes committed in Wisconsin in 2013 alone. The state’s criminal justice professionals are working to reverse this trend by arresting, prosecuting and incarcerating the state’s most dangerous criminals.

A strong criminal justice system is an essential part of Wisconsin’s continued growth and prosperity. Candidates who are interested in working in this field can start by researching the required education, training, and skills needed for criminal justice jobs throughout the state.

Law Enforcement and Criminal Investigation Jobs in Wisconsin

Law enforcement officers and criminal investigators are on the front lines of the criminal justice system. These professionals are often the first people on the scene of a crime, and play a critical role in resolving violent crimes. Recent legislation in Wisconsin has made a college education an essential part of becoming a law enforcement officer statewide.

How to Become a Police Officer or Deputy Sheriff in Wisconsin

According to recently passed legislation, all law enforcement officers in Wisconsin must earn an associate’s degree in any subject or 60 college credits within five years of being hired by a law enforcement agency.

To accommodate this law, many city police departments and county sheriff’s offices have taken the approach of requiring college education as a job requirement for new hires. All law enforcement agencies require applicants to have at least high school education and a clean criminal record.

Wisconsin’s largest law enforcement organizations include the following:

  • Milwaukee Police Department
  • Madison Police Department
  • Green Bay Police Department – new recruits must have at least an associate’s degree or 60 college credits, and a combination of equivalent experience and/or education may be substituted
  • Kenosha Police Department
  • Racine Police Department – new recruits must have at least an associate’s degree or 60 credits of college education
  • Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office
  • Waukesha County Sheriff Department – new recruits must have either 60 credits of college education or an associate’s degree
  • Dane County Sheriff’s Office – all candidates must have at least two years of one of the following qualifications:
    • Full-time enrollment in college or taking college courses
    • Full-time work experience
    • Full-time military experience

Recently in Wisconsin there has also been a legislative proposal that would require at least an associate’s degree or 60 college credits of all law enforcement recruits at the time of application. Although this legislation is pending, it points towards the growing importance of having a college education for prospective law enforcement officers.

How to Become a State Patrol Officer in Wisconsin

The Wisconsin State Patrol is dedicated to serving as a statewide uniformed law enforcement agency. State Troopers are primarily known for their public service on Wisconsin’s interstate highway system, however these professionals also support local law enforcement units when called upon.

As a testament to the complexity of being a State Trooper, all new recruits with the State Patrol must meet one of the following qualifications. Candidates who will have completed either of these requirements by the start date of the trooper training academy are eligible to apply:

  • Two-year associate’s degree in any subject
  • 60 college credits

Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Wisconsin

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there are over 1,200 detectives and criminal investigators working throughout Wisconsin. These professionals are experienced law enforcement officials who have climbed up the career ladder, usually starting as patrol officers or sheriff’s deputies. Besides having proven law enforcement capabilities, detectives and criminal investigators are also often required to have some formal college education or a degree.

Detectives and criminal investigators work in specialized departments or divisions within law enforcement agencies at all levels of government in Wisconsin. Each agency can decide on its own hiring qualifications, such as the following:

  • To work as a detective within the Waukesha County Sheriff Department’s Detective Bureau candidates will need to have two years of law enforcement experience plus at least 60 college credits in fields such as:
    • Sociology
    • Psychology
    • Human Relations
    • Juvenile behavior and delinquency
    • Criminal Justice
    • Police Science
  • To work as a Special Agent at the FBI’s field office in Milwaukee candidates will need to have at least a bachelor’s degree in a critical subject area, such as:
    • Criminal Justice
    • Political Science
    • Law
    • IT or Computer Science
    • Languages

Legal Assistants and Paralegals in Wisconsin

At times overshadowed by lawyers, legal assistants are the unsung heroes of the criminal justice system’s judiciary branch. Numbering 3,500 statewide and also referred to as paralegals, legal assistants conduct legal research and otherwise aid their employers.

While it is not an official Wisconsin law, certification and degree programs in legal assisting can greatly improve the employability of prospective paralegals, and these qualifications are often requirements for hire imposed by employers.

Wisconsin residents have a number of choices when it comes to pursuing an education in paralegal studies, from online programs to the following in-state opportunities:

  • Associate’s of Applied Sciences (AAS) degree in paralegal studies in Eau Claire and Madison
  • Associate’s degree in paralegal studies in Cleveland, La Crosse, and Milwaukee
  • Associate’s of Arts (AA) degree in paralegal studies in Green Bay
  • Post-baccalaureate certificate in paralegal studies in Green Bay, Madison, and Milwaukee

Paralegals can also find certification programs through respected national agencies such as:

Employers of Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Wisconsin

The top-five employers of paralegals are:

  • Legal service providers, such as law firms
  • Local government agencies
  • Federal government agencies
  • State government agencies
  • Commercial companies

The following job announcements were recently posted for paralegal candidates from across the state:

  • Cadre in Columbia County was recently seeking an experienced legal assistant or a paralegal who was a recent graduate of a legal assisting studies program
  • Wisconsin’s Hospital and Clinics system in Madison was recently looking to hire a paralegal who at minimum had a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, with an additional preferred qualification being paralegal certification
  • Vitek and Probst in Milwaukee was recently advertising for a paralegal with at least three years of experience
  • U.S. Venture in Appleton recently placed an ad for a legal assistant with the preferred qualification of a bachelor’s degree
  • Spectrum Brands in Middletown was recently looking for a legal assistant who had a four-year college degree or equivalent qualifying work experience, with the additional preferred qualification of a paralegal certification
  • Arrowhead Systems in Randolph was recently advertising for a paralegal who had the preferred qualifications of an associate’s degree and paralegal certification

Crime Scene Investigators and Forensic Scientists in Wisconsin

Crime scene investigators and forensic scientists are responsible for gathering and analyzing evidence in the pursuit of justice. These specialized professionals work with all levels of law enforcement in Wisconsin, including state-of-the-art forensic units and crime laboratories. Altogether there are 140 forensic science technicians working statewide in Wisconsin.

Requirements for Forensics Jobs in Wisconsin

Each governmental and law enforcement agency can set its own requirements when it comes to hiring forensic scientists and crime scene investigators. Law enforcement experience is highly regarded as a prerequisite for employment. Education in a particular field of expertise is also often a requirement if not a preferred qualification. The diverse duties of crime scene investigators and forensic scientists means that there is a wide variety of possible competitive education, such as an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in the following subjects:

  • Forensic Science
  • Criminology
  • Chemistry
  • Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Computer Science
  • Criminal Justice
  • Police Science

Aspiring crime scene investigators and forensic scientists can also choose from a number of certifications offered by organizations such as the following:

Being Hired as a Forensic Scientist and Crime Scene Investigator in Wisconsin

Candidates can review the following agency requirements to get an idea of competitive and necessary qualifications:

  • Working as a Crime Analyst with the Green Bay Police Department requires at least two years of experience as a patrol officer or investigator. The police department prefers candidates who have at least an associate’s degree in any of the following fields:
    • Criminology
    • Police Science
    • Computer Science
    • Statistics and data analysis
  • Working as an Identity Technician with the Kenosha Police Department requires at least one year of office experience or an equivalent amount of related training that would prepare a candidate to process crime scenes, including:
    • Photography
    • Video imaging systems
    • Fingerprint checks and fingerprint records
    • Collecting DNA samples
  • Working as an Identification Technician with the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department requires at least two years of post-high school work experience with a preference given to those with experience in photography or photo processing. Full-time college courses may be substituted on a year-for-year basis with work experience.
  • The Wisconsin Department of Justice operates its Criminal Laboratory Bureau at labs in Madison, Milwaukee, and Wausau. Forensic scientists in specialized units work to solve crimes from a variety of approaches:
    • Drug Identification Units – requires a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or closely related field
    • Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) Specialist Unit – requires certification
    • Trace Evidence Units – candidates are recommended to have a bachelor’s degree in chemistry or a closely related field
    • Fingerprint and Footwear Units – candidates are recommended to earn a bachelor’s degree that includes courses in science
    • Questioned Document Units – requires a bachelor’s degree that includes science courses
    • Forensic Imaging Units – candidates are recommended to have at least an associate’s degree in photography or a closely related field that includes courses in science
    • Toxicology Units – candidates are recommended to have a bachelor’s degree in chemistry
    • DNA and DNA Databank Units – requires a bachelor’s degree in any of the following subjects:
      • Biology
      • Genetics
      • Molecular Genetics
      • Biochemistry
      • Chemistry

Careers with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and Federal Bureau of Prisons

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest count shows there are 7,300 correctional officers working throughout Wisconsin. These professionals ensure justice is upheld. The largest employers of correctional officers in Wisconsin are the state’s Department of Corrections and the federal government’s Bureau of Prisons.

How to Become a Correctional Officer with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections

State correctional officers need to have a high school education and a clean criminal record. Having a college education, especially in fields like Criminal Justice or Law Enforcement, can add competitive qualifications to a candidate’s applicant profile.

Correctional officers working for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections can find jobs in facilities that include:

  • Chippewa Valley Correctional Treatment Facility
  • Fox Lake Correctional Institution
  • Green Bay Correctional Institution
  • Jackson Correctional Institution in Black River Falls
  • Kettle Moraine Correctional Institution in Plymouth
  • Oakhill Correctional Institution in Oregon
  • Oshkosh Correctional Institution in Oshkosh
  • Prairie du Chien Correctional Institution
  • Racine Correctional Institution in Sturtevant
  • Redgranite Correctional Institution
  • Waupun Correctional Institution

How to Become a Correctional Officer with the Federal Bureau of Prisons

The federal Bureau of Prisons also operates the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Oxford. To work as a correctional officer with the Bureau of Prisons, candidates must be able to meet one of the following conditions:

  • Have a bachelor’s degree in any subject area
  • Have three years of work experience fields like corrections or law enforcement
  • Have one year of specialized work experience in fields like corrections or law enforcement

Additional Correctional Officer Opportunities

Besides operating at the federal and state level, prisons in Wisconsin are also maintained at the county level by sheriff’s departments. The hiring requirements for these facilities differ from county to county. For example, in Milwaukee County candidates need to have a high school education, and are preferred to have completed college coursework in any of the following subjects:

  • Criminal Justice
  • Law Enforcement
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Education
  • Social Work

Homeland Security and Emergency Management Careers in Wisconsin

Emergency management and homeland security agents operate at the local, state, and federal levels of government in Wisconsin. These professionals provide a vital link between government agencies in the time of a natural disaster or other civil emergency. Because individuals in this field are highly specialized in a variety of areas, preferred and required education for careers in homeland security and emergency management can include a degree in any of the following subjects:

  • Information Technology
  • Criminal Justice
  • Computer Science
  • Logistics
  • Emergency Management
  • Homeland Security
  • Public Administration
  • Law Enforcement

Important homeland security and emergency management agencies in Wisconsin include:

  • Wisconsin Joint Terrorism Task Force in Milwaukee with a annex in Madison
  • Wisconsin Statewide Intelligence Center
  • Wisconsin Mobile Support Unit Fusion Center
  • Southeaster Wisconsin Terrorism Alert Center
  • Wisconsin Homeland Security Council
  • Wisconsin Division of Emergency Management
  • Wisconsin State Emergency Operations Center

Degrees by State