Criminal Justice Schools in Arkansas | AR
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Born in Hope, former President Bill Clinton began his political career as Governor of Arkansas. His birthplace’s name is symbolic of his successful career but also of the numerous criminal justice and legal opportunities for those assessing their educational and career goals. Criminal justice schools in Arkansas offer numerous online and campus programs for those wishing to become a law enforcement officer, court reporter and many other vocations in between. The CQ Press’ 2010 Crime Rankings stated that Arkansas ranked as the state with the tenth highest crime rate. It ranked particularly high for cases of rape and burglary. Based on these statistics, it is no surprise that police and sheriff’s patrol officer positions are expected to grow by 19% with an average of 250 new job openings per year, according to Projections Central. Completing a criminal justice degree in Arkansas with a specialization in law enforcement can lead you to a position with this growing field; most police/sheriff’s departments require a minimum of an associate’s degree. The career outlook for court reporters and correctional officers and jailers is particularly high at 32% and 30% respectively, states Projection Central. If these careers interest you, check out the list of criminal justice schools in Arkansas for information on court reporting, legal studies or corrections programs offered either online or on campus.
Arkansas Criminal Justice Career Outlook
One of the top criminal justice careers in Arkansas is court reporting. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Arkansas is one of the top five states with the highest concentration of court reporters compared to the rest of the country. Projections Central states that the demand for court reporters in Arkansas is expected to increase by 32% through to 2018. The demand for paralegals also shows a positive career outlook with an expected growth of 23%. Criminal justice schools in Arkansas offer programs such as paralegal studies and court reporting courses to fill this increasing employment demand.
Detectives and criminal investigators will also see significant growth with an estimated 29% increase in demand through to 2018. After serving as a police officer for one to five years, and receiving further training, such as a Bachelors or Masters in Criminal Justice, you can be promoted to the rank of detective, a position with an average wage of $52,000 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
By consulting the career outlook table below, you will see it would be worthwhile to complete a criminal justice degree in Arkansas focusing on law enforcement, corrections, court reporting, legal studies, paralegal studies, criminal justice or other related fields.
Top Criminal Justice Employers & Agencies
The National Guard Association of Arkansas is one of the state’s top employers with approximately 2,000 personnel, states Career Info Net. As a leading agency for promoting national security, the National Guard consists of reserve military men and women. Often times, members of the National Guard also hold civilian jobs. Based on the skills they learn from serving part time for the National Guard, criminal justice and legal jobs in the civilian world often relate. Several of the criminal justice schools in Arkansas also offer military degrees and military-friendly programs.
Additionally, in Little Rock, Arkansas there is a U.S. Secret Service Field Office and a division of the FBI. Completing online or campus degrees in law enforcement, counterterrorism, cyber security, criminal psychology or homeland security will help you garner employment with these types of federal agencies.
Arkansas Criminal Justice & Legal Job Outlook & Arkansas Criminal Justice Salary
| Career | Employment Growth through 2018 | Current Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | 19% | $27,000 – 39,000 |
| First-line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | 19% | $50,000 – 58,000 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | 30% | $26,000 – 32,000 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | 23% | $30,000 – 37,000 |
| Court Reporters | 32% | $37,000 – 44,000 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | 29% | $50,000 – 57,000 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | 13% | $56,000 – 67,000 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | 23% | $31,000 – 39,000 |
| Lawyers | 12% | $80,000 – 92,000 |
Sources: Growth Projections www.careerinfonet.org ~ Salary Range www.bls.gov
Arkansas Crime Rate
According to the National Institute of Corrections, Arkansas’ crime rate was 26% higher than the country’s average in 2010. More specifically its property crime rate was found to be 25% higher and its violent crime rate 38% higher. For that same year, the FBI reported 1,100 cases of burglary per 100,000 people (or a total of more than 32,500 cases) and 45 cases of forcible rape per 100,000 people (or a total of more than 1,300 cases).
Arkansas’s Correctional System Stats
| Facility | Number of Facilities & Offices | Number of Inmates |
|---|---|---|
| Jails | 83 | 6,164 |
| Prisons | 19 | 15,136 |
| Probation & Parole | Over 80 offices with a total of over 900 employees | 51,296 |
Source: www.nicic.gov
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