Criminal Justice Schools in Maryland | MD
You might remember The Wire, a TV drama about gang wars and drug smuggling that took place in Baltimore, Maryland. Although Baltimore’s crime rate has decreased over the last decade, its 2009 violent crime rate was 252% higher than the national average and 156% higher than Maryland’s average rate, according to CityRating.com. It’s no surprise then that Baltimore’s Police Department is the 11th largest in the country with almost 3,000 sworn personnel (even though the city only has a population of just over 600,000), states the U.S. Department of Justice. Check out the list of criminal justice schools in Maryland for information on law enforcement degrees if you would like to become a police officer and help reduce the capital city’s crime rate even more. Most police departments require at least an Associate’s (two-year) degree. Notice that schools offer online and campus degrees; that way you can select a program that can be catered to your existing schedule.
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Maryland also has many top agencies that are devoted to criminal justice, safety and security. The National Law Enforcement Corrections and Technology Center’s main headquarters are located in Rockville, as is the National Criminal Justice Reference Service. In Baltimore, there is one of Homeland Security’s Special-Agent-in-Charge Field Offices and the Baltimore Field Division of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The ATF also administers a fire research laboratory in Beltsville; FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) runs a training center “the Emergency Management Institute” in Emmitsburg. These major agencies are inspirations for future students and professionals. Completing a criminal justice degree in Maryland with a concentration/major in computer forensics or cyber security, criminology or legal studies, homeland security or counterterrorism, law enforcement or emergency management can open many doors for you as you begin your criminal justice career.
Maryland Criminal Justice Career Outlook
Maryland is one of five states with the highest level of employment for court reporters, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Although the career outlook through to 2018 is forecasted for only 1% growth, Maryland offers approximately 50 new court reporter positions a year, states Projections Central. For a career that involves attention to detail and transcribing all legal proceedings in real time you can earn between $40,000 – 48,000 a year. Take a look at the criminal justice schools in Maryland for information on online or campus court reporting courses.
Maryland is also one of five states with the highest concentration of the following occupations. (The average number of job openings per year is provided by Projections Central):
- Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers (540 openings/year)
- Judicial Law Clerks (20 openings/year)
- First-line Supervisors of Police and Detectives (120 openings/year)
- Private Detectives and Investigators (40 openings/year)
- Forensic Science Technicians (30 openings/year)
Other criminal justice careers in Maryland that show a positive outlook for employment are Paralegals (100 openings/year), Detectives and Criminal Investigators (60 openings/year), Correctional Officers and Jailers (300 openings/year) and Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists (70 openings/year).
You can complete a criminal justice degree in Maryland to successfully prepare you for one of these booming careers. Look at the lists of online and campus universities and colleges to find information on degrees in law enforcement, legal studies, public administration, criminal justice, forensic science, paralegal studies, corrections and other related programs.
Top Criminal Justice Employers & Agencies
Some of the top employers in Maryland, according to Career One Stop, are Fort Detrick in Frederick, the US Naval Academy in Annapolis and the US Naval Base in Ijamsville. Fort Meade, the home of the National Security Agency (intelligence agency for the Department of Defense) is also located in Maryland. Several of the criminal justice schools in Maryland are military friendly, meaning they participate in GI/Veteran educational funding programs such as the Yellow Ribbon Program. You can also complete a criminal justice degree in Maryland that compliments your military/naval career. Consider programs such as a homeland security, counterterrorism, emergency management computer forensics or information security degrees.
As previously mentioned, major agencies in Maryland include the National Law Enforcement Corrections and Technology Center, the National Criminal Justice Reference Service, a Homeland Security-s Special-Agent-in-Charge field office, the Baltimore Field Division of ATF, ATF’s fire research laboratory and FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute. Also most of Maryland’s major cities are an hour or less commute to Washington D.C. where you will find the main headquarters for the FBI, Secret Service, CIA, National Drug Intelligence Service and the U.S. Department of Justice.
Finally, four of Maryland’s police departments are among the top fifty largest local law enforcement agencies in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
As follows are the names of these departments and their number of full time employees as of 2007:
- Baltimore Police – 3,565 employees (2,952 sworn personnel)
- Baltimore County Police – 2,188 employees (1,888 sworn personnel)
- Prince George’s County Police – 1,823 employees (1,522 sworn personnel)
- Montgomery County Police – 1,563 employees (1,199 sworn personnel)
Whether you want to become a police officer or sheriff’s patrol officer, IT specialist, records clerk or communications representative for one of these police departments, criminal justice schools in Maryland offer relevant educational programs to help you land a successful career.
Maryland Criminal Justice & Legal Job Outlook & Maryland Criminal Justice Salary
| Career | Employment Growth through 2018 | Current Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | 8% | $54,000-60,000 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | 5% | 42,000-49,000 |
| Court Reporters | 1% | $40,000-48,000 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | 18% | $83,000-87,000+ |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | 8% | 85,000-89,000+ |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | 19% | $40,000-42,000 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | 5% | $49,000-52,000 |
| Emergency Management Specialists | 18% | $62,000-68,000 |
| Forensic Science Technicians | 38% | $56,000-60,000 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | 15% | $50,000-53,000 |
| Security Guards | 14% | $29,000-33,000 |
Sources: Growth Projections projectionscentral.com ~ Salary Range bls.gov
Maryland Crime Rate
Maryland ranked 8th place for criminal activity in CQ Press’ 2010 State Crime Rankings report. It ranked particularly high (2nd place) for murder and robbery. According to the National Institute of Corrections, Maryland’s overall crime rate is 10% higher than the national average, but its violent crime rate is 50% higher.
In 2010, the FBI reported 430 murders, including non-negligent manslaughter (or 7.4 cases/100,000 people) and more than 11,000 cases of robbery (or 191 cases/100,000 people).
Maryland’s Correctional System Stats
| Facility | Number of Facilities & Offices | Number of Inmates |
|---|---|---|
| Jails | 30 | 13,097 |
| Prisons | 24 | 20,891 |
| Probation & Parole | 42 | 118,283 |
Source: www.nicic.gov
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