Criminal Justice Schools in Oklahoma | OK
April 19, 1985, Oklahoma City – A bomb exploded outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building taking 168 lives and damaging over 300 buildings. Local FBI agents and law enforcement immediately were on the scene to rescue and investigate. The next day, the FBI found evidence leading to the bomber’s identity – Timothy McVeigh.
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The FBI office in Oklahoma City states, “We are looking for a range of bright, talented Americans to fill both special agent and non-agent positions, from intelligence analysts to cyber experts, from scientists to accountants, from translators to engineers”. Criminal justice schools in Oklahoma offer educational programs that can prepare you for a career with the FBI. Depending on which specialty you desire, you might consider a homeland security, counterterrorism, forensic psychology, information security, computer forensics, criminal justice, law enforcement, translation/interpretation or another related degree. Notice how for some programs you have the choice between an online or campus program.
Numerous criminal justice careers, from forensic science technicians and emergency management specialists to police officers and probation specialists, show a positive outlook through to 2018. You can complete a criminal justice degree in Oklahoma majoring in forensic sciences, emergency management, law enforcement, corrections, probations or another relevant discipline to start one of these thriving professions.
Oklahoma Criminal Justice Career Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Oklahoma is one of five states with the highest concentration of gaming surveillance officers/gaming investigators and court reporters. If you would like to provide safety and security in a casino environment, check out the criminal justice schools in Oklahoma for information on casino surveillance or security management certificate/degree programs. To become an essential legal transcriber at judicial proceedings, complete a criminal justice degree in Oklahoma with a specialization in court reporting. You have the choice between online and campus programs to select an educational path that fits your lifestyle.
As follows are some of the criminal justice careers in Oklahoma that show a positive outlook for demand and growth. (The average number of job openings per year is provided by Projections Central):
- Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers – 350 openings/year
- Correctional Officers and Jailers – 250 openings/year
- Lawyers – 210 openings/year
- First-line Supervisors of Police and Detectives – 80 openings/year
- Paralegals and Legal Assistants – 80 openings/year
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators – 40 openings/year
- Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists – 40 openings/year
Criminal justice schools in Oklahoma offer campus and online programs to prepare you for these booming careers. Whether you wish to take a law enforcement, paralegal or law degree, colleges and universities offer something for every future professional.
Top Criminal Justice Employers & Agencies
The Oklahoma City Police Department currently employs over 1,000 sworn officers and more than 200 civilian personnel. As an Oklahoma City police officer, to rise up the ranks to Lieutenant, you require a minimum of 60 college credit hours; to become Captain you require a minimum of a Bachelors degree. Check out the list of criminal justice schools in Oklahoma for information on law enforcement, criminology and other related degrees to explore your career growth options.
Some of the civilian positions at the Oklahoma City Police Department include logistical support and administration, research, forensic services and fingerprint identification. If any of these positions interest you, complete a criminal justice degree in Oklahoma with a specialization in administration, criminology, forensic science, criminalistics or another relevant discipline.
Additionally, Oklahoma has two U.S. Secret Services field offices in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. To become agent for this federal agency, it is a good idea to complete a cyber security, counterterrorism, law enforcement or criminal justice degree.
Oklahoma Criminal Justice & Legal Job Outlook & Oklahoma Criminal Justice Salary
| Career | Employment Growth through 2018 | Current Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | 16% | $35,000 – 40,000 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | 15% | $28,000 – 31,000 |
| Court Reporters | 11% | $43,000 – 47,000 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | 13% | $54,000 – 58,000 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | 22% | $42,000 – 48,000 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | 17% | $40,000 – 43,000 |
| Emergency Management Specialists | 26% | $35,000 – 42,000 |
| First-line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | 17% | $57,000 – 60,000 |
| Fish and Game Wardens | 9% | $38,000 – 43,000 |
| Forensic Science Technicians | 20% | $52,000 – 58,000 |
| Gaming Surveillance and Gaming Investigators | 18% | $25,000 – 29,000 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | 20% | $34,000 – 38,000 |
Sources: Growth Projections projectionscentral.com ~ Salary Range bls.gov
Oklahoma Crime Rate
In 2010, CQ Press‘ State Crime Rankings accounted that Oklahoma ranked 13th place for crime (9th place for assault and 10th place for both burglary and rape). The National Institute of Corrections added that Oklahoma’s crime rate was 21% higher than the rest of the country: its property crime rate was 20% higher and its violent crime rate was 32% higher than the national average.
Also in 2010, the FBI reported 479 violent crimes per 100,000 people and 3,415 property crimes per 100,000 people. For that same year, a total of 13,000 assaults and 37,500 burglaries were reported
Oklahoma’s Correctional System Stats
| Facility | Number of Facilities & Offices | Number of Inmates |
|---|---|---|
| Jails | 93 | 9,803 |
| Prisons | 26 | 18,027 |
| Probation & Parole | 66 | 30,037 |
Source: www.nicic.gov
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