Criminal Justice Schools in Washington DC

Washington D.C is obviously home to The White House and the President of the United States. Well, the nation’s capital is also the site of the majority of the major federal headquarters, many of which have criminal justice ties. If you wish to someday work for the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, CIA, the National Drug Intelligence Center or another top agency, it just makes sense to complete post secondary education at one of the criminal justice schools in Washington D.C. You can choose between online or campus programs in a range of specialties, such as law enforcement, forensic science, homeland security, cyber security, computer forensics, paralegal, law, counterterrorism or other related degrees.

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Liberty University

Featured Program: Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice

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Southern New Hampshire University

Featured Program: Associate, Bachelor, and Master degree programs in Criminal Justice

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Grand Canyon University

Featured Program: Bachelor and Master degree programs in Criminal Justice

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University of Phoenix

Featured Program: Associate of Arts with a concentration in Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration with a concentration in Security, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration with a concentration in Cybercrimes

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For various professions, from police officers and detectives to court reporters, lawyers and correctional officers, the career outlook for many criminal justice careers is very promising in the D.C. area. By completing a criminal justice degree in Washington D.C., you can receive a valuable education, but also the chance to network with future employers through internships, conferences, co-ops or informal meetings, while pursuing your education. Check out the campus and online list of criminal justice schools to find a program that fits your wants and needs.

Washington DC Criminal Justice Career Outlook

Several criminal justice careers in Washington D.C. show a positive outlook for growth and demand, according to the District of Columbia’s Department of Employment Services. These include:

• Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers – 168 openings/year
• Detectives and Criminal Investigators – 167 openings/year
• First-line Supervisors of Police and Detectives – 55 openings/year
• Court Reporters – 40 openings/year
• Paralegals and Legal Assistants – 286 openings/year
• Lawyers – 1,163 openings/year
• Correctional Officers and Jailers – 83 openings/year

Check out the criminal justice schools in Washington D.C for information on relevant programs to become qualified and prepared for these vital and growing careers. For example, you can take a paralegal or legal studies degree to become a paralegal or legal assistant. Such a degree can be used as a foundation for a law degree to become a full-fledged attorney some day. Completing a criminal justice degree in Washington D.C., majoring in corrections, law enforcement or a similar discipline, leads to a correctional officer and jailer career. Or, to become a police officer, most agencies require a minimum of an Associate’s Degree in law enforcement.

Top Criminal Justice Employers & Agencies

As follows are just some of the federal agencies that are headquartered in the District of Columbia. You can complete one of the recommended degrees at one of the criminal justice schools in Washington D.C. to become eligible to work at one of these top bureaus. Be sure to research which specialization the position you are striving for requires.

In addition, Washington D.C.’s police department (Metropolitan Police Department) is among the country’s top ten largest local police departments. In 2008, the Metropolitan PD employed over 3,700 sworn officers, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. If you would like to serve as a police officer, complete a criminal justice degree in Washington DC majoring in law enforcement.

Washington DC Criminal Justice & Legal Job Outlook & Washington DC Criminal Justice Salary

Sources: does.dc.gov/does/frames.asp?doc=/does/lib/does/info/11-222_DC_DOES_Projections_Complete_v3.pdf

Washington DC Crime Rate

According to the FBI, in 2010 there were approximately 8,000 violent crimes and 28,750 property crimes committed in Washington D.C. In a population of around 602,000 people, this equates to 1,330 violent crimes and 4,778 property crimes per 100,000 people.

For 2009, CityRating.com reports that Washington D.C.’s violent crime rate was over 250% higher than the national average and that its property crime rate was 90% higher. However the same source predicts a continuous decline in crime based on the decrease in criminal activity over the last decade in Washington D.C.

Discussing why Washington D.C.’s crime rate is relatively much higher than the rest of the country (i.e. speculating around the fact the area is mostly all urban) would make an interesting discussion in a criminal justice, forensic psychology or criminology classroom. You can understand the roots of criminal behavior by completing such a degree at one of the criminal justice schools in Washington D.C.

Washington DC’s Correctional System Stats

Source: doc.dc.gov and csosa.gov

Degrees by State