Criminal Justice Schools in West Virginia | WV
Did you know that the FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC) is located in Clarksburg, West Virginia? The NCIC contains over 15 million records (as of 2009) organized into 19 files, such as the National Sex Offender Registry, Missing Persons, U.S. Secret Service Protection, Gang, Suspected Terrorist and Wanted Person files. Law enforcement agencies from around the country can access these vital records. The FBI employs IT professionals for its NCIC but also for each of its field offices across the country and divisions including the Cyber and Criminal Justice Information Services divisions. Look for information among the criminal justice schools in West Virginia on information security, computer science or computer forensics degrees if you are interested in working as an IT professional for the FBI or another such agency.
Sponsored School(s)
Several criminal justice career opportunities exist in West Virginia including police officer, paralegal and security guard positions. You can complete campus or online educational programs to help prepare you for these vocations. For example, it is a good idea to take a criminal justice degree in Virginia, majoring in law enforcement, to become a police or sheriff’s patrol officer as most agencies prefer a minimum of an Associate Degree and/or related experience.
West Virginia Criminal Justice Career Outlook
Currently, West Virginia is one of five states with the highest concentration of arbitrators, mediators & conciliators, judges & magistrates and paralegals & legal assistants. You can complete relevant education at one of the criminal justice schools in West Virginia to secure one of these positions. For example, ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) training is vital for an arbitrator or conciliator. Completing a law degree, working as an attorney for several years and continuous education can lead to a position on the bench. And, online or campus paralegal degrees are offered by numerous schools.
Examples of criminal justice careers in West Virginia that show a promising outlook include:
- Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers – 90 openings/year
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators – 10 openings/year
- Paralegals and Legal Assistants – 50 openings/year
- Security Guards – 150 openings/year
- Lawyers – 60 openings/year
(Resource: Projections Central)
Complete a criminal justice degree in West Virginia, specializing in law enforcement, criminal investigations, legal studies, security, law or another related major, to become qualified for one of these thriving careers.
Top Criminal Justice Employers & Agencies
The FBI is West Virginia’s third top employer, according to Career One Stop. The Clarksburg center employs approximately 3,000 personnel. To become a special agent or another professional staff member with the FBI, it is important to specialize. Complete education, such as a computer forensics, computer science, law enforcement, criminal psychology, homeland security or a counterterrorism degree at one of the criminal justice schools in West Virginia to become an ideal candidate for employment with the FBI.
West Virginia Criminal Justice & Legal Job Outlook & West Virginia Criminal Justice Salary
| Career | Employment Growth through 2018 | Current Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | 3% | $34,000 – 37,000 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | 11% | $52,000 – 57,000 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | 10% | $35,000 – 38,000 |
| Emergency Management Specialists | 15% | $35,000 – 42,000 |
| Security Guards | 5% | $20,000 – 25,000 |
| Lawyers | 1% | $90,000 – 96,000 |
Sources: Growth Projections projectionscentral.com ~ Salary Range bls.gov
West Virginia Crime Rate
West Virginia’s crime rate is approximately 21% lower compared to the average of the total 50 states, according to the National Institute of Corrections. More specifically, its property crime rate is 21% lower and its violent crime rate is 14% lower than the national average. (Property crime includes offenses like burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft; violent crime includes offenses such as rape, murder, aggravated assault and armed robbery).
West Virginia’s Correctional System Stats
| Facility | Number of Facilities & Offices | Number of Inmates |
|---|---|---|
| Jails | 10 | |
| Prisons | 15 | 6,857 |
| Probation & Parole | 15 | 16,547 |
Source: www.nicic.gov
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