Making A Difference In The Lives of The Youth: Juvenile Justice Degree
Not all crimes are committed by adults, which is why the criminal justice system has its own branch to deal with offenders who are still children. If you would like to make a difference in the world and work with these youths in order to prevent them from committing more crimes in the future, then a juvenile justice degree is the way to do it. It is a challenging, but rewarding career field as it places more of an emphasis on deterring youths from committing crimes again instead of simply punishing them for their actions. There are a wide range of career choices in this field and you will also be able to really make a difference in the lives of others while helping to make the world a safer place.
Juvenile Justice Degree Information
Certificate In Juvenile Justice
A certificate program offers a good introduction to the field of juvenile justice and in some cases the courses covered can also be transferred to a degree program, depending on where you study. The purpose of this certificate course is to teach students counseling and intervention skills as well as providing them with skills in conflict resolution training, youth activism and advocacy, gender specific programming and other related topics. Many students also opt to complete this type of certificate in conjunction with an associates degree in something like Human Services to round out their skills.
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice - Juvenile Justice
With a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice - Juvenile Justice degree you typically learn about the inner workings of the criminal justice system and how it handles younger offenders. This type of degree can assist anyone interested in working as youth correctional officer caseworkers, outreach counselors, juvenile probation officers or youth service workers. Course topics may include juvenile justice, judicial process, criminal justice ethics, juvenile corrections, community based corrections as well as legal and ethical issues in juvenile justice.
Bachelor of Child Protection and Juvenile Justice
The Bachelor of Child Protection and Juvenile Justice degree is suited for students who wishes to work in this field or go on to complete an advanced degree like Master of Arts in Human Services. Completion of this degree helps students to prepare for working with juveniles, at risk children as well as their families. Topics that are typically covered include psychological disorders that affect juveniles, the juvenile justice system, intervention, assessment, and vicimology.
Master of Science in Juvenile Justice
The Master of Science in Juvenile Justice is a degree that focuses on all of the aspects that make up the juvenile justice system. This means that the program covers everything from criminology and sociology to methodology, statistics and administration. This can help students to better understand the methods for the intervention and prevention of juvenile delinquency as well as the conducting of research and evaluation programs that are related to juvenile delinquency. Students typically also learn more about the programs and polices that are related to this field. Course topics may include substance abuse, counseling, ethics, theories of delinquency, research methods and foundations of juvenile justice. This type of degree can usually be earned after one year of full-time studying.
Juvenile Justice Degree FAQ
Can I Obtain A Juvenile Justice Degree Through Online Studies?
There are universities and colleges that have begun to offer their juvenile justice degrees in an online format. These degrees can be completed either entirely online or partially. Since juvenile justice degree topics include aspects of sociology, legal issues and criminology, they can easily be taught in an online environment. Thanks to the availability of these online degrees it is possible for working adults, who are unable to attend campus-based programs, to complete their studies. It is also a great solution for people who are already working in the field of criminal justice and want to advance their career in a juvenile justice direction. The biggest advantage of an online juvenile justice degree is the flexibility to study at times and locations that are most convenient to you.
Who Is An Ideal Candidate To Study In This Field?
Because working with young offenders can be a very challenging task, it requires a special type of person to do well in this field. Being very patient is definitely required as well as a high level of maturity. You also need to be an understanding and compassionate person for many of the careers in this field as your actions could have a huge impact on the future of young people. Depending on your career path within juvenile justice, there are a couple of other traits that can be very useful. A thorough understanding of cultural differences and sensitivities will also be beneficial.
What Type of Careers Are Available In Juvenile Justice?
Juvenile justice work opportunities exist in both the public as well as the private sector for qualified candidates. In the public sector, many people with this type of degree go on to work at corrections departments and fill roles such as corrections officers or mental health counselors. Private sector occupations include custody officers as well as roles at child advocate groups, law offices and school legal departments. Positions are also available for people with advance degrees in the field to work in areas such as juvenile life skills teaching or supervisory roles at juvenile probation departments, community correctional facilities as well as agencies. Those who go on to earn doctoral degrees tend to focus on research positions or as experts and instructors at universities or colleges.
How Much Can I Potentially Earn While Employed In This Field
Since there are numerous career paths within the area of juvenile justice, it is hard to pinpoint exact income figures. Your potential income will depend on the type of degree you have earned as well as your employer along with additional factors such as your location and experience. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, probation officers and correctional treatment specialists earned about $49,360 per year during 2015 and most held a Bachelor’s degree.
