7 Rewarding Careers You Can Go into with a Criminology Degree

Obtaining a criminology degree is a brilliant way to boost valuable communication, research skills, and critical thinking. This program provides you with a foundation that can be used to pursue a variety of roles within law enforcement, medical, or science fields. If you have always been interested in law enforcement, crime, and criminal behavior, here are some rewarding careers you can step into with a criminal degree.

Probation Officer

A probation officer primarily works with offenders who have been given probation, rather than jail time. You will also work with individuals who are currently in prison, or who have been released. On a typical day, probation officers are responsible for evaluating offenders to decide the best course of treatment, providing offenders with resources to help with rehabilitation, as well as arranging treatment programs, and discussing options with offenders.

To flourish in this role, probation officers must have a range of key skills. These include being assertive, the ability to work as part of a team, and excellent administrative skills. Probation officers must have excellent written communication skills too. To qualify for this role, you can study for a BA criminology and policing degree from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Corrections Officer

As a corrections officer, you will be in charge of enforcing rules and regulations within a jail or prison. Corrections officers oversee individuals that have been arrested and are awaiting trial, as well as those who have been sentenced to serve time in a prison, jail, or reformatory. This role requires you to oversee the day-to-day activities of inmates so you can establish where they are at all times and to avoid escapes.

Duties of a corrections officer include enforcing rules, keeping order within prisons or jails, aiding in the rehabilitation of offenders, and inspecting conditions within facilities to make sure they adhere to established standards. Corrections officers must have strong interpersonal skills, personal integrity and resilience, and the ability to take responsibility for their actions.

Crime Scene/Forensic Analyst

As a crime scene/forensic analyst, you will apply keen problem-solving and observation skills to carry out specific, investigate work alongside the police. This role involves you securing and protecting crime scenes, as well as gathering evidence from crime scenes and post-mortems. You may need to collect evidence from other incidents, like suspicious deaths and fires. Crime scene/forensic analysts are in charge of processing evidence that can be used in a criminal investigation. This could involve gathering physical samples or photographic evidence from the crime scene, like fingerprints and weapons.

To work in this field, you must have excellent attention to detail, as well as strong observational skills for identifying and recording evidence. Crime scene/forensic analysts must also have a useful and methodical approach to their work and be able to prioritise tasks and take appropriate action where necessary.

Customs Officer

Customers officers are in charge of helping and preventing the importation of illegal and dangerous goods. These may include drugs, alcohol, firearms, and tobacco. Some of the typical day-to-day duties of a customs officer include identifying individuals to question on the basis of any prior offences, searching bags, making arrests, and seizing smuggled goods. Customs officers must also check documentation that relates to imported goods.

There are certain skills you must master to work as a customs officer. These include having a good sense of judgement, the ability to question well, being confident when making decisions, as well as being honest and reliable. Customs officers must be excellent communicators and have no criminal convictions.

Addiction Counsellor

An addiction counsellor plays a valuable role in addiction therapy. Their duties and involvement in the treatment process are vital for patient recovery. Addiction counsellors engage with patients and explore what has caused them to use drugs or alcohol, as well as encourage them to share and process feelings. Other duties of an addiction counsellor include conducting substance abuse evaluations, providing unbiased emotional support for patients, conducting individual, couple, and family therapy sessions, as well as providing psychoeducation.

To work in this field, you will need to be a people person. Each patient you treat will come from a different walk of life. Therefore, being excellent at communication and having active listening skills is essential. Addiction counsellors must be able to leave their work at the office and not cast judgment on those they treat.

Victim Advocate

A victim advocate is trained to support victims of crime. Victim advocates provide emotional support, help seek victims’ rights information, counsel crime victims and witnesses, coordinate with staff, transport victims to court, and stand with victims throughout a court proceeding. To work as a victim advocate, you must be confident in your abilities and be able to operate in an array of settings. Courtrooms can be tense environments, so you will need to hold your ground and be able to communicate effectively. Victim advocates must have empathy and compassion for those they help and the ability to see the situation from multiple angles.

Immigration Officer

An immigration officer makes decisions on whether individuals have the right to visit or stay in Canada. Typical responsibilities of an immigration officer include observing passengers walking through passport control areas, conducting interviews, and examining visas and passports.

Because people from all backgrounds visit and reside in Canada, immigration officers must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, especially when engaging with individuals who have limited English language ability. Immigration officers must be able to work well under pressure, work in a team, and have a good eye for detail. Each person you encounter will have a different story and personality. Therefore, you need to have excellent patience skills and be able to read between the lines.

All the careers listed above differ in terms of day-to-day duties and responsibilities. However, if you’re enthusiastic about criminology and believe you have what it takes to succeed in this role, once you obtain your degree and get the results you want, you can apply for a wide range of highly rewarding positions.

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Nirupama Verma

Nirupama Verma is a self passionate blogger, managing a bunch of informational blogs. She has written a lot of informational content for several popular blogs.