After searching for possible career opportunities in the field of Criminal Justice on the Bureau of Labor Statistics website ("Probation officers and," 2012), a career as a “Correctional Treatment Specialist” looks promising. According to the website, a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice is the basic level of education needed to enter this occupation. What Correctional Treatment Specialists do and their work environment is similar to that of a probation officer, which is another possible career opportunity in this field. Moreover, until 2020, the job outlook seems to be above average, and a sufficient number of jobs will also continue to be available.
A Criminal Justice degree is designed in such a way to prepare students for employment in any potential career related to this filed, and of course, that includes a career in correctional institutions or careers related to parole and probation. Unlike criminology, in a criminal justice program, students get to learn about the inner workings of the criminal justice system, and correctional treatment is one of the three main components of the criminal justice system. In a Criminal Justice degree program, students learn that more than often, incarcerated criminals are eventually released back into the community.
In a Criminal Justice program students gain important knowledge about the government and law, such as court procedures, government regulations, laws, legal codes, precedents, etc., which a Correctional Treatment Specialist must know. They also gain knowledge about public safety and security. In a Criminal Justice program, students also acquire skills such as active learning, critical thinking, decision making and judgment, monitoring social perceptiveness, and speaking, which are important qualities for students interested in pursuing this career. Thus, combined with on-the-job training, students with a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice are ready to help rehabilitate criminals in custody, on parole or probation.
Parole and probation are a part of the corrections system, and helping law offenders who have already served their time renter society is the duty of a Correctional Treatment Specialist. The number of career options available in the field of criminal justice has grown over the years, and this field itself has evolved to quite an extent. A job in corrections is the top choice among students who are interested in working in this field, along with courts and law enforcement systems. While the right career path depends on the student’s preference, but a Criminal Justice program will definitely prepare them to pursue a career as a Correctional Treatment Specialist.
References
Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists. (2012, Mar 29). Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/probation-officers-and-correctional-treatment-specialists.htm
