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Jenny G.
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Lewisville, Texas
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What do I do after graduating high school and want to work with crimes and figuring them out? Criminology perhaps
hello! I have some questions because i really don’t know what to do after I graduate especially when you’re the first one in the family to go through this. im absolutely interested in going to college and get a degree in criminology,but I don’t know for how long,what the degree will get me (jobs).Im seriously so lost but I do know I’d love to figure out crimes and help with all of that.Am I choosing the right thing to get a degree in? What career do I choose if I want to do that? Do I have to be a police officer first? I’d really appreciate ANY help because I’m just lost and i get really stressed because I’m in #high-school #career #help #college #criminology #criminaljustice my senior year of high school.
Thank you so much
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Alexandra McCoy
Customer Reliability Engineer - Site Reliability
Goldsboro, North Carolina
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Hi Jenny, this is a great question. I myself currently work in technology, but previously worked in the criminal justice system. To assist with solving crimes, I don't believe you need to become a law enforcement officer as there are so many roles involved with solving crimes. I think the first thing, before deciding on a major, is to decide "HOW" you want to assist with solving crimes? Do you want to be involved in your local community on a day to day basis dealing with random crimes, police officer? Do you want to assist with solving crimes by handling medical evidence, like a medical examiner...forensic psychologists and scientists? There are also criminal investigators and prosecutors involved with seeking justice.
In addition to the above, don't forget about the roles in criminal justice that reduce recidivism. Roles such as a pretrial release, probation officers, and other rehabilitative roles assist with avoiding crimes again. I think when you figure out the part of criminal justice you would like to focus on (everyday crime, high profile crimes, special victims etc.) and then how you want to help (dealing with your local community, psychology, scientist, investigator, research, etc.) you will be able to narrow it down to a few roles.
Another thing to do would be to reach out to some of these organizations/workers in the field and ask questions about the careers. A lot of people who enjoy their jobs will have no issue speaking to you about what they do and how you can get there. Good Luck to you!
In addition to the above, don't forget about the roles in criminal justice that reduce recidivism. Roles such as a pretrial release, probation officers, and other rehabilitative roles assist with avoiding crimes again. I think when you figure out the part of criminal justice you would like to focus on (everyday crime, high profile crimes, special victims etc.) and then how you want to help (dealing with your local community, psychology, scientist, investigator, research, etc.) you will be able to narrow it down to a few roles.
Another thing to do would be to reach out to some of these organizations/workers in the field and ask questions about the careers. A lot of people who enjoy their jobs will have no issue speaking to you about what they do and how you can get there. Good Luck to you!
I’d like to work with crimes like homicides.A homocide detective really gets my attention because its more of what i want to do.Thank you so much for your response
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Jenny G.
You're so welcome. A criminology degree and police work would be beneficial in that case. Here is a link I found for the state of Texas that you might be interested in browsing. https://www.detectiveedu.org/texas/
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Alexandra McCoy
Mario M
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Beirut, Beirut Governorate, Lebanon
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Mario’s Answer
Crimes can be a very interesting thing to work on and get them resolved. While I am not well informed on what could be good options for you (Criminology, Police Officer, etc...) maybe you can consider a specialization in "Forensic Psychology" or "Rehabilitation Psychology". These degrees can help you in expanding your scope to work on matters related to crimes.
RENE BURNELL
Auditor
Austin, Texas
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RENE’s Answer
Hi Jenny -- You have so many options at this stage in your life and I realize how this can be overwhelming. You do not necessarily need to be a police officer to be involved in criminology. As an alternative to law enforcement, you can also become an anti-fraud professional in areas like forensic accounting, investigations, or compliance, depending on what best suits your strengths. The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners website (acfe.com) has many resources available for you to explore and offers a distinguished certification / credential that can further your career; student options and scholarships too. I would recommend the documentary 'All the Queen's Horses' or Netflix's Dirty Money S1E4 (Cartel Bank) if fighting white collar crime is of interest.
Marie MacNichol
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Doylestown, Pennsylvania
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Marie’s Answer
Hi! Best Colleges has some information on criminology that you may find helpful:
https://www.bestcolleges.com/features/criminology-degree-programs/#:~:text=A%20criminology%20degree%20equips%20graduates,or%20social%20and%20community%20services..
Good Luck!
