Forensics, Court Reporting, and other Justice Career Choices

To prepare you for the challenging and demanding careers in crime scene investigation, degree, diploma and certificate programs in the subject aim to provide a solid foundation in the American criminal justice and law enforcement systems. As a student of crime scene investigation techniques, you will learn about crime scene safety, and how to search for, collect, preserve, and present evidence from crime scenes. Since advanced technology plays a major part in all aspects of crime detection, you will also be trained in the latest technical innovations in crime scene investigation. You can earn a certificate in crime scene investigation for entry-level jobs in the field, while degrees like the Bachelor in Criminal Justice / Crime Scene Investigation and the Associate of Science in Crime Scene Technology prepare you for the next level in the employment ladder in the field of crime scene investigation. Internships are offered to students of crime scene investigation, as employees in this field are bound to improve their skills only with on-the-scene experience.

If you are technically savvy and also interested in the field of criminal investigation, forensics will probably be right up your alley. As a forensic sciences and technology student, you will learn how to use digital technology to investigate crimes. Emphasis is also given to chemistry, biology, biochemistry, and genetics, as these subjects form the basis of forensic sciences. The options in this field are diverse; an accounting program in forensics teaches you how to prevent, investigate and detect online financial fraud, while cyber-crime degrees train you in the areas of criminology, data recovery, intrusion detection, network security, and encryption. You can also specialize in toxicology, serology or the study of forensic DNA. A few degrees combine the elements of forensics and crime scene investigation, as the two fields are inter-related.

Degrees and certificate programs in corrections aim to provide you with the skills needed to work with criminal offenders. The nature of the job may call for disparate abilities, from dealing with juvenile delinquents to working with violent criminals. You will also learn about the working of the courts and the judiciary. Support and rehabilitation of criminals will form an important part of your lessons. You will also gain knowledge in the field of probation and parole, and in counseling and monitoring the activities of incarcerated and paroled offenders. The operations of prisons and jails will also form a major part of your curriculum.

A court reporting degree prepares you to record and transcribe the proceedings in a courtroom or during a deposition or arbitration. Armed with a certificate or degree in court reporting, you will be able work either as an official court reporter or as a freelance reporter. You will learn about legal terminology, legal transcription techniques, shorthand, verbatim recording techniques, and how to operate related equipment. The curriculum will also include the rules and regulations and the standards and ethics related to the profession.