Is Criminal Justice a Good Degree for Veterans?

Published on: February 1, 2023

If you are finishing your military career, looking for civilian work that will fit your interests and skill set and you enjoyed your time in the military, then criminal justice could be the right line of work to consider. Criminal justice professionals perform many similar tasks and enjoy the same type of camaraderie that the military world provides. Often you will be able to put your experience to work for you, both in your degree and in your career. Here’s a closer look at why veterans are the ideal candidates for a degree in criminal justice.

The Importance of Criminal Justice in Society 

Criminal justice professionals play a vital role in modern society by punishing offenders, helping criminals rehabilitate and protecting society. This makes the world a safer place, and in this way, these professionals play a similar role as veterans did when they were serving in the military. The criminal justice system and the people who work in it also strive to ensure that everyone within society receives justice.

Understanding Veteran’s Background

Criminal justice can be a solid career choice for a veteran because of the skills gained while in the military. Most veterans already have abilities with firearms and are physically fit due to their time in the service. The resilience, teamwork and critical thinking skills picked up in the military are excellent skills to have in criminal justice as well. Most veterans have a strong sense of duty and justice, which also benefits a career in criminal justice.

Benefits of a Criminal Justice Degree for Military Veterans

Why should military veterans consider criminal justice as their future career choice? Here are some specific reasons why this could be an excellent fit.

Variety of Career Options 

Working in criminal justice does not limit someone to working only as a police officer. There are multiple career options in this field, including detective work, private security and investigative work. You can put your military skills to work and find a career you love with a wide range of options if you pursue criminal justice training.

Alignment with Interests

If you are a veteran who enjoyed your work in the military, then working in criminal justice could align quite well with your interests. You likely enjoy protecting people and working with a team to accomplish goals. You will also find that the rank structure and even the titles are similar within criminal justice as compared to the military so that the entire community will make sense to you.

Opportunities for Advancement and Growth

Just like you can move up the ranks in the military, you can move up the ranks in criminal justice careers. Time on the job, additional training and certification and exceptional service can all lead to moving up in rank, just as it does within the military.

Financial Resources Available

Veterans have a number of financial resources available to help them afford college. The GI Bill adds educational benefits for veterans to use for college or police academy training. There may also be veteran-specific scholarships that you can earn after your time in the military. 

Not only that, but some programs allow veterans and active-duty service members to apply some of their military work toward college credits. These programs know that the time spent working in the field and on the job is just as valuable as time spent learning these things in the classroom. This can help cut the cost of your college education.

Networking Opportunities 

Your unit and the people you met in the military will be a strong network that could point you toward criminal justice career options in the future. Many within the criminal justice system have military connections, so you can reach out to your superior officer to see if they have any connections to help you find work. These two fields work closely together, which means the networking opportunities will only continue to grow. 

What Can Veterans Do with a Degree in Criminal Justice?

One of the benefits of having a criminal justice degree for military veterans and active service members is the chance to put that military experience to work in a wide range of fields. The many career options provide a range of opportunities, including options in and out of the active field of duty. Some of these include:

Corrections Officer 

A corrections officer works within a jail or corrections facility to ensure the inmates behave in an orderly fashion. These officers can directly impact incarcerated individuals by helping them make positive changes. Corrections officers are a key component of the criminal justice system, helping to hold people accountable and keep them safe while they serve time. 

Law Enforcement Professional 

Law enforcement professionals work in the community to protect people and bring criminals to justice. While many law enforcement positions are active duty positions out in the community, some are behind the scenes in an office setting investigating crimes. Either way, in this role, you will be supporting a safe community.

Crime Scene Analyst 

Crime scene analysts find, gather and process evidence when a crime has been committed. These professionals do not track down and directly arrest criminals, but they put their critical thinking skills to work to help other law enforcement officials arrest suspects. 

Victim Advocate 

Victim advocates provide support for victims of crimes. They understand victims’ rights, provide emotional support and help with locating resources. This is a great role for a veteran with a strong amount of compassion who does not want to work actively in the field. 

Homeland Security

The Department of Homeland Security employs people with criminal justice degrees in various roles that protect our borders from foreign terrorism, drug trafficking and other similar risks. This role is a logical progression from defending our nation in the armed forces to defending it at home.