There are many career options out there that would allow you to serve your local community. From teachers and educators to EMTs and firefighters, there are certainly plenty of career paths that you can consider when your goal is to make a true difference in the lives of those around you.

That being said, criminal justice-based jobs are rather in a category of their own. It takes an incredibly selfless person to assume such a role and thus place their own life on the line every day when they go to work.

If you feel that you are being called to a career in criminal justice, you might be wondering just what sort of career would make the best use of your personal attributes and talents. With so many to choose from and so many different ways to serve the community in this manner, you will want to take the time to explore all of your options so that you can find the right career path for you.

With that in mind, here are three of the more popular criminal justice-based careers to choose from for you to consider as you search for the right job that will allow you to help make your community a better place.

1. Police Officer

When most people think of jobs in criminal justice, the position of police officer generally comes to mind. These are the brave men and women who work to keep communities all across the country safe and protected. As a part of your local police force, you would be able to serve as a key part of the team that strives every day to keep civilians out of danger.

To become a police officer, you will need to pass the entrance examination to your local police academy and complete the program. Although it isn’t entirely necessary, those who wish to work their way up the chain of command should look to earn a relevant bachelor’s degree, such as the PPU online criminal justice degree.

2. Private Investigator

As a private investigator, you can essentially go into business for yourself. Although you wouldn’t be serving in an official capacity as a law enforcement team member, you can still do a lot of good for your community in such a role.

PIs are contracted by private citizens who are looking to get to the bottom of a certain matter. There are also instances where local law enforcement might work in conjunction with a PI on a particular case.

3. Corrections Officer

One job in criminal justice that tends to be in demand is that of a corrections officer. In this role, you would work within a prison or jail as part of the team that upholds the facility’s rules and helps maintain order. 

As a corrections officer, you would need to be comfortable working in a highly stressful environment to keep inmates as well as those in the community safe.

These three jobs are all very different from each other; however, they all have the common goal of helping out the local community. If you want to leave your mark, consider these fascinating and fulfilling career paths.