Criminal Justice Certificate

Pursue a career in public safety

When a crime is committed, our world needs savvy people on the scene. We know you’re ready to make a difference. Build on your existing knowledge and learn skills to advance your career and better serve your community.

Receive instruction from experts who bring real-world knowledge to the classroom. Learn through interactive lectures and role-playing to ensure mastery of concepts. Gain the knowledge you need to excel in the three areas of Criminal Justice:

law enforcement
courts
corrections

What can you do with a certificate in Criminal Justice?

A certificate in criminal justice ensures you are prepared for a variety of entry-level careers in the field. Help rehabilitate your community to reduce recidivism or maintain a secure courtroom. You have options.

With additional education, take your career to another level and become a:

paralegal
social worker
lawyer

Or start right away with your certificate in roles such as:

correctional officer
bailiff
private security officer

Highlights

Credit for Prior Learning

Receive college credit for what you already know.
100% Online

This degree can be completed 100% online. It’s up to you!
Career Certificate

Gain in-demand technical and job-ready skills by earning a certificate in less than 1 year.
Program Length: 1 Year

Finish in 1 year as a full-time student.
WIOA Program

Become eligible for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)-awarded vouchers.

*Estimated cost is based on recommended pathway credit hours for full-time students for academic year 2025-2026. This includes in-district tuition and comprehensive fees, before financial aid, including grants, loans, and scholarships, is applied. Actual cost may vary to include additional fees, materials, and other cost of attendance factors such as living expenses, transportation, etc. Explore opportunities for financial assistance at CLC. Learn more about the Cost of Attendance.

Career Outlook

Maintain order in courts of law.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $36,986
  
  Median
  
  $59,126
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $114,974
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $17.78
  
  Median
  
  $28.42
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $55.27
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  45.8%
  
  Certificate
  
  20.84%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  33.35%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. May assist parents, arrange adoptions, and find foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address such problems as teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy. May also advise teachers.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $48,621
  
  Median
  
  $66,796
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $114,294
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $23.37
  
  Median
  
  $32.11
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $54.94
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  Associate Degree
  
  5.51%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  68.66%
  
  Master's Degree
  
  25.83%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $63,299
  
  Median
  
  $116,336
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $230,149
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $30.43
  
  Median
  
  $55.93
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $110.65
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  8.93%
  
  Certificate
  
  6.72%
  
  Some college
  
  1.27%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  5.33%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  63.38%
  
  Master's Degree
  
  14.38%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Guard inmates in penal or rehabilitative institutions in accordance with established regulations and procedures. May guard prisoners in transit between jail, courtroom, prison, or other point. Includes deputy sheriffs and police who spend the majority of their time guarding prisoners in correctional institutions.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $61,292
  
  Median
  
  $88,301
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $109,352
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $29.46
  
  Median
  
  $42.45
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $52.57
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  92.43%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  7.57%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Investigate and inspect persons, common carriers, goods, and merchandise, arriving in or departing from the United States or between states to detect violations of immigration and customs laws and regulations.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $63,448
  
  Median
  
  $116,306
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $132,050
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $30.50
  
  Median
  
  $55.91
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $63.48
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  39.01%
  
  Certificate
  
  10.12%
  
  Some college
  
  14.2%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  7.33%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  29.33%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $57,860
  
  Median
  
  $106,343
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $174,854
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $27.81
  
  Median
  
  $51.12
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $84.06
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  32.48%
  
  Certificate
  
  19.72%
  
  Some college
  
  17.86%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  19.95%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  10%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $64,765
  
  Median
  
  $108,859
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $185,314
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $31.13
  
  Median
  
  $52.33
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $89.09
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  4.55%
  
  Some college
  
  9.09%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  4.55%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  68.18%
  
  Master's Degree
  
  13.64%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).

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Recommended Pathway

This pathway serves as a guide for students to complete the degree or certificate assuming full-time enrollment (registered in 12 or more credit hours per semester) with Semester 1 typically representing a Fall term.

Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their College and Career Navigator (CCN) to identify coursework that will meet degree requirements based on individual academic goals. For a more comprehensive list of course options and degree requirements, see the CLC college catalog.

View program in catalog

Icon Key

Credit for prior learning available
Dual credit options available
Global citizenship
Online/Virtual options available

Course Code	Course Title	Credits	Course Highlights
CLC 120	CLC 120 College Success Seminar Class Description This course is designed to teach students attitudes and skills valuable for college success. Topics may include: growth mindset, self-advocacy skills, college resources, college culture, financial literacy, and academic success strategies, such as study skills, time management, and goal setting. Throughout this course, students will develop skills necessary for promoting positive human relations in a diverse society.	2	Dual credit options available Online/Virtual options available
PSY 121	PSY 121 Introduction to Psychology Class Description This course presents the basic concepts and theoretical perspectives for understanding psychology with an emphasis on cultural competence and social justice. It encompasses factors affecting human behavior and mental processes and includes, but is not limited to, the history of psychology, research methodology, the brain and behavior, learning, memory, cognition, language, intelligence, development, personality, abnormal psychology, therapy and social psychology.	3	Credit for prior learning available Dual credit options available Online/Virtual options available
CRJ 121	CRJ 121 Introduction to Criminal Justice Class Description This course examines the legal process and the administration of justice in American society. Students will be exposed to the criminal process from the police function through adjudication, sentencing, and corrections, as well as the social, moral, and political issues involved in the administration of justice in a free society.	3	Credit for prior learning available Dual credit options available Online/Virtual options available
CRJ 123	CRJ 123 Introduction to Criminology Class Description This course is designed to familiarize the student with the social and legal aspects of crime in American society. An emphasis is placed on the definition of crime and deviance, the nature and extent of the crime problem, the history of criminology, criminological theory, violent crime, economic crime, public-order crime, and victimology.	3	Online/Virtual options available
CRJ 122	CRJ 122 Introduction to Policing Class Description This course examines the history, structure, and behavior of police in America. Students will be exposed to various topics, such as: the heritage of American policing; police systems including federal, state and local policing; the patrol function; police discretion; police-community relations; police accountability; and police and the Constitution.	3	Credit for prior learning available Dual credit options available Online/Virtual options available
CRJ 124	CRJ 124 Introduction to Corrections Class Description This course examines the history, philosophy, and administration of corrections in America. An emphasis will be placed on philosophies of punishment, sentencing strategies, the prison community, alternatives to incarceration, and various reform efforts. Critical issues facing corrections will be examined.	3	Credit for prior learning available Online/Virtual options available

Course Highlights
Course Code	CLC 120
Course Title	CLC 120 College Success Seminar Class Description This course is designed to teach students attitudes and skills valuable for college success. Topics may include: growth mindset, self-advocacy skills, college resources, college culture, financial literacy, and academic success strategies, such as study skills, time management, and goal setting. Throughout this course, students will develop skills necessary for promoting positive human relations in a diverse society.
Credits	2
Dual credit options available
Online/Virtual options available

Course Highlights
Course Code	PSY 121
Course Title	PSY 121 Introduction to Psychology Class Description This course presents the basic concepts and theoretical perspectives for understanding psychology with an emphasis on cultural competence and social justice. It encompasses factors affecting human behavior and mental processes and includes, but is not limited to, the history of psychology, research methodology, the brain and behavior, learning, memory, cognition, language, intelligence, development, personality, abnormal psychology, therapy and social psychology.
Credits	3
Credit for prior learning available
Dual credit options available
Online/Virtual options available

Course Highlights
Course Code	CRJ 121
Course Title	CRJ 121 Introduction to Criminal Justice Class Description This course examines the legal process and the administration of justice in American society. Students will be exposed to the criminal process from the police function through adjudication, sentencing, and corrections, as well as the social, moral, and political issues involved in the administration of justice in a free society.
Credits	3
Credit for prior learning available
Dual credit options available
Online/Virtual options available

Course Highlights
Course Code	CRJ 123
Course Title	CRJ 123 Introduction to Criminology Class Description This course is designed to familiarize the student with the social and legal aspects of crime in American society. An emphasis is placed on the definition of crime and deviance, the nature and extent of the crime problem, the history of criminology, criminological theory, violent crime, economic crime, public-order crime, and victimology.
Credits	3
Online/Virtual options available

Course Highlights
Course Code	CRJ 122
Course Title	CRJ 122 Introduction to Policing Class Description This course examines the history, structure, and behavior of police in America. Students will be exposed to various topics, such as: the heritage of American policing; police systems including federal, state and local policing; the patrol function; police discretion; police-community relations; police accountability; and police and the Constitution.
Credits	3
Credit for prior learning available
Dual credit options available
Online/Virtual options available

Course Highlights
Course Code	CRJ 124
Course Title	CRJ 124 Introduction to Corrections Class Description This course examines the history, philosophy, and administration of corrections in America. An emphasis will be placed on philosophies of punishment, sentencing strategies, the prison community, alternatives to incarceration, and various reform efforts. Critical issues facing corrections will be examined.
Credits	3
Credit for prior learning available
Online/Virtual options available

Course options: Students can choose other criminal justice electives totaling 6 credit hours instead of CRJ 122 and CRJ 124.

Course Code	Course Title	Credits	Course Highlights
CRJ 221	CRJ 221 Criminal Law Class Description This course explores the history and development of the criminal law as a system of social control. An emphasis is placed on legal principles and substantive law. Elements of a crime, specific statutes, and various affirmative defenses are analyzed.	3	Dual credit options available
SOC 121	SOC 121 Introduction to Sociology Class Description This course introduces the basic concepts and perspectives for understanding sociology. The course examines how society influences and shapes human behavior. Topics of analysis include, but are not limited to, the development of sociology, theoretical perspectives and research methodologies, culture, social institutions, social change, and social inequality on the basis of class, gender, race and ethnicity, and sexuality.	3	Credit for prior learning available Dual credit options available Online/Virtual options available
CRJ 222	CRJ 222 Criminal Procedural Law Class Description This course exposes the student to the field of criminal procedural law. The course will examine certain civil liberties guaranteed in the Bill of Rights to the U.S. and Illinois Constitutions and how they relate to law enforcement procedures of arrest, search and seizure, and interrogation. An emphasis will be placed on the rulings of the U.S. Supreme and Federal Appellate Courts as well as on the rulings of the Illinois Supreme and Appellate Courts. Basic rules of evidence and formal charging will also be discussed.	3	Online/Virtual options available
CRJ 223	CRJ 223 Ethics in Criminal Justice Class Description This course offers a thorough study of ethical philosophies and their application to criminal justice practitioners. Aspects of morality, leadership, ethical reasoning, professional standards, and codes of ethics will be addressed. Resolution of ethical dilemmas will also be considered. The practical focus of ethical decision making topics will center on law enforcement and correctional ethics and will include scenarios.	3	Online/Virtual options available
CRJ 229	CRJ 229 Juvenile Delinquency Class Description This course examines juvenile delinquency in American society, including the historical, behavioral, legal, and correctional aspects of delinquency. Emphasis is placed on the nature and extent of delinquency in the United States, the traditional theories of delinquent behavior, and the legal processing of juvenile offenders.	3	Credit for prior learning available Online/Virtual options available

Course Highlights
Course Code	CRJ 221
Course Title	CRJ 221 Criminal Law Class Description This course explores the history and development of the criminal law as a system of social control. An emphasis is placed on legal principles and substantive law. Elements of a crime, specific statutes, and various affirmative defenses are analyzed.
Credits	3
Dual credit options available

Course Highlights
Course Code	SOC 121
Course Title	SOC 121 Introduction to Sociology Class Description This course introduces the basic concepts and perspectives for understanding sociology. The course examines how society influences and shapes human behavior. Topics of analysis include, but are not limited to, the development of sociology, theoretical perspectives and research methodologies, culture, social institutions, social change, and social inequality on the basis of class, gender, race and ethnicity, and sexuality.
Credits	3
Credit for prior learning available
Dual credit options available
Online/Virtual options available

Course Highlights
Course Code	CRJ 222
Course Title	CRJ 222 Criminal Procedural Law Class Description This course exposes the student to the field of criminal procedural law. The course will examine certain civil liberties guaranteed in the Bill of Rights to the U.S. and Illinois Constitutions and how they relate to law enforcement procedures of arrest, search and seizure, and interrogation. An emphasis will be placed on the rulings of the U.S. Supreme and Federal Appellate Courts as well as on the rulings of the Illinois Supreme and Appellate Courts. Basic rules of evidence and formal charging will also be discussed.
Credits	3
Online/Virtual options available

Course Highlights
Course Code	CRJ 223
Course Title	CRJ 223 Ethics in Criminal Justice Class Description This course offers a thorough study of ethical philosophies and their application to criminal justice practitioners. Aspects of morality, leadership, ethical reasoning, professional standards, and codes of ethics will be addressed. Resolution of ethical dilemmas will also be considered. The practical focus of ethical decision making topics will center on law enforcement and correctional ethics and will include scenarios.
Credits	3
Online/Virtual options available

Course Highlights
Course Code	CRJ 229
Course Title	CRJ 229 Juvenile Delinquency Class Description This course examines juvenile delinquency in American society, including the historical, behavioral, legal, and correctional aspects of delinquency. Emphasis is placed on the nature and extent of delinquency in the United States, the traditional theories of delinquent behavior, and the legal processing of juvenile offenders.
Credits	3
Credit for prior learning available
Online/Virtual options available

Course options: Students can choose other criminal justice electives totaling 9 credit hours instead of CRJ 222, CRJ 223 and CRJ 229.

Total Credit Hours

32

Criminal Justice at CLC

Get the bigger picture

A certificate in criminal justice is just one possible way to study legal studies and public safety. Get the bigger picture—degrees, credentials and extra options.

View the Criminal Justice Program Overview

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Complete the application form to begin your program.

Then a Career and College Navigator (CCN) will reach out to answer your questions and get you onboarded. Explore steps to apply at CLC.

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Frequently asked questions

The certificate in criminal justice is 32 total credit hours and takes an average of 1 year to complete. Develop your skills in:
- verbal and written communication skills
- critical thinking
- intrapersonal skills
- interpersonal skills
- computer software proficiency
Choose five electives spread over two semesters. Courses include an internship and cover topics such as:
- deviant behavior
- forensic science
- courtroom testimony
CLC's criminal justice program reflects the larger ethnically diverse community of the college. College of Lake County is committed to ALL students. You are welcome here. Learn about our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
You can complete your criminal justice degree 100% online or in person. Attend class in the way that works best for your learning style.
- Virtual Live: Learn remotely in real-time by taking classes that are taught in a live virtual classroom via Zoom during scheduled times.
- Online: Have the flexibility to complete coursework without scheduled meetings while staying actively engaged in a fully online environment.
- In person: Keep your degree on track with classes that meet face-to-face, providing you with opportunities to interact in person with faculty and peers.

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Pursue a career in public safety

What can you do with a certificate in Criminal Justice?

Highlights

Credit for Prior Learning

100% Online

Career Certificate

Program Length: 1 Year

WIOA Program

Career Outlook

Bailiffs

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Child, Family, and School Social Workers

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Compliance Managers

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Correctional Officers and Jailers

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Customs and Border Protection Officers

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Emergency Management Directors

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Need help getting started?

Recommended Pathway

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Semester 1 17 Credits

Semester 2 15 Credits

Total Credit Hours

Criminal Justice at CLC

Get the bigger picture

Apply now: It's easy and free

Frequently asked questions

How long is this program?

Will I belong at CLC?

Can I take my classes online?

Take the next step...

Be debt-free at CLC

Request info

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