Criminal Justice
- Cost
- $6,772*
Pursue a career in public safety
When a crime is committed, our world needs savvy people on the scene. Receive instruction from experts who bring you real-world knowledge to the classroom. We know you’re ready to make a difference. Build on your existing knowledge and learn the skills you need to advance your career and better serve your community.
Your degree program uses 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
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WIOA Program
Eligible for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)-awarded vouchers. -
Credit for Prior Learning
Receive college credit for what you already know. -
100% Online
Can be completed 100% online. -
Career Certificate
Earn a career certificate in 1 year or less to refine your skills into an in-demand career. -
Program Length: 1 Year
Full-time students finish in 1 year.
Career Outlook
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Maintain order in courts of law.
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Salary Levels
Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
- Entry-Level
- $31,355
- Median
- $53,880
- Senior-Level
- $108,074
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
- $15.07
- Median
- $25.90
- Senior-Level
- $51.96
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.
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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).
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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.
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Salary Levels
Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
- Entry-Level
- $40,057
- Median
- $59,933
- Senior-Level
- $100,830
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
- $19.25
- Median
- $28.81
- Senior-Level
- $48.47
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.
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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).
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Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.
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Salary Levels
Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
- Entry-Level
- $52,249
- Median
- $103,631
- Senior-Level
- $219,337
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
- $25.12
- Median
- $49.81
- Senior-Level
- $105.44
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.
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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).
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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.
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Salary Levels
Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
- Entry-Level
- $56,520
- Median
- $72,447
- Senior-Level
- $92,127
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
- $27.17
- Median
- $34.82
- Senior-Level
- $44.29
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.
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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).
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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.
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Salary Levels
Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
- Entry-Level
- $58,283
- Median
- $93,459
- Senior-Level
- $110,623
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
- $28.01
- Median
- $44.93
- Senior-Level
- $53.18
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.
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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).
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Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.
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Salary Levels
Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
- Entry-Level
- $67,779
- Median
- $104,480
- Senior-Level
- $166,310
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
- $32.58
- Median
- $50.23
- Senior-Level
- $79.95
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.
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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).
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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.
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Salary Levels
Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
- Entry-Level
- $69,890
- Median
- $107,207
- Senior-Level
- $171,495
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
- $33.60
- Median
- $51.53
- Senior-Level
- $82.44
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.
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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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Need help?
Your College & Career Navigator (CCN) is your "go-to person" ready to help you get started at CLC.
Your CCN guides you through the admission process, helps you choose your academic program, enroll in classes and connect you with resources.
Recommended Pathway
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. View degree requirements in the college catalog.
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.
Frequently asked questions
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The certificate in criminal justice is 30 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
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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.
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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.
*Cost includes tuition and other fees, including books and materials before financial aid is applied, such as grants, loans or scholarships. There are many opportunities for financial assistance at CLC. Learn more about Cost of Attendance.
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