There are many reasons why people are motivated to get up and go to work in the morning. For some people, the salary is the main reason why they show up to work each day, but others will have other motivations too. Enjoying the company of the people you work with, gaining satisfaction from your work and being able to feel like you have made a real positive difference to your community are commonly cited motivations for people who work in public safety.
Whether you are looking to change careers or start out in your professional life this guide is here to help. The list below outlines some of the top jobs in public safety, helping you gain all the information you need to know in order to hit the ground running with a career in public safety.
- Judges and Magistrates
It is the role of judges and magistrates to preside over court hearings, to ensure a trial is run fairly, to make sure the right outcome is made and to determine the length and type of sentence the defendant is given. Judges and magistrates are in high demand in both larger and smaller communities.
In order to work as a judge or magistrate, you will likely need to have a minim of a bachelor’s degree. It is a common assumption that to work as a judge or a magistrate you will need to first be a lawyer, however, this is not a requirement, although the majority of judges and magistrates have some form of legal experience or training. The amount that you will be paid as a judge or a magistrate will depend on where you are practising, the amount of cases you take on, the type of cases you take on and the level of experience you have.
- Criminal Defence Lawyer
It is the role of a criminal defence lawyer to represent defendants that are facing criminal charges from the state, federal or appellate courts. The day-to-day duties of a criminal defence lawyer can take on many different forms, you might be responsible for bail bond hearings, plea bargains, trial revocation hearings, post-conviction work or appeals. As a criminal defence lawyer, you will likely spend time investigating the case interviewing witnesses, researching legal restrictions, developing a case strategy and advocating for the defendant.
In order to work as a criminal defence lawyer, you will need to have both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in law. You will then need to pass the bar examination in the state in which you intend to practice. It is likely that you might also need to obtain another form of certification to be able to practice.
- A Detective
Detectives and criminal investigators work to gather facts and to collect evidence in order to solve possible crimes. Detectives can work as law enforcement officers, but they are also likely to work off-site in order to physically follow leads and further understand the sense of the crime. The daily duties of a detective can differ from day to day and can include conducting interviews, monitoring suspects, examining records, or participating in raids and arrests.
in order to work as a detective, you will likely need to have either a high school or bachelor’s degree. You will also need to have graduated from the agency’s training academy and have completed on-the-job training before you are able to start working as a detective. It is common for those working as detectives to have joined a law enforcement agency and then worked their way up the ranks to be able to practice as a detective. Getting further education, such as a Master of Public Safety can help you gain extra knowledge, helping you gain an advantage when you are looking to apply to become a detective.
- A Prison Warden
A prison warden is both a law enforcement officer and a manager who is responsible for ensuring that their correctional facility is safe for both the staff and the inmates that occupy it. A prison warden is responsible for setting and maintaining the rules and standards within the correctional facility, as well as determining the training standards of all staff who work on-site. Not only does a prison warden need to ensure the correctional facility is safe, but it is also efficiently run and effective.
The prison warden is the highest role within the corrections path of the criminal justice industry. It is not uncommon for a prison warden to have started their career as a corrections officer and have worked their way up. It is recommended that you obtain a degree in criminal justice, criminology, social work, or a similar program.
- A Probation Officer
A probation officer plays a very significant role as they help newly released convicts adjust to life outside of prison and help them to find work and get their lives back on track and make the often difficult transition back into life within a free community. A probation officer might work in an office or out and about, conducting home visits, interviewing family members, and following up with their clients. Some of the common duties of a probation officer include interviewing offenders, making recommendations to judges, monitoring offenders to ensure they are abiding with the terms of their probation, assessing progress, and administering drug tests.
In order to work as a probation officer, you will need to have gained a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, human services, psychology, or corrections. It is likely that you’ll need to complete a training program that is sponsored either by your state or the federal government. In order to start working as a probation officer, you will also need to have passed the necessary background checks. It is also quite common for probation officers to have worked as an officer in training for up to a year before they are able to take on the position of a probation officer full time.
