Connor Detlefsen
Lantern Staff
At Butler, opportunities lie around nearly every corner. A defining factor of Butler is that you can give it your all and be rewarded with some valuable experiences. A great example of this would be Butler’s Criminal Justice program. The Criminal Justice department offers a full comprehensive experience with various potential in your chosen career.
Someone who is interested in criminal justice can expect a diverse field with a full spectrum of careers ranging from law enforcement to private security or investigation.
Whether you are new to Butler or returning to Butler and seeking study within the criminal justice field, some basic requirements would be a clean record, an open mind and a strong desire to apply yourself as a career in criminal justice is no easy task. In addition to being a diverse field of study, there are career options everywhere from local to federal.
Potential students can expect to take the usual general education classes though there are a variety of criminal justice specific classes taught by instructors. Highlights of Butler’s programs include the affordable cost. Along with the education and class elements, Butler offers on the job experience with student worker positions.
These positions follow a series of levels within the Public Safety division. Student workers can expect to start off as public safety position who monitors campus and provides help to officers. Eventually if they meet the requirements, there is a chance they could be offered a position as a student officer. Chief of Police James Bryan brought the student officer program to Butler because he wanted to enrich the experience of the public safety staff as it provides hands on experience.
“You get a good feel for the community while in the program,” Bryan said. “The student officer position prepares students for the real world and helps them see the human side of things.”
It is clear that it is the highlight of the program seeing as how it puts you in uniform and you get the chance to learn from the best.
With the diversity of the field, criminal justice students can expect starting their career after roughly two years and can expect a starting salary anywhere from $30,000 to $60,000.
“The world looks at you differently with a uniform on,” Bryan said.
The field of criminal justice is not for everyone for it is a diverse job that anyone can do so long as you have the character for it. If one thing is clear though, Butler is a solid place to start that career.
