I want to work in Criminal Justice

Find out how you can start a career in Criminal Justice. Here we list potential job roles and some of the leading companies in that sector.

Introduction

Court Reporter

Court reporters produce verbatim reports of court proceedings, using traditional shorthand techniques or stenotype machines. They may also work at public inquiries, court martials, tribunals and police interviews.
Job profile of a Court Reporter from the TARGET Jobs website

Criminal Intelligence Analyst

Criminal intelligence analysts collect and evaluate information which they use to analyse patterns of crime, build up a picture of criminal suspects and their activities to help solve crimes and prevent future crimes being committed.

Job profile of an Intelligence Analyst on the Prospects website

Job profile of a Criminal Intelligence Analyst on the National Careers Service website

Forensic Accountant

Forensic accountants investigate fraud and other financial misrepresentation. Their work enables lawyers, insurance companies and other clients to resolve disputes.
A Career in Forensic Accounting from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales

Forensic Psychologist

Working with offenders, profiling and giving evidence in court.
Job profile of a Forensic Psychologist from the Prospects website

Immigration, Customs and Border Roles

There are a variety of roles involving monitoring people, banned substances and other goods leaving and entering the country to ensure safety and security and to maintain the law.
Job profile of a Customs Officer from the TARGET Jobs website
Job profile of an Immigration Officer from the TARGET Jobs website
Job profile of a Border Force Officer from the National Careers Service website

Police Officer

Police Officers work to make communities safer by maintaining the law and preventing crime.
Job profile of a Police Officer from the Prospects website
Job profile of a Police Officer from the TARGET Jobs website

Police Support Roles

Police forces employ civilian staff in a wide range of support roles, including communications, IT, administration, recruitment and finance.
Overview of police civilian support roles from bluelinejobs

Prison Officer

Prison Officers are responsible for maintaining security in prisons and supporting the rehabilitation of prisoners.
Job profile of a Prison Officer from the Prospects website
Job profile of a Prison Officer from the TARGET Jobs website
Job profile of a Prison Governor from the National Careers Service website

Probation Officer

Probation Officers work with offenders and aim to reduce rates of re-offending and protect the public.
Job profile of a Probation Officer from the Prospects website
Job profile of a Probation Officer from the TARGET Jobs website
On Probation blog, “the personal thoughts of an ordinary probation officer”

Scene of Crime Officer

Scene of crime officers (SOCOs) locate, record and recover evidence from crime scenes.
Job profile of a Scene of Crime Officer on the National Careers Service website
Job profile of a Scene of Crime Officer from the TARGET Jobs website

Social Researcher

Social Researchers could work for universities or research organisations such as think-tanks. Social research covers a wide range of topics including crime, housing, youth and community. Social Researchers manage research projects including collecting and analysing data and presenting the results.
Job profile of a Social Researcher from the Prospects website
Job profile of a Social Researcher from the TARGET Jobs website
Job profile of a Government Social Research Officer from the Prospects website
Job profile of a Government Research Officer from the TARGET Jobs website
Career profiles of researchers from the Social Research Association

Victim Care Officer

Providing help to people who have been victims of crime, including supporting them during court proceedings.
Job profile of a Victim Care Officer on the National Careers Service website

Youth Offending Team Officer

Working with young offenders with the aim of reducing rates of re-offending and supporting young people to achieve positive outcomes.
Job profile of a Youth Offending Team Officer from the National Careers Service website

Companies

Prison and Probation Services

Employers – Public Sector

Employers – Private Sector
Some prisons in the UK are run privately by companies such as SERCO, G4S and Sodexo.

At the moment about 70 per cent of the probation service is provided by private providers known as Community Rehabilitation Companies. These companies supervise low- and medium-risk offenders after leaving prison. The public sector National Probation Service is responsible for the high-risk offenders. Please note that the probation system is currently being restructured by the government.

Further Links

Volunteer Opportunities

  • Independent Monitoring Boards Independent, unpaid volunteers who monitor the day-to-day life in their local prison or immigration removal centre and ensure that proper standards of care and decency are maintained
  • Independent Custody Visiting Association Independent custody visitors are volunteers who visit people detained in police stations to ensure that they are being treated properly
  • Lay Observers Volunteers who monitor the welfare of prisoners under escort. They inspect the conditions in which prisoners are escorted and held in custody by contractors.
  • National Association of Official Prison Visitors Volunteers who offer friendship and commitment to the prisoner whilst he/she is in prison

Police

Private Investigation and Security

Social Research

Academic and Professional Bodies and Further Study

Voluntary Organisations and Charities

  • Catch 22 – “a social business providing services that help people in tough situations to turn their lives around”
  • Centre for Justice Innovation A new UK charity committed to improving the British justice system through testing ideas out in the real world.
  • Churches Criminal Justice Forum
  • Clinks Supports voluntary organisations that work with offenders and their families. Has a jobs board
  • Crimestoppers Independent charity helping law enforcement to locate criminals and help solve crimes. Volunteer and paid roles.
  • The Howard League for Penal Reform
  • Just Mentoring The Just Mentoring directory contains information about services that provide mentoring support to adults with convictions in England and Wales. Job vacancies are also available on the site.
  • KeyRing Works with people with a learning disability. Has various projects for those involved with the criminal justice system.
  • NACRO - crime reduction charity
  • PACT A national charity which supports people affected by imprisonment, providing practical and emotional support to prisoners' children and families, and to prisoners themselves. Volunteer opportunities
  • Prisoners’ Advice Service Independent legal charity providing information and representation to prisoners. Recruits legal, fundraising and communications volunteers.
  • Prison Reform Trust
  • Forward supports people with addictions or who have been involved with crime to move forward in a positive direction.
  • Reprieve Provides free legal and investigative support to defend human rights.
  • SOVA works to strengthen communities by involving local volunteers in promoting social inclusion and reducing crime
  • St Giles Trust Charity helping ex-offenders and disadvantaged people to move their lives forward and break the cycle of offending
  • Turning Point social enterprise, providing specialist and integrated services which focus on improving lives and communities across issues including mental health, substance misuse, the criminal justice system and employment.
  • Victim Support

Find out more

With thanks to Prospects for the content.

Last updated