What jobs can I get if I major in Criminal Justice and in forensic science/investigat

[flashx80]

What is your problem with carrying a gun? Are you psychologically just not prepared to carry a firearm, or do you have some sort of criminal history that prohibits you from owning a gun?

No its just that I dont want to get kill in the line of duty if I have to use the gun

Guess what?

Most people here are paid hourly instead of salary. You might see salaries for police officer positions often quoted as annual, but the fact is that I am a Sergeant, and my pay is still hourly. That's how it is with most people in Law Enforcement... It's not until you become part of upper management (and give up overtime/comptime, etc) that you really become "salaried" in this field.

Notice how a lot of street cops wear blue shirts (with "blue collars?"), and how a lot of Majors, Captains, and Chiefs wear white shirts (with "white" collars?") There's a reason for that.

I have no problems working for an hourly wage instead of an annual salary, and it sounds (to me) like you are surrounded by elitist douchebags if that's something they think is really important.

Well I'm sure not only the people I'm surrounded wants to become a white collar worker but many parents wants their son or daughter to work as a white collar worker not a blue collar worker. How many parents do you know that says to their child "I want you to become a doctor, computer engineer, lawyer, or businessman" instead of "I want you to become a plumber, electrian, or constructor." Does that means those parents look down upon blue collar workers? Maybe or maybe not but they want their child to have a better career

I didnt realize police officers are paid hourly

[flashx80]

Don't go anywhere near law enforcement. We don't need more elitists like you. We have to work with all strata of society and someone with your attitude would look down on many and they don't need that and you would be totally ineffective. Not to mention you would no doubt look down on the cops you would encounter.

Also many of us have more and better education that you.

Don't take me wrong. I dont mind becoming a blue collar worker or work in the law enforcement. I know I said I dont like to carry a gun but I'm trying to avoid it as much as possible. I myself might become one if I cant find a career I want in the criminal justice system. Like I said its just that most of the people I know are white collar workers and I feel excluded. On the other hand, if most of the people I know are blue collar workers no doubt that I'll pursue that career as one of my choices

[Citicop]

My two best friends (and the two smartest people I know, period) are in the private sector. One of them is a software developer who makes roughly four times what I do; he's salaried. The other literally went to Harvard and now is a teacher (who is salaried) and makes roughly what I do. Neither of them care at all what kind of job I have; they know I love what I do and that I'm good at it. There's another guy in the same social circle who is a musician who works at a retail mall store to help pay the bills.

I don't think your friends are shallow elitists because they want jobs that are white collar. I think they are shallow elitists because they would think less of you somehow if you took a job in the trades that you liked and made you happy.

I honestly think (based on what you've written so far) that being a lawyer or college Criminal Justice Professor are your two best choices. A lot of theory, little practice, no risk, and they are "highly respected" and are a white collar, 'salaried' positions. I don't see much else in the Criminal Justice field that fits your set of criteria.

-Citicop.

[flashx80]

My two best friends (and the two smartest people I know, period) are in the private sector. One of them is a software developer who makes roughly four times what I do; he's salaried. The other literally went to Harvard and now is a teacher (who is salaried) and makes roughly what I do. Neither of them care at all what kind of job I have; they know I love what I do and that I'm good at it. There's another guy in the same social circle who is a musician who works at a retail mall store to help pay the bills.

I don't think your friends are shallow elitists because they want jobs that are white collar. I think they are shallow elitists because they would think less of you somehow if you took a job in the trades that you liked and made you happy.

I honestly think (based on what you've written so far) that being a lawyer or college Criminal Justice Professor are your two best choices. A lot of theory, little practice, no risk, and they are "highly respected" and are a white collar, 'salaried' positions. I don't see much else in the Criminal Justice field that fits your set of criteria.

-Citicop.

No my friends dont care what job I get. Its just that my parents wants me to have a good career not like mechanic, garbageman, electrician, or construction worker. They want me to have have at least a good job title. Same goes with my grandparents. However, I dont think theyd mind me working in the criminal justice system as long as I have good title. I asked my mom what she think if I become a park ranger or fish and game warden. She said she would prefer me to become a police officer instead because of the job title.

Other than a lawyer or college Criminal Justice professor the rest of the Criminal Justice system are blue collar? What about crime analyst, CSI, criminologist etc?

[Citicop]

No my friends dont care what job I get. Its just that my parents wants me to have a good career not like mechanic, garbageman, electrician, or construction worker. They want me to have have at least a good job title. Same goes with my grandparents. However, I dont think theyd mind me working in the criminal justice system as long as I have good title. I asked my mom what she think if I become a park ranger or fish and game warden. She said she would prefer me to become a police officer instead because of the job title.

Other than a lawyer or college Criminal Justice professor the rest of the Criminal Justice system are blue collar? What about crime analyst, CSI, criminologist etc?

There you go again, dude. I honestly think you have no idea how offensive and elitist you're being.

You want a "good career," NOT like those dirty mechanics, garbage men, electricians, or construction workers.... They all sound POOR.

If your life plan is to have a career based on a good job title to make mom and dad happy, prepare to be miserable for a good chunk of your life. Find out what you want to do, and then go do it. If it pays the bills and makes you happy, then great. But be a lawyer or professor if you want to study the criminal justice system and then work at a job with a good title where you don't have to risk getting your hands dirty.

Most CSI jobs are police officers. There is no CSI job like you see on the TV shows. I would guess that even where the guys who collect evidence are civilians, they are paid hourly. There are so few positions for "Crime Analysts" and "Criminologists" (outside of the academic world) that they really don't enter into a realistic discussion of the field in my opinion.

Just out of curiosity... what do your parents do for a living? What was their approximate income last year?

[flashx80]

There you go again, dude. I honestly think you have no idea how offensive and elitist you're being.

You want a "good career," NOT like those dirty mechanics, garbage men, electricians, or construction workers.... They all sound POOR.

If your life plan is to have a career based on a good job title to make mom and dad happy, prepare to be miserable for a good chunk of your life. Find out what you want to do, and then go do it. If it pays the bills and makes you happy, then great. But be a lawyer or professor if you want to study the criminal justice system and then work at a job with a good title where you don't have to risk getting your hands dirty.

Most CSI jobs are police officers. There is no CSI job like you see on the TV shows. I would guess that even where the guys who collect evidence are civilians, they are paid hourly. There are so few positions for "Crime Analysts" and "Criminologists" (outside of the academic world) that they really don't enter into a realistic discussion of the field in my opinion.

Just out of curiosity... what do your parents do for a living? What was their approximate income last year?

So youre telling me is not okay to make my parents proud and the jobs that I want to do?

What does my parents do for a living has to do with anything?

[Citicop]

I'm telling you that finding a job which will pay you a living wage that you LIKE is more important than "it having a good title" to impress your parents.

And I said it was just out of curiosity... If you're not comfortable answering it, just say so.

[flashx80]

Ok I should of said that I'm not interested in becoming electrician instead of saying "low career". To tell you the truth I didnt know what I was saying yesterday.

I actually would prefer a career that I like and to impress my parents

I dont mind telling you since you dont know me or my parents but I was wondering what does this have to do with what we have discussed. My dad is a computer engineering and my mom owns a cleaning business. If you wonder why I said those things we talked about is because most of my relatives are educated. Two of my uncles are medical doctors, one of my cousin is a medical doctor, another one is a medical student, and another is planning to become one and is attending Yale as a freshman. My another uncle is a VP of a bank company. Two of my other cousins are computer engineer and other one is mechanical engineer. The rest I dont really know but all I know is they went top 50 universities in the U.S. So you have a sense why I have alot of pressure.

[Switchback]

How old are you, Flashx80?

[retdetsgt]

I guess I was fortunate. My parents weren't choked up about me being a cop, but they loved me enough to support me in any career I chose. And I think I impressed them as an adult, but it had nothing to do with the job I had, it was the kind of man I turned out to be.

Too bad things aren't like that for you.

[Cat_Doc]

Wouldn't you rather that you are not judged by the color of your title, but by the content of your character?

[mcsap]

There are some blue collar people that LIKE what they do and are CONTENT with what they make.

Liking what you do and being content with the pay and benefits is worth a lot more than " making your parents happy".

Look at all of the people who enlisted in the military. Talk about blue collar !! Aren't you ( and your parents ) GLAD that young men and women volunteer to go in the military knowing that they pay isn't great ??!!!

A man in construction cna be just as proud about a good days work as some wall street analyst.

I am very probably going to retire in the next few months and I am going to go work for a construction company. Would I be a letdown to you and your parents ?

[Aussie George]

My good friend is a lowly electrician.

He started as an apprentice and got paid very little (but more than a college student would). Mind you he was 16 at the time. Now that he is in his 30's he has been in his trade for over 15 years.

He also owned his own business until recently, meaning he has paid off his large house on a few acres of prime land, can support his wife and two kids quite well, has horses and a fishing boat, taking care of his social life, and is financially secure.

He has recently closed his own business and is now working as a foreman on large constructions and making great dollars and gets more time off than me, and more money to spend on his days off.

Lowly electrician in your terms, successful businessman and family man in reality.

Steve Jobs was a high school drop out who died with billions and made a real difference in the world.

Being so narrow minded and using terms such as

Its just that my parents wants me to have a good career not like mechanic, garbageman, electrician, or construction worker.

and

as long as I have good title.

certainly makes you sound like a little spoiled snob.

And I am so glad your parents think I am better than just a park ranger...What a snobby attitude.

If you even think of going into LE, then you had best grow up some. There is no way someone with that attitude would last five minutes.