Criminal Justice

The employment outlook in the criminal justice sector varies by branch (law enforcement, judicial system, and corrections/rehabilitation). The following outlook projections are provided by the U.S. Department of Labor, DOL. Note that some occupations are found in multiple branches.

Law Enforcement

Job opportunities in protective service occupations are projected to grow slower than the average for all careers from 2023 to 2033. Although slow growth is expected, about 419,300 job openings are projected each year, on average, because of a need to replace workers who retire or leave the field for other reasons.

Employment of police and detectives is projected to increase by 4 percent from 2023 to 2033. This is about as fast as the average for all careers. "A desire for public safety may result in a need for more officers," according to the DOL. "However, demand for employment is expected to vary by location, driven largely by local and state budgets. Even when crime rates fall, demand for police services to maintain public safety is expected to continue."

The outlook is bright for workers in the forensic sciences. Employment growth of 14 percent is expected for these workers through 2033. This is a small field, however, so only about 2,700 new jobs will be added each year, and competition for jobs will still be keen. Technological and scientific advances have made forensic information more reliable and useful as evidence in trials. Popular media has also increased the interest in forensic science and crime scene investigation. Law enforcement agencies and courts will need forensic science technicians, including criminalists, to contribute their findings to crime investigations and court cases. Opportunities will vary depending on federal, state, and local budgets. Typically larger police departments have the budgets to employ forensic science technicians on a full-time basis.

Judicial System

Employment for all legal workers is projected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations from 2023 to 2033.

Job opportunities for lawyers in all specialties will be good. "Demand for legal work is expected to continue as individuals, businesses, and all levels of government require legal services in many areas," according to the DOL. The employment outlook for attorneys who work for government agencies varies by agency level. For example, little or no employment change is expected for lawyers who work for federal government agencies through 2033, while slower-than-average employment growth is expected for attorneys who are employed by state agencies. Employment for lawyers at local government agencies is expected to increase as fast as the average for all careers. Job opportunities for paralegals and legal assistants will grow 1 percent from 2023 to 2033. This is slower than the average for all occupations.

Job opportunities for judges and hearing officers are projected to increase by 3 percent (about as fast as the average for all occupations) from 2023 to 2033. "However, budgetary constraints in federal, state, and local governments may limit the ability of these governments to fill vacant judge and hearing officer positions or authorize new ones," according to the DOL.

Employment for bailiffs is expected to decline by 1 percent through 2033. "Demand for bailiffs will stem from the need to maintain security in courtrooms during legal proceedings," according to the DOL. "However, employment growth for bailiffs may be limited by state and local budget constraints."

Job opportunities in the judicial system—and the criminal justice sector on the whole—may be tempered by the declining crime rate in many reporting categories in the United States. There will still be crime, however, and increasing legal costs will ensure that criminal lawyers, attorneys, and other related professionals will continue to be needed. Urban populations are also expected to grow and these areas often have higher crime rates than less populated areas.

Corrections/Rehabilitation

Employment for correctional officers and jailers is expected to decline by 7 percent through 2033. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reported a downward trend in the size of the correctional population and the correctional supervision rate in recent years, and that decline is expected to continue. "Faced with high costs for keeping people in prison, many state governments have moved toward laws requiring shorter prison terms and alternatives to prison," according to the DOL. "While keeping the public safe, community-based programs that are designed to rehabilitate prisoners and limit their risk of repeated offenses also may reduce prisoner counts." Heavy workloads and the often challenging clientele make corrections work extremely stressful. Most of the positions that will be added will be due to the need to replace people who retire or leave the field for other reasons. Job growth is also dependent on state and local government funding for corrections; when corrections budgets are cut, employment often declines. Additionally, correctional facilities are often scrutinized to cut back on inefficient practices and expenditures, which could limit future growth.

Job opportunities for probation officers, parole officers, correctional treatment specialists, and related workers are projected to grow 4 percent from 2023 to 2033. As long as people commit crimes, these workers will be needed.

Employment opportunities in community and social service occupations are projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations from 2023 to 2033. This field includes substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors; social and human service assistants; social workers; and other workers.

Employment for substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors is expected to grow by 17 percent (much faster than the average) through 2033, with the DOL projecting 84,500 new jobs added to the field by 2033. Mental health and substance abuse social workers will also have much faster than average employment growth. Demand will increase for addiction counselors and social workers because more states are assigning offenders to rehabilitation programs, such as addiction treatment services, rather than sentencing them to jail. The criminal justice system has recognized that substance abuse addicts who receive counseling and treatment for their addiction are less likely to repeat the crime. Many states are also choosing the treatment option for offenders due to budget cuts and overcrowded prisons. Job prospects will be best for substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors with a bachelor’s or master’s degree. There will also be ongoing job opportunities for mental health and substance abuse counselors and social workers because of the high turnover in these fields. The work is emotionally demanding and stressful, and many people leave their jobs after several years.

Psychologists will have good job growth in the coming years. The DOL predicts 7 percent employment growth for psychologists. Mental health centers, social service agencies, correctional facilities, and other organizations will need psychologists to help people with mental health, behavioral, and learning problems. Increased awareness of the connection between mental health and learning disabilities and behavioral problems will lead to increased demand for psychologists’ assessments and counseling services. Job growth will be strong in this field but there will also be considerable competition for jobs.

Employment for social and human service assistants is expected to grow faster than the average through 2033. The DOL predicts this field will grow by 8 percent due to the rising number of people seeking treatment for addiction. Also, as more drug offenders are sentenced to addiction treatment centers rather than jail, more social and human service assistants will be needed to provide social services. Those with a degree in social or human services will have the best prospects of finding work.