by Cathy Beasley

Created on: January 19, 2009   Last Updated: February 02, 2009

Have you ever dreamed of chasing down the bad guys, solving a crime, or simply just helping someone? Although not necessarily like the movies or TV shows you may watch, you can live out your own adventures. But it does take a strong individual who will stand up while others will want to remain seated. It is not a job for everyone, but for those who choose it, it will be the most rewarding thing they could ever do with their lives.

For women, there are many career options in the Criminal Justice field. Everything from city police, to CSI, to even FBI agents. Depending on where your interests lie. The higher up careers will almost always require a four year degree, while some may only require a high school diploma. The pay usually also reflects these positions. A higher education in this field can very much aid in your possibilities of obtaining any of these careers.

Your local police department may just be the place if you feel you would like to help out in your community. This usually does not require a college degree, although you will, like most careers in the Criminal Justice field, have to partake in a designed course before graduating into that career. Police work can vary, and offers many options so that you will not be stuck doing the same thing everyday. And, you will have the confidence and the knowledge that you are helping to keep your community safe.

If you find yourself addicted to reading anything you can on crime scenes, then a career in the forensics just may very well be the one for you. This will allow you to view and analyze everything pertaining to the crime scene to hopefully catch your manor killer, as it may be. This is not for the weak of heart, but if you find yourself hooked to those gruesome shows or programs, you may excel quite well in this option. A Crime Scene Investigator does everything from taking photographs to assisting in an autopsy of the deceased. This requires a lot of logic and patience while you piece together your crime.

If you find yourself more interested in the higher up cases, the ones your local neighbors are not supposed to know about, then the FBI may be the right choice for you. The Federal Bureau of Investigation does require many long hours and can be a very high stakes, dangerous job. But the excitement and the never knowing what lies ahead could all aid in your choice for this particular career. A typical day for an FBI agent is never typical. One day you could be following a lead to a case, while the next you could be in court testifying, or even filling in paperwork at your own desk. Some nights you may even partake in a stakeout where you spend most of the night hoping one of your leads will pay out. This is not the job for the meek, but if you have it in you, you may just find the most rewarding career of your life.

Whichever path you choose in the Criminal Justice Field, know that it will be worthwhile. Some days may be hard and strenuous, but at the end of the day, you are truly taking care of others, and helping to make this world a better place. We need strong women to aid in their own love for adventure and excitement, while also making our country a safer place to be.

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