Criminal Justice Certification in Colorado

Although criminal justice functions on a federal level, change often comes from each state as legislators focus on the problems that they face every day.

One large issue for Colorado is that prisons are rapidly running out of room. Many years ago, the state tried transitioning more offenders out of prison and into other housing options, like halfway homes. According to a member of the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Article in an article on cpr.org, “Colorado doesn’t need more prisons. It needs a sensible drug policy that treats drug abuse like a public health issue and not a criminal justice issue.”

ACLU leaders say they hope that through reforms in the legislature and at the ballot box, the state could see a 50 percent reduction in the number of people in prison. With a criminal justice certificate, you could be integral in the improvement of these major issues.

Are you ready to get involved in the field of criminal justice? Contact Colorado schools below to find out how you can earn a criminal justice certificate.

What Kind of Criminal Justice Certificates are Available in Colorado?

There are two types of criminal justice certificate programs in Colorado. The first is a technical certificate, which is a common choice for high school graduates and those who are just starting their postsecondary education.

Post-Master’s certificates require a master’s degree. Generally, these degree programs are much shorter than associate degree programs in Colorado. You may be able to earn a certificate in one or two semesters of full-time study.

The outlined certificates below are technical certificate programs.

Crime Analysis Certificate Requirements

• 25 credits
• Research in Criminal Justice
  • Analysis of criminal justice research and proper use of research in the solving of crimes
• Crime Assessment
  • Understanding the reasons and motivations behind specific types of crime
• Crime Mapping
  • Techniques for understanding incidences of crime, patterns, and locations
• Intelligence Analysis
  • Effectively studying and thinking critically about evidence, testimony, and criminology

Emergency Dispatch Certificate Requirements

• 15 credits
• Policing Systems
  • How policing systems function at each level of government and what role police officers play in the criminal justice system as a whole
• Emergency Dispatching
  • Standards and laws for emergency dispatchers; techniques for caller communication and assistance
• Victimology
  • The psychology of being victimized and the aftereffects of violent or traumatic crime
• Stress Management
  • Techniques for minimizing stress while working in a fast-paced environment like an emergency call center

Law Enforcement Certificate Requirements

• 30 credits
• Community Interactions
  • Interacting effectively with people in your community to promote trust of police officers and law enforcement personnel
• First Aid for Criminal Justice Officers
  • Core first aid techniques that officers can use on-site while determining if individuals need emergency assistance
• Criminal Justice Defensive Tactics
  • Deescalating situations and defending yourself against perpetrators and suspects
• Criminal Investigations
  • The process of criminal investigation and the role that police officers play in short-term and long-term investigations

Homeland Security Certificate Requirements

• 30 credits
• Correctional Process
  • The steps that are followed to put a perpetrator in prison, as well as the timeline for early release, parole, and other situations
• Principles of Criminal Law
  • An overview of criminal law in the United States and how different crimes make up the prison population
• Terrorism, Intelligence, and Justice
  • Terrorism on a domestic and international scale; how terrorism is challenged by different governmental agencies and security agencies
• Criminalistics
  • Using evidence and DNA to solve crimes and locate perpetrators

What Can I Do with a Criminal Justice Certificate in Colorado?

How can criminal justice programs in Colorado help you jump start your career? No matter which certificate you choose, you likely have the skills needed for one or two specific career paths. Prior to starting your education, do some research on jobs within your field and find out what the future of your career may be like.

Information security analysts may use data and files to locate breaches and improve security. By 2030, job openings for information security analysts may increase by 28% in Colorado (CareerOneStop, 2022). They claim an average annual income of $118,480 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022).

If you attend a police academy, you may become a police officer and solve crimes, answer emergency calls, or perform traffic stops. The average income for a Colorado police officer is $80,990 annually (BLS, 2022). A 16% increase in job openings is predicted through 2030 (CareerOneStop, 2022).

Emergency dispatchers work a variety of shifts to answer emergency calls and send help to appropriate locations. For this, they claim an average salary of $55,090 per year (BLS, 2022). Demand for dispatchers may increase by 17% through 2030 (CareerOneStop, 2022).

Criminal investigators in Colorado generally work for police departments and government agencies to solve crimes and ensure that local statutes are followed. They report a mean annual income of $95,450 (BLS, 2022). CareerOneStop expects job openings to increase 10% by 2030 (2022).

2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Colorado contained here reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed November 2023.

Start working toward a rewarding career now. Check out local schools below and contact programs near you to find out how you can earn a certificate in criminal justice.

Online programs may not be available in all areas