Criminal Justice Certification in Hawaii

Hawaii’s criminal justice industry is constantly adapting to keep up with new threats, crime waves, and the challenges that come with being one of the largest tourist destinations in the world. As a result, the need for criminal justice professionals often jumps during tourist seasons.

In an effort to meet the growing needs of Hawaii’s residents and visitors, the state government recently created a Correctional Justice Task Force (Civil Beat, 2016). This task force has many important goals. Legislators hope that members can find effective alternatives to mass incarceration, decrease recidivism rates across different types of crime, and establish long-term rehabilitation solutions.

With a criminal justice certificate, you may be able to pursue your ideal career in criminal justice. This type of short-term program can help you learn about the latest issues in this industry and prepare for a specific career path.

Find out how you can get started by contacting criminal justice certificate programs in Hawaii.

What Kind of Criminal Justice Certificates are Available in Hawaii?

For many students, the most straightforward way to get involved in this industry is to earn a technical certificate. A technical certificate is shorter than either an Associate’s degree or Bachelor’s degree. Specific credit requirements vary between areas of study, but generally, it takes less than two years to earn a certificate. Some can even be completed in one or two semesters.

If you live in a rural or remote part of Hawaii, you may be interested in completing your criminal justice certificate online. This option is a great way to study the field that interests you without moving to attend school. Although you may finish your courses online, you may still want to complete an internship at a local justice agency.

Getting involved with your local criminal justice community is an excellent way to jumpstart your career.

Legal Secretary Technical Certificate Requirements 18 credits

• Law Office Management
  • Learn about the management needs of law offices and how you can help an office run smoothly in its daily, monthly, and long-term operations.
• Legal Document Preparation
  • Master the standards of document preparation. These skills help you accurately fill out, file, and amend court documents.
• Hawaii Legal System
  • Delve into the legal system of this state and find out what role paralegals play in it.
• Legal Research
  • Learn basic research techniques that allow you to find relevant sources in legal journals and publications.
• Cooperative Legal Secretary Education
  • Get hands-on experience at a local law firm in this course.

Justice Administration Technical Certificate Requirements 40 credits

• Ethics in Public Services
  • Students learn how to work within ethical and legal parameters while employed in the public service sector.
• Constitutional Law
  • Learn the foundation of the country by studying constitutional law and finding out how it has shaped every other aspect of law in the United States.
• Criminal Law
  • This course covers various aspects of criminal law and the procedures that govern criminal processes.
• Current Issues in the Administration of Justice
  • This course changes each semester to suit the most relevant and up-to-date challenges facing the criminal justice field.

What Can I Do With a Criminal Justice Certificate in Hawaii?

The entire goal of a criminal justice certificate is to get out into the community and start working, which is why you should choose your degree carefully. Thinking about which setting you’d like to work in and what role you’d like to take on in this industry can help you choose the ideal certificate program.

Your practical experience also comes into play when you are ready to start working. If you already have contacts because of an internship or externship, you may be one step ahead of other applicants.

With a background in law enforcement or justice administration, you may get into this field by becoming a police officer. Policing is one of the cornerstones of the criminal justice industry. Job openings may increase 3% through 2030 (CareerOneStop, 2022). In Hawaii, the average salary for a police officer is $89,640 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022).

Your job duties may vary throughout your career. They can also depend on where you work. In a bustling metropolitan area, you may respond to crime reports and safety issues, while more remote areas tend to be a bit quieter. No matter where you take on a policing position, you should be prepared to work nights, weekends, and holidays as needed.

If you get a legal assistant certificate, you may look into becoming a paralegal. Demand for paralegals may swell 9% through 2030 (CareerOneStop, 2022). On average, Hawaii paralegals earn $59,690 per year (BLS, 2022). You could work in one of the many law firms across Hawaii with this certificate. Law firms each have their own area of specialization, so you may be able to work in an area of law that interests you.

Security guards are employed by businesses all over the state. They claim an average annual income of $36,300 (BLS, 2022). Through 2030, job openings for security guards may jump 21% (CareerOneStop, 2022).

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

Discover how you can make Hawaii safer while starting a career you love.

Request information from criminal justice certificate programs below.

Online programs may not be available in all areas