Criminal Justice Certification in Maine

As this industry changes to adapt to new research, the need for professionals at all levels of education is increasing. The Maine Center for Workforce Research and Information maintains a list of high growth jobs at each level of education. Their list of in-demand jobs that do not require an Associate’s degree places police officers and correctional officers high on the list (2016).

Are you ready to take the plunge and start a career in the field of criminal justice?

Learn more now by contacting criminal justice programs in Maine below.

What Kind of Criminal Justice Certificates are Available in Maine?

Technical schools and community colleges throughout Maine have technical certificate programs for adult students, new high school graduates, and for those who have been away from the world of postsecondary education for several years.

These programs have specific goals. Instead of offering a broad theoretical understanding of criminal justice, they drill down to a career path and prepare students for the criminal justice careers that they want to pursue.

Popular Maine options are outlined below.

Paralegal Studies Technical Certificate Requirement- 18 hours

• Legal Research and Materials
  • Learn how to properly use legal journals and materials to complete thorough, effective research that can minimize your supervising lawyer’s workload.
• Principles of Litigation
  • This course covers the fundamentals of litigation in criminal and civil cases, preparing you for the days you may spend in court as a paralegal.
• Estate Administration
  • Students in this class learn about the creation of wills and final testaments before studying how estates are disbursed and managed after an individual’s death.
• Family Law
  • Delve into the world of family law, which covers divorce, child custody, visitation, and other cases that make up most of a judge’s case load.

Corrections Certificate Requirements- 36 credits

• Criminology
  • Explore the social factors that drive criminal behavior and what factors motivate would-be criminals to commit crime.
• Correctional Procedures
  • This practical class outlines the procedures, protocols, and standards of Maine’s jails and prisons.
• Juvenile Delinquency
  • The complicated world of juvenile justice is the focus in this class, which explores differences between adult correctional procedures and juvenile correctional procedures.
• Constitutional Law
  • Learn about the core of American law in this class, which helps students understand suspects’

Computer Forensics Post-Bachelor’s Certificate Requirements- 30 credits

• Advanced Networking Concepts
  • This class looks at networking systems used in homes, businesses, and government agencies to find weaknesses and potential openings for cyber-crime.
• Criminal Law
  • Learn how criminal law in Maine and the United States as a whole affects computer forensics and guides your work.
• Criminalistics
  • Students in this course delve into criminal procedures, evidence collection, and analysis of evidence.
• Police Operations
  • The field of policing is in the spotlight in this course, which examines law enforcement operations and outlines how computer forensics professionals fit into investigations.

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

The opportunities you have with a certificate in criminal justice depend largely on which certificate you decide to earn. Practical experience can definitely change the early stages of your career, which is why it’s so important to complete an internship if you have the chance.

If you study computer forensics or forensic science, you may look into becoming a forensic science technician. Your specialty may put you in a lab or at a computer, analyzing evidence and processing items as they come in.

Job openings for forensic science technicians should remain steady through 2030 (CareerOneStop, 2022). The average salary for a forensic science technician in Maine is $59,950 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022).

Paralegals enjoy the stability of regular work hours while spending most of their time in a law office or in a courtroom. The average salary in this field is $56,110 annually (BLS, 2022). A 9% boost in job openings is expected through 2030 (CareerOneStop, 2022).

Correctional officers may take up vacancies in Maine prisons and jails. Shifts vary quite a bit, with many facilities requiring regular shift rotation. Coverage is needed around-the-clock, so you may work nights, weekends, and holidays as needed. Correctional officers claim an average income of $44,360 per year (BLS, 2022). CareerOneStop anticipates job openings should remain fairly steady through 2030 (2022).

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

There’s no better time than the present to invest in yourself and your future by advancing your education.

Find the right option for you by requesting information from criminal justice certificate programs in Maine.

Online programs may not be available in all areas