Criminal Justice Certification in Mississippi

While crime rates are down all over the country, there are still many areas in which the criminal justice industry can improve how it protects citizens, rehabilitates prisoners, and ensures the safety of the community. If you pursue a certificate in criminal justice, you may develop the skills needed for competitive careers in law enforcement, legal settings, corrections, and forensic science.

In Mississippi, criminal justice reform has yielded many encouraging results. State experts note that the recidivism rate in Mississippi is still unacceptably high, which means that legislators may work intensively on measures to rehabilitate prisoners and avoid recidivism (Clarion Ledger, 2016).

Are you ready to earn a criminal justice certificate and take the next step in your career?

Learn more below and get in touch with Mississippi certificate programs for more information.

What Kind of Criminal Justice Certificates are Available in Mississippi?

In Mississippi, certificate programs are typically offered at technical schools and community colleges. In most cases, they are quite a bit shorter than Associate’s degree programs. Many require only one year of study or less.

Court Reporting Technical Certificate Requirements (33 credits)

• Speed Building
  • This course helps you increase your typing speed with exercises, practice techniques, and practical dictation drills.
• Real-time Reporting Procedures
  • Students in this class learn how to function in a busy courtroom, particularly when multiple people are talking at once or people are using complicated legal or medical terminology.
• Judicial Reporting Technology
  • Practice using the technology utilized in Mississippi courtrooms and learn about the advances that may change your career in the future.
• Judicial Dictionary Development
  • This course helps students master legal terminology and understand how to identify and use it in context.

Paralegal Technology Technical Certificate Requirements (30 credits)

• Legal Research
  • Techniques for effective legal research are covered in this course. By the time you complete this class, you should know how to use legal journals to find relevant research for any type of case.
• Introduction to Law
  • Get a broad introduction to Mississippi and federal law. This course covers different types of law and the types of cases you may encounter in a law firm.
• Legal Writing
  • Develop your basic legal writing skills, which may allow you to write case summaries, client communication, and client updates.
• Civil Litigation
  • Explore the world of civil litigation to understand how it is different from criminal litigation.

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

Criminal justice certificate programs may give you the hands-on skills needed to transition smoothly into a new career. If you pursue a certificate in paralegal studies, you may work in a law firm as a paralegal. This position puts you in frequent contact with lawyers, court personnel, and clients.

The average salary for a Mississippi paralegal is $46,060 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022). Job openings for paralegals may increase 10% through 2030 (CareerOneStop, 2022).

With a certificate in court reporting, you may transcribe and comment on court cases. The average annual salary for a court reporter is $63,900 (BLS, 2022). Through 2030, demand for court reporters may jump 17% in Mississippi (CareerOneStop, 2022).

Bailiffs maintain order in courtrooms and ensure the safety of witnesses, suspects, and victims. Their average income in Mississippi is $35,600 annually (BLS, 2022). A 7% boost in job openings is expected through 2030 (CareerOneStop, 2022).

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

Committing your career to the field of criminal justice gives you the chance to do meaningful work that keeps Mississippi residents safe.

Find a school that fits your needs by contacting criminal justice programs in MS.

Online programs may not be available in all areas