Criminal Justice Certification in New Mexico

A certificate, which can typically be completed in less than one year, can be a convenient way to further your education and get hands-on experience in the criminal justice industry.

New Mexico has made many changes to its criminal justice system in recent years, including a state amendment that declared that no suspect should be held just for their inability to post bail (Marshall Project, 2016).

Is a criminal justice certificate the right move for you?

Learn more about your options now by getting in touch with New Mexico schools below.

What Kind of Criminal Justice Certificates are Available in New Mexico?

The wide range of programs at this level offer you the ability to choose a certificate based on which career you plan on pursuing. From there, program lengths and requirements differ quite a bit.

The majority of certificates require 30 or fewer credits. Many schools require some type of practical experience, but some programs allow you to finish your terminal justice certificate online.

Corrections Officer Technical Certificate Requirements (10 credits)

• Physical Training and Wellness for Corrections Officers
  • In this class, you condition yourself physically to handle the rigors of working in a correctional facility.
• Introduction to Corrections
  • This course offers an introduction to the theory of corrections, the goals of this industry, and the duties you may take on as a corrections professional.
• Corrections Officer Safety and Weapons Training
  • This class covers specific techniques that you can use to defend yourself and keep yourself safe. It also covers the safe and proper use of firearms.
• Interpersonal Skills for Corrections Officers
  • Find out how to communicate efficiently with prisoners, coworkers, and family members of prisoners while on duty.

Police Academy Technical Certificate Requirements (600 total hours)

• New Mexico Criminal Justice System
  • This course goes beyond the federal criminal justice system to look specifically at the statutes used in New Mexico and how they apply to criminology.
• Physical Fitness for Officers
  • This course tests your physical endurance and ensures that you have the physical strength and endurance needed to take on a policing position.
• Patrol Procedures and Operations
  • Learn how to manage patrol routes, tasks, and unexpected situations.
• Identification of Suspects
  • This course covers techniques used to identify suspects, whether information is given by victims, witnesses, or dispatchers.

Paralegal Technical Certificate Requirements (30 hours)

• Criminal Litigation
  • By the time you finish this class, you should be well-versed in the process of trying a criminal case and assisting your supervising lawyer at every step.
• Paralegal Computer Applications
  • This course delves into the applications and programs used by paralegals to complete their daily work.
• Legal Research and Writing
  • Build a strong foundation of research and writing skills that can help you meet the standards of the legal industry.
• Evidence
  • This course covers the use of evidence by law firms, how it is analyzed, and how lawyers may try to get it thrown out of the case.

What Can I Do With a Criminal Justice Certificate in New Mexico?

If you study corrections, you may begin your career as a corrections officer and take on a variety of shifts at a nearby jail or prison. The average salary for a New Mexico corrections officer is $39,660 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022).

If you become a police officer, you may do traffic routes, respond to emergencies, or work on a specific type of case. In New Mexico, police officers bring in an average income of $56,690 per year (BLS, 2022). Statewide demand for police officers may increase 8% through the year 2030 (CareerOneStop, 2022).

Paralegals generally work for private law firms, but they may also work for public legal assistance programs. In New Mexico, job openings for paralegals may jump 13% through 2030 (CareerOneStop, 2022). The average annual income for a paralegal is $51,420 (BLS, 2022).

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

Now that you know what you can do with a certificate, you can start the path to your new career.

Use the list of schools below to contact criminal justice certificate programs near you.

Online programs may not be available in all areas