Puerto Rico Criminal Justice Degree Programs

Overview

Because of its territory status, Puerto Rico has many of the same legal and justice procedures as the United States. Perhaps due to its bustling tourism industry, however, Puerto Rico is also one of the most dangerous tourism sites in the Western hemisphere.

According to The Evening Standard, the number of murders in Puerto Rico soared after the devastation wrought by Hurricane Maria sparked “lawlessness.” 32 people have been slain on the Caribbean island in the first 11 days of the year, double the number killed over the same period in 2017.

The homicide rate in Puerto Rico is higher than the rate of any place in the United States. Combine that with an uptick in drug transit, changes in the police department, and a bad economy, and Puerto Rico is still in need of a strong, consistent criminal justice system. In response, the Justice Department has pledged $10 million to Puerto Rico to improve the state of its police department.

Criminal Justice Education in Puerto Rico

Criminal justice is an exciting and dynamic field, and you can become part of it at CriminalJusticePrograms.com. Check out our list of featured schools to find a program in your area that can help you reach your career goals.

Most criminal justice programs in Puerto Rico follow a similar structure. Early in your criminal justice education, you take introductory courses in various criminal justice fields. As you proceed in your program, you build on that knowledge by learning more about each different field. While class names vary between schools, you can generally expect to complete coursework in the following areas:

• Criminology
• Criminal Law and Procedure
• Court Procedures
• Policing

During your early courses, you may find a particular subject or field that really triggers your interest. Keep this in mind since many criminal justice programs require you to choose a specialized area of study. You may be able to focus on one of the areas listed above, in addition to narrower fields like internet crime, identity theft, and violent crimes.

Toward the end of your degree, you may get the chance to complete an internship. In fact, some schools require an internship! As you choose an internship, you should keep in mind your future career goals, since many internships turn into full-time jobs after graduation.

There are several school-funded scholarships. It would also be helpful to investigate federally funded financial aid as well.

Learn more about scholarships in criminal justice by exploring our financial aid resources page.

Outlook for Criminal Justice in Puerto Rico

As you begin your career in Puerto Rico, you are joining over 63,000 people that work in the criminal justice field in this territory. Career options vary, depending on your education and experience, but there are certain jobs that are always in-demand in this area.

Far and away, the most in-demand criminal justice jobs in Puerto Rico are for security guards and police officers. Together, they make up 48,000 of the territory’s 63,000 criminal justice jobs. You may be asked to work a variety of hours for these positions, depending on whether or not it is tourist season. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average salary for a security guard is $18,730 per year. They note that the average salary for a police officer is $40,230 per year (BLS, 2022).

While not as in-demand as police officers and security guards, jailers and police supervisors make up a good portion of criminal justice workers in Puerto Rico. You may be able to get an entry-level position as a jailer. However, to work as a police supervisor, you will likely need experience working as a police officer in Puerto Rico. Median salaries for jailers are $29,690 per year and police supervisors are $48,580 per year (BLS, 2022).

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

Do you want to serve your community and improve your career prospects at the same time? Contact our featured schools to find out how you can start earning your criminal justice degree.