Colorado enjoys an effective law enforcement community and a dropping crime rate. According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Statistic, the instances of violent crime in the Centennial State are down slightly from 2008 into 2009, and property crimes have dropped more significantly during that time period. Most of the serious crimes such as murder, rape, and burglary occur in the urban areas of Denver, Lakewood, and Colorado Springs.
Colorado Criminal Justice Careers
Nationally there were 3,172,420 people working in the criminal justice field in 2009, and an estimated 50,200 of them were employed in protective services in Colorado. The mean annual wage of law enforcement personnel in Colorado was $43,570, just above the national mean of $41,740, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Graduates of Colorado criminal justice schools work in several law enforcement capacities. The major types of employment in Colorado law enforcement are:
Colorado enjoys an effective law enforcement community and a dropping crime rate. According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Statistic, the instances of violent crime in the Centennial State are down slightly from 2008 into 2009, and property crimes have dropped more significantly during that time period. Most of the serious crimes such as murder, rape, and burglary occur in the urban areas of Denver, Lakewood, and Colorado Springs.
Colorado Criminal Justice Careers
Nationally there were 3,172,420 people working in the criminal justice field in 2009, and an estimated 50,200 of them were employed in protective services in Colorado. The mean annual wage of law enforcement personnel in Colorado was $43,570, just above the national mean of $41,740, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Graduates of Colorado criminal justice schools work in several law enforcement capacities. The major types of employment in Colorado law enforcement are:
- Corrections officers
- Police officers and sheriff's deputies
- Investigators and evidence technicians
- Security officers
- Probation and parole officers
Crime rates in Colorado were significantly lower than the national average, according to statistics from the National Institute of Corrections. The overall crime rate in the state was 13 percent lower than the national average, while violent crime was 25 percent lower.
Training at Colorado Criminal Justice Colleges
Colorado criminal justice colleges provide an excellent education for those entering law enforcement jobs in Colorado. Most universities and community colleges serve students on modern college campuses, but students who live in remote parts of the state or just need a more flexible schedule can take advantage of online Colorado criminal justice colleges and complete degrees without classroom attendance. Coursework at Colorado criminal justice colleges includes:
- Patrol and community relations techniques
- Colorado law and legal issues
- Investigative skills and evidence collection
- Use of force, self-defense, and firearms
- Communication skills
Law enforcement agencies generally prefer to hire graduates of criminal justice programs. Men and women in police jobs in Colorado who have earned an associate's, bachelor's, or master's degree in criminal justice have the edge in being hired and qualify for promotions.
