critical thinking questions criminal justice

Critical thinking: An essential police tool

Policies and procedures provide guidelines for dealing with a variety of situations, but what about problems not neatly gift wrapped.

Officers who deploy critical thinking will benefit themselves, their agencies and the public.

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By Robert Whitson, PhD

As a police officer, have you ever asked yourself, “What the hell was I thinking?” Have you ever watched other officers, usually on the nightly news, and asked, “What the hell were they thinking?” During my 30 years as a police officer, a lot of people told me “what” to think, but nobody told me “how” to think. Nobody taught me critical thinking.

Police officers deal with problems every day. Officers are expected to demonstrate common sense, communication skills and interpersonal skills, all with an open mind free of bias. Policies and procedures provide guidelines for dealing with a variety of situations, but what about problems not neatly gift wrapped? Officers must use critical thinking for such situations. The following are five real-life examples.

1. You’re dispatched to a suicidal female who is on the phone with a crisis counselor. The female said she is alone in her apartment and has a gun.

Do you call SWAT? Do you evacuate other apartments? Do you yell for the female to come outside? Do you enter the apartment? Do you leave, which is a concept proposed in some jurisdictions?

Keep in mind, if somebody gets injured or dies, your every move will be dissected in retrospect. If you make a mistake, you may lose your job, get sued , or be prosecuted. In 2017, there were 47,173 suicides in the United States and about 1.4 million attempts. What will you do?

In this case, the officers who responded to the female’s apartment listened at the front door and didn’t hear anyone. The front door was unlocked. They quietly opened the door and heard the female talking in a bathroom. The bathroom door was open about one inch.

If they asked her to come out of the bathroom, it could turn into a barricaded subject, or suicide by cop. Realizing the female was distracted while talking to the counselor, and that most people who call a counselor for help don’t want to commit suicide, the officers knew they could take advantage of the element of surprise. One of the officers entered the bathroom and immediately grabbed the female before she could fire a gun. In this case, the plan worked, and nobody was hurt.

2. You attempt to stop a driver who may be driving under the influence. Instead of stopping, the vehicle speeds away. According to your pursuit policy, an officer must weigh the risk to life and property presented by the suspect if not immediately apprehended, compared to the risk to the public in pursuing the suspect.

An average of 355 persons were killed annually, from 1996 to 2015, during police pursuits. [1] If someone gets seriously injured or killed during your pursuit, your decision to engage in a pursuit will be second-guessed, with possible discipline, and the inevitable lawsuit will follow.

There are many variables to consider for this example. Is the driver a juvenile? Is the driver a senior citizen? What type of vehicle is involved? Variables include the volume of traffic, speed, the number of people in the suspect’s vehicle, type of area (residential, rural, city, business), type of roadway (number of lanes, highway, dirt/gravel, construction), traffic lights or signs, the weather (dry, wet, snow, ice), and time of day or night, etc.

No officer wants anyone, especially an innocent person, to be injured or killed during a pursuit. Yet it happens too often. What will you do? My recommendation is to end the pursuit or follow the suspect from a distance while considering arrest options if the suspect stops or returns home. What’s your decision?

3. You’re a detective. You obtained a search warrant for a residence to search for illegal drugs. Based on information from an informant, the suspect always keeps a gun close to him. The informant has never been inside the suspect’s home and the informant is afraid to buy drugs from the suspect. You plan to execute the search warrant at 7:00 a.m. on a Saturday when the suspect should be asleep. Just before you execute the search warrant, you learn the suspect has his wife and two young children in his residence. What will you do?

Ask yourself this question, “What will the news media report if a child is hurt during the raid?” The headlines will read “Police Murder Child in Drug Raid Gone Wrong.” I worked in the narcotics unit for six years. Drugs are not worth getting anyone killed, especially innocent children. In this case, the raid should be canceled until the children are out of the residence. You may consider using a ruse to get the suspect and/or children out of the residence, but don’t enter while they’re present.

4. You observe a person on the sidewalk in front of your police station. The person is taking videos of the police station, police employees going in and out of the building, police vehicles and personal vehicles of employees. What will you do?

YouTube is full of citizens who bait officers into violating their constitutional rights . Proceed with caution. First, do you have reasonable suspicion to believe a crime has occurred or is about to occur? If not, don’t contact this person. A person in public can legally videotape people and places in public. If you have reasonable suspicion, you can contact this person and ask for their name, but you better be sure you can justify reasonable suspicion. What if the person refuses to provide their name and/or an identification card? If you don’t have probable cause to arrest the person, walk away.

5. It’s a busy night and all officers are on calls. You’re dispatched to an apartment building about a man with a gun. Upon arrival, the victim says a resident of the apartment building appeared intoxicated, was screaming in the pool area and was carrying a rifle. The victim told the suspect to be quiet and go inside. The suspect told the victim, “Shut up or I’ll shoot you.” No shots were fired, but the suspect could be arrested for felony menacing. You go to the suspect’s apartment. No lights are on and you can’t hear any noise inside the apartment. The suspect appears to be asleep. What are the risks of trying to contact the suspect at that time, compared to the risks of contacting the suspect at a later date? What will you do?

In this case, I decided to take a wait-and-see approach. Why wake the suspect and possibly force a barricaded situation? The victim was advised to call 9-1-1 if the suspect left his apartment again. Two days later, an arrest warrant was obtained for the suspect and the suspect was arrested without incident.

Characteristics of critical thinkers

According to critical thinking experts Richard Paul and Linda Elder, “Critical thinking is that mode of thinking – about any subject, content, or problem – in which the thinker improves the quality of his or her thinking by skillfully analyzing, assessing, and reconstructing it. Critical thinking is self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective thinking.”

Rosalindo Alfaro-LeFevre [2] lists the characteristics of critical thinkers, shortened and summarized for this article:

• Active thinkers: Double-check the reliability of information.
• Fair, open-minded and flexible: Aware of their perceptions, values, beliefs and biases, but willing to consider other perspectives and change priorities as needed.
• Empathetic: Put themselves in the position of other people. Understand the thoughts and feelings of others from their perspective.
• Independent thinkers: The ability to reach decisions by themselves and take responsibility for those decisions, instead of depending on others to make decisions.
• Curious, humble and honest: Constantly trying to find the truth and resolve problems. Admitting mistakes and trying to correct them. Always evaluating performance and striving to improve it.
• Proactive: Anticipating problems and acting before they occur.
• Organized and systematic: Examining information, making decisions and trying to solve problems systematically.
• Logical: Seeking facts, research, and making evidence-based decisions.
• Team player: Willing to collaborate and work toward a common goal.

When people in America call the police for help, they expect professional, educated and qualified officers to help them. And, in this era, Americans are quick to report (via the news media and social media) unprofessional, unethical and/or illegal police behavior. Officers who deploy critical thinking will benefit themselves, their agencies and the public, and in doing so, may stay off the evening news for making a mistake.

Take the active supervision challenge: Critical thinking

Critical thinking engages your brain to comprehend, assess, analyze and process information in a way that improves your decision-making

1. Reaves B. Police vehicle pursuits, 2012-2013. Retrieved from the Bureau of Justice Statistics website .

2. Alfaro-LeFevre R. Critical thinking in nursing: A practical approach. Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders, 1999.

About the author

Robert Whitson was a police officer in Boulder, Colorado, for 30 years, working a variety of assignments. He taught criminal justice at Metropolitan State University in Denver for seven years while working on a PhD in criminal justice. He presently teaches for a private university in Florida, where he has taught criminal justice for seven years. Contact him at [email protected] .

5: Criminological Theory

Learning Objectives

This section introduces the importance of theory and theory creation. It also briefly describes some of the major paradigms of criminal explanations. After reading this section, students will be able to:

• Distinguish between classical, biological, psychological, and sociological explanations of criminal behavior.
• Understand the links between crime control policy and theories of criminal behavior.
• Demonstrate effective application of criminological theories to behavior.

Critical Thinking Questions

• How do we know what theories explain crime better than other theories?
• How did the classical theory of crime influence the American criminal justice system?
• Why is it difficult to study biological theories of crime without thinking about the social environment?
• Which theory do you think explains criminal behavior the best? Why?
• Why do you think there have been so many different explanations to describe the origins of criminal behavior?

SOU-CCJ230 Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System Copyright © 2019 by Alison S. Burke, David Carter, Brian Fedorek, Tiffany Morey, Lore Rutz-Burri, and Shanell Sanchez is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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3 strategies for engaging criminal justice students in critical thinking.

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This webinar, led by Professor Aaron Fichtelberg, focuses on developing a classroom where students are open to critical approaches to criminal justice.    Many students begin their studies of criminal justice with commonly held “good guy/bad guy” narratives regarding the criminal justice system and are often resistant to a critical perspective on the issue.  A lecturer who is too strident in how they approach the material can easily lead students to resist critical insights or simply to refuse to engage with the material.

In recent years, however, many young people, particularly those from marginalized groups, have begun to become far more skeptical about the benevolence of the criminal justice system as groups like the Black Lives Matter movement have begun to force discussions of systemic inequalities into the public sphere.  Therefore, it has only become more important the professors of criminal justice help students understand the validity of these critical views regardless of whether their students agree with them. This webinar will focus on how professors can maintain a classroom that helps otherwise skeptical students to open to a critical perspective on the criminal justice system.  It will emphasize classroom strategies and teaching tips that will help students see criminal justice in a critical light without alienating or offending students who may disagree with such an approach.

Finally, the webinar will discuss bigger questions about what it means to be critical in the classroom.

Criminal (In)Justice- Vantage Learning Platform

Criminal (In)Justice

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What is critical thinking, and why is it essential to the criminal justice system?

When we discuss the word critical, its meaning changes depending on the context, as it can refer to how important something is, or it might mean describing the negative side of a book, a film, or an experience. In criminal justice, we are using critical thinking to express the idea of having a questioning mind and not taking things at face value.

Critical thinking is a skill that is crucial in all areas of criminal justice, from officers on the street to Federal magistrate judges and Supreme Court justices. They need to ask the right questions when weighing up a situation, consider the perspectives of everyone involved and use factual evidence to form an opinion. In essence, critical thinking involves questioning with an open mind and learning as a result.

How can critical thinking aid learning?

Even before criminal justice professionals qualify, using critical thinking can be an enormous benefit at university. When practiced regularly, this form of analysis can help students interpret the data or evidence they are presented with and understand the reasoning behind different points of view. In terms of their decision-making, it will enable them to fully develop their arguments and be ready to explain these clearly to others. Furthermore, they will have the ability to cite evidence when it comes to justifying their opinion.

People thinking about  criminology study in Canada  can take a look at the combined honors BA in Criminology and Policing at Wilfrid Laurier University. This online program readies students for many different careers in justice or criminology, and no previous experience in law enforcement is needed. During the course, critical thinking will allow students to combine their thoughts and theories with those of their classmates and those of more established researchers and criminal law professionals.

Questioning in a meaningful way

Critical thinking is central to how many law officials practice, as it involves asking meaningful questions that allow them to recognize a situation more clearly. They will use the answers they receive to understand what has happened or is happening, to analyze the situation in more depth, and then to evaluate it. For instance, when approaching a piece of physical evidence, they will begin with the questions: ‘what, why, where, and who?’ This is to help them gain some background knowledge and put the evidence into context.

Alternatively, if they are considering a situation instead, the process of thinking it through will be slightly different. They might ask questions that allow them to establish what the problem is really about, who is being affected by it, who it involves, and where and when it is taking place. Asking witnesses these questions means they are unlikely to provide yes or no answers. Rather, they will have to be descriptive in their responses enabling an investigator to move on to the next stage of critical thinking – analysis.

Analyzing the findings

At this stage, the questions asked will take on a new form. They will be characterized by words and phrases such as: ‘what if, why did, and how?’ In this way, an investigator can get closer to the heart of the matter. They can unearth the causes behind a problem, the reasons it happened, and the processes which took place beforehand. They might consider the contributing factors, how they related to each other, and what the outcome might be if one factor was changed or removed. In this way, this incident is broken down into smaller parts, and each element is considered in relation to the others. The answers become more complex and allow for the next stage – evaluation.

Evaluating the situation

Evaluation can be considered the final stage in the critical thinking process. It leads to a resolution or a conclusion, depending on the situation. Questions are still important, but again they are different in structure. They could take the form of: ‘what next? or ‘so what?’ Then the investigator decides what the implications of the evidence are and what is significant in a situation before sharing their findings.

This is a basis for the process of critical thinking rather than a list of instructions. Many people in criminal justice will frequently shift between the different stages, getting the facts straight in their minds before feeling confident enough to move on. Occasionally, after establishing what the evidence is showing, it may seem irrelevant, so different questions will need to be asked. There are many ways to approach critical questioning in law enforcement, but in general, people who apply this skill share some characteristics.

What traits do all critical thinkers share?

Whether they are trying to solve a problem, understand a situation, or interpret evidence, critical thinkers study, evaluate and take apart its key elements. Before a person has gained experience in this process, it can be extremely challenging because much of the initial work is done alone. It involves being self-motivated but also disciplined and receptive to new ideas. Like most skills, this can be learned, but people with the following character traits may take to it more intuitively.

Deep thinkers

People who regularly check the information they are given and are aware of their own biases are thinking deeply about themselves and those around them. As a result, they can put themselves in another person’s position and consider the perspectives of others. Along with empathy, they can make independent decisions rather than relying on what they are told by others.

A curious approach

When people are naturally curious and questioning, they may be better at anticipating a problem and taking action in advance. Moreover, they strive to look for the truth in a situation, even if that means admitting they were at fault. This often leads to regularly evaluating their performance and identifying areas of strength, and weaknesses that need improvement.

Organized team players

Critical thinkers are usually good collaborators and understand that working towards a shared goal can be beneficial for all. They are logical in their approach and sift through a problem carefully to gain insights that will drive the team forward.

How does critical thinking relate to different areas of criminal justice?

The criminal  justice  system at the federal, state, and local level is made up of many processes which ensure the right decisions are made and social order is maintained. These systems tend to have three central divisions. This starts with law enforcement, while more serious cases move to adjudication, and finally, in some instances, corrections programs are required. Here is a closer look at how critical thinking is used by the professionals who oversee these structures.

Corrections programs in the justice system

The administering of correctional programs is done by parole officers and correctional officers. People employed in both professions must use critical thinking to carry out their daily tasks. There is no such thing as a typical day when it comes to working in a local jail or federal prison.

To tackle short-term issues and immediate problems that could become worse, such as disturbances amongst prisoners, they have to employ critical thinking techniques. This allows them to act swiftly and appropriately to protect the safety of other inmates and themselves. Their reaction is informed by observations, an assessment of the facts, and any information they can gather. Although some officers are compelled to make choices within seconds, this gives their colleagues more time to take a step back and consider what else needs to be done.

Preventing problems before they occur

To prevent future occurrences or lessen the frequency of this type of incident, critical thinking can be used to resolve conflicts that develop among the prison population. One of the key skills is observation; officers must gauge the emotion of a situation quickly and also spot when trouble may be brewing. This means paying attention to small details that might appear unimportant but take on a deeper significance for the inmates involved.

In the longer term, officers can improve the lives of people in their facility and their conditions through a critical approach. This could involve evaluating the progress of individuals hoping for a reduction in their sentence or finding more effective ways to maintain an orderly environment within the facility.

Overseeing the court system

People who work in the court system and those who oversee legal proceedings frequently depend on their critical thinking abilities. Even when the  situation is stressful , because a case is highly charged, lawyers and judges must remain capable of critical thought.

This enables professional adjudicators to manage a trial fairly and make the best decisions on individual cases. Attorneys working in either a defense or a prosecuting position also need great critical thinking skills as they work to prepare a case before presenting it to the court. In each instance, the adjudication professional will use what is often referred to as judicious evaluation. In other words, they question and investigate what they have been presented with, how it makes them feel, and what they think. They know that first impressions can be deceiving and often change under analysis.

Another component of critical thinking for legal professionals is deductive reasoning. This involves understanding the rules in each situation and then scrutinizing the facts concerning these before reaching a specific conclusion. This approach calls for the application of logic and allows a person to use general ideas or rules to make a judgment on an individual case. At the other end of the spectrum, lawyers, in particular, will look for distinctions in rules or laws that would benefit their clients.

Finally, in their daily practice, lawyers must be deft when it comes to analyzing the facts of a case. They are frequently presented with a series of instances and a few documents, then asked by a prospective client to establish a case. After checking through the evidence and researching how this relates to the law, they can present the client with a conclusion. From the start to the end of adjudication, critical thinking is constantly needed.

Policing our streets

Enforcing the law is mainly carried out by police officers who use critical thinking to inform their actions. They must decide whether a law has been broken, determine the best way to respond, and choose when it is right to make an arrest. In more hazardous situations, such as civil unrest or riots, they need to react in a way that calms the problem and allows them to protect their safety, as well as that of the general public. At the detective level, officers use the same skills to gather as much evidence as possible, identify potential suspects and solve crimes.

As they are actively involved with fluid situations on the ground, experience, and knowledge often improve an officer’s critical thinking skills. The police are enforcers of the law, but they are also guardians, and their decision-making in the field needs to reflect this. With experience, officers are more able to interpret a situation or information they are given correctly. They hold back on making assumptions until they have gathered all the facts and pay attention to detail. Instead of thinking they understand the cause of a problem as soon as they arrive, the best officers check their assumptions to ensure they have not inadvertently missed something. In this way, critical thinking keeps officers safe during street operations and nurtures a better relationship between the police and their community.

Bringing critical thinking into the mainstream

When it comes to applying the law, critical thinking is not just about reaching a satisfactory conclusion. It entails a professional understanding of why they reached that conclusion, how their personal biases affected them and how they could manage these more effectively in the future. Critical thinking is best considered an integral part of the criminal justice system, a concept that can be applied to every area rather than a topic to be studied separately.

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The Department of Academic Literacy and Linguistics (ALL) offers an Associate in Arts (AA) degree in Critical Thinking and Justice. This program fosters critical literacy and critical thinking as applied to studies in justice, history, and philosophy, among others. This field will help you gain an understanding of the relationship between the humanities and justice; engage and develop the skills of careful reading, critical thinking, and clear writing about the justice system and community justice.

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CRCJ 2334 Intro to Criminal Justice System

• Thinking critically about crime statistics
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How to think about crime statistics

Questions to ask yourself when thinking about statistics:

• Who is likely or unlikely to participate in this survey?  Or who is likely to be counted or not counted by this data gathering method? 
• Would factors like gender identity, cultural shame, economic disadvantage, racial bias, citizenship status, or other contextual elements affect the way this crime is documented or reported?
• What area, demographic, region, etc. does this method or survey cover? 
• College campuses (ex. UTA)
• Transportation systems (ex. DART)
• Counties (ex. Tarrant)
• Cities (ex. City of Arlington)
• Military Bases (ex. Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth)
• State-wide law enforcement agencies (ex. Texas Rangers, Texas Game Wardens)
• Nationwide-law enforcement agencies (ex. FBI, United States Postal Inspection Service)  
• Texas Game Warden Field Notes Before you look at this site, think about what laws you think a game warden (a wildlife officer) might enforce and what kinds of crimes they encounter. Does your idea of what a game warden does match these reports?

Crime Statistics- Background Reading

• Measuring Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence (book chapter) A major portion of this chapter evaluates the potential of various data sources to inform our understanding of the extent of domestic violence. The chapter presents a variety of facts related to domestic and intimate partner violence and ways to evaluate their validity, accuracy and reliability. These sources reflect both official and unofficial measures, including self-report surveys, family violence surveys, national violence against women surveys, national crime victimization surveys, uniform crime reports, national incident-based reports and UCR supplemental homicide reports, among others.
• Examining the Paradox of Crime Reporting: Are Disadvantaged Victims More Likely to Report to the Police? This study uses an intersectional approach to examine the "paradox" that disadvantaged victims often mobilize the police, despite their distrust and lack of confidence in the law. Data from the National Crime Victimization Survey (1994–2016) were analyzed using logistic regression to model the predicted probabilities of police notification by victims of crime. Examining the intersectional differences across social groups shows that reporting behavior is not just a function of one attribute but rather is a function of multiple identities and structural inequalities.
• The Future of Crime Data In this article, we describe the nation's move to a crime-reporting system that is exclusively incident based. Such a change presents challenges for the 'crime-reporting pipeline' and for researchers in managing and analyzing these more intricate data. We highlight the shortcomings of the dominant system, the Uniform Crime Reporting Program's Summary Reporting System (SRS), and argue that the advantages of the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) qualify it to replace the SRS as one of the nation's primary sources for tracking and measuring crime. NIBRS is also discussed in light of the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), a source that complements a system that relies on law-enforcement-generated crime data.

Non-Scholarly Sources

The sites listed below include non-profits, media sites, and books written for a general audience- they are NOT scholarly sources .  Crime is a topic with serious personal and political implications, and you will often see it discussed in ways meant to provoke an emotional response.  You must use critical thinking to decide how accurate or well-supported their arguments are: 

• What is the mission statement or goal of the organization?
• Who compiled the information?  What are their credentials or area of expertise?
• What kinds of sources do they cite?  Academic?  News articles?  Do they not provide citations at all?
• Can you find the raw data they used to make their claims?  Is it clear what they did with the data to come to their conclusions?
• Thurgood Marshall Institute- The truth behind crime statistics
• Vera- Understanding national crime data
• The Brennan Center- Understanding the FBI's 2021 crime data
• CNN- How crime stats lie and what you need to know to understand them
• Dallas Express- FBI's National Crime Data Paints an Incomplete Picture

• Next: Data and Statistics Sources >>
• Last Updated: Mar 29, 2024 2:36 PM
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Critical Thinking Questions   1. Which of the criminal justice...

Critical Thinking Questions

1. Which of the criminal justice careers discussed in this unit do you think would be most dangerous? Why?

2. Do you think the pay for being a police officer is fair? Why or why not? Explain, citing the specific roles and responsibilities of being a police officer.

3. Why is the job of a computer forensic investigator becoming increasingly important? How are science and math involved?

4. If you were a police officer, what toll do you think it would take on your lifestyle? What are three ways you could improve your physical and mental health to stay safe and function well in your job?

5. If you had to choose, would you prefer to be a paralegal, lawyer, or a judge? Does education/training play a part in your choice? Explain, giving examples of typical educational paths for the careers you discuss.

Answer & Explanation

1. Most Dangerous Career: Determining the "most dangerous" career in criminal justice depends on how we define danger.

Physical danger: If it's a physical risk, correctional officers face the highest rates of assault and injury due to their close proximity to potentially violent inmates.

Psychological danger: For mental stress, undercover officers and crime scene investigators might bear the brunt, constantly exposed to traumatic situations and demanding emotional control.

Overall risk: Considering both, special forces like SWAT teams might be the most exposed to immediate physical threats and stressful operations.

Ultimately, "danger" is subjective and varies depending on personal assessment and specific job duties within each career.

2. Police Officer Pay: Whether police officer pay is fair is a complex debate.

Arguments for fair pay: Demanding roles: Police officers face physical and psychological risks daily, deal with volatile situations, and make split-second decisions that impact lives.

Long hours and sacrifices: They often work extended hours and holidays and miss out on personal time, impacting family life and well-being.

Specialized training: Extensive training with physical and mental demands is required, putting additional stress on time and resources.

Arguments for higher pay: Compared to other professions: Pay may not reflect the level of risk, responsibility, and required skills compared to other high-stress professions.

Cost of living and student debt: The cost of living and potential student debt burden can make affording basic necessities challenging.

Recruitment and retention difficulties: Lower pay can discourage qualified individuals from joining and lead to high turnover, compromising public safety.

Ultimately, it's a multifaceted issue with valid arguments on both sides. Societal values, budgetary constraints, and risk considerations contribute to ongoing discussions about fair compensation for police officers.

3. Importance of Computer Forensics: Computer forensic investigators are crucial in today's world for several reasons: Cybercrime prevalence: With increasing reliance on technology, cybercrime like hacking, identity theft, and online fraud are rampant.

Digital evidence: Most crimes now involve digital elements, making the extraction and analysis of electronic data crucial for investigations.

Complexity of evidence: Digital evidence is complex and requires specialized skills to recover, analyze, and present in court.

Science and math play critical roles in computer forensics: Science: Understanding data storage, file systems, and network protocols is essential for evidence collection and analysis.

Math: Cryptography, algorithms, and statistical analysis are used to break encryption, track financial transactions, and analyze large datasets.

Computer forensic investigators bridge the gap between technology and traditional criminal investigations, making their role increasingly vital in ensuring digital justice.

4. Toll on Police Officer Lifestyle: Being a police officer can take a significant toll on various aspects of life. Stress and trauma: Constant exposure to violence, crime, and human suffering can lead to PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

Unpredictable hours and shift work: Disrupted sleep patterns and irregular schedules can impact personal relationships and overall well-being.

Physical strain and risk of injury: The job may involve physically demanding tasks and potential dangers during confrontations or accidents.

To stay safe and function well, police officers can consider these practices: Seek mental health support: Regular therapy and stress management techniques can help process trauma and maintain emotional stability.

Prioritize physical health: Exercise, healthy eating, and adequate sleep are vital for stress resilience and physical fitness.

Build strong support networks: Maintaining positive relationships with family, friends, and colleagues can provide emotional support and prevent isolation.

Taking proactive steps to prioritize mental and physical health can help officers navigate the challenges of their job and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

5. Career Choice: Paralegal, Lawyer, or Judge: Choosing between these careers depends on your preferred level of involvement and education or training path.

Paralegals: Assist lawyers with research, documentation, and administrative tasks. Requires a two-year associate degree.

Lawyers: Represent clients in court, advocate for their rights, and draft legal documents. Requires a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from law school.

Judges: Preside over court proceedings, interpret laws, and issue rulings. Requires a JD degree, legal experience, and passing judicial selection processes.

1. Danger in Criminal Justice: Danger in criminal justice careers varies in type and intensity. Correctional officers face the highest physical risk due to close contact with potentially violent inmates. Undercover officers and crime scene investigators endure immense psychological stress from constant exposure to trauma. Meanwhile, special forces like SWAT teams encounter both immediate physical threats and high-pressure operations. Ultimately, "danger" depends on individual assessment and specific job duties within each career.

2. Police Officer Pay Fairness: Whether police officer pay is fair is a complex debate. Arguments for fair pay emphasize the demanding roles (physical and psychological risks, split-second decisions), long hours and sacrifices (extended shifts, holidays missed), and specialized training required. Supporters of increased pay cite lower salaries relative to other high-stress occupations, the difficulty of financing basic necessities with existing pay, and recruitment and retention issues due to financial constraints. Balancing cultural values, budgetary realities, and risk considerations is still an important part of this ongoing discussion.

3. Rise of Computer Forensics: The growing prevalence of cybercrime, the reliance on digital evidence in investigations, and the complexity of digital data make computer forensic investigators indispensable in today's society. Understanding data storage, file systems, and networks for evidence collection requires a scientific approach. Cryptography, algorithm analysis, and statistical research on massive datasets all require mathematical skills. Computer forensics bridges the gap between technology and traditional crime investigation, ensuring digital justice in an increasingly technologically advanced world.

4. Impact of Police Officer Lifestyle: Being a police officer can significantly impact various aspects of life. Constant exposure to violence, crime, and human suffering can lead to stress, trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Unpredictable hours and shift work disrupt sleep patterns and strain personal relationships. Physically demanding tasks and potential dangers during confrontations add to the strain. To mitigate these challenges, officers can prioritize mental health support through therapy and stress management, physical health through exercise, healthy eating, and adequate sleep, and strong support networks with family, friends, and colleagues.

5. Choosing Between Paralegal, Lawyer, and Judge: My preferences for level of commitment and educational path will mainly influence my decision. A two-year associate degree is required to work as a paralegal, which helps lawyers with research, paperwork, and administration. Lawyers defend clients in court, advocate for their rights, and create legal papers, all of which require a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from a law school. Judges preside over court hearings, interpret laws, and issue verdicts; they must have a JD degree, legal expertise, and have passed stringent judicial selection processes. When making your decision, take into account your desired autonomy, analytical ability, communication abilities, and tolerance for pressure. In order to make an informed decision, it is important to thoroughly research each career and speak with professionals.

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Hilbert College Global Online Blog

Criminal justice vs. criminology: what’s the difference, written by: hilbert college   •  mar 19, 2024.

Criminal Justice vs. Criminology What’s the Difference? ¶

For individuals seeking legal career pathways, understanding criminal justice vs. criminology is an important first step. Criminal justice focuses on addressing procedural facets of law enforcement and legal systems, while criminology explores the social and psychological roots of crime, providing insight into how to prevent crime and the motives for illegal activities.

A criminal justice vs. criminology comparison also reveals notable intersections. For example, criminology practices can help shape criminal law, influencing and informing criminal justice policies. By delving into what the disciplines are and their career paths, those looking to enter these fields can determine which is right for them.

What’s Criminal Justice? ¶

The criminal justice system, designed to uphold law and order, encompasses the legal mechanisms for managing crime and protecting the rights of affected parties, including suspects, convicts and victims. It consists of law enforcement officers, who enforce laws and arrest offenders; the court system, which prosecutes cases and protects participants; and corrections, which handles  the incarceration, punishment and rehabilitation of offenders. 

Criminal justice professionals benefit from critical thinking, communication and problem-solving skills for roles in crime reduction, rehabilitation and support. A background in crime theory, justice system operations, corrections, law and justice, research methods, ethics, and criminology theory can provide a broad foundation for various careers in the criminal justice field.

What’s Criminology? ¶

Criminology, as the scientific study of crime, explores why certain individuals are more predisposed to committing crimes, incorporating analysis that delves into the social, psychological and legal factors influencing criminal behavior and its impact on society. Unlike criminal justice, which applies legal measures to crime, criminology seeks to understand the root causes. It examines the effects on victims and communities, as well as on law enforcement practices, and it’s useful for creating prevention strategies such as community-oriented policing. 

Criminology is a multidisciplinary field that focuses on the complexities of crime and contributes to an understanding of its resolution and prevention. It integrates psychology, sociology and law to explore the origin and effects of crime, criminal behavior, societal impact, victimology and correctional strategies. 

Criminal Justice vs. Criminology: Careers and Salaries ¶

In exploring criminal justice vs. criminology, it’s clear that both fields offer a wide array of career opportunities, but with distinct focuses and potential earnings. 

Careers in Criminal Justice ¶

Earning a degree in criminal justice provides a pathway into enforcement and prevention roles that can extend well beyond traditional roles. Graduates can explore various sectors, each offering unique job positions and responsibilities. For those investigating what to do with a criminal justice degree , below are some of the career paths and opportunities available.

Police and Law Enforcement ¶

Police officers and law enforcement workers focus on maintaining public safety, undertaking various tasks, from patrolling and enforcing laws to collecting evidence and solving crimes. Their responsibilities extend to detailed report writing, case preparation and courtroom testimony. Police officers may work in special units depending on their experience and the size of their departments. For example, they may work as uniformed patrol officers, transit officers, mounted police officers, or Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) officers.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median annual salary for police officers was $69,160 as of May 2022, while law enforcement workers in general earned $61,680.

Detectives and Criminal Investigators ¶

Detectives and criminal investigators delve into suspected legal infractions to prevent or solve crimes, employing diverse methods to gather information, solve problems and document their findings. Their investigative work includes interviewing witnesses and suspects, securing crime scenes and preserving evidence for further examination. This role demands effective communication with both internal teams and external entities, ensuring thoroughness in investigative processes. 

The BLS reports that the median annual salary for detectives and criminal investigators was $86,280 as of May 2022.

Forensic Science Technicians ¶

Forensic science technicians are pivotal in criminal investigations, specializing in evidence collection and analysis. Their expertise spans both crime scene investigation and laboratory work, involving evidence documentation, preservation and analysis to aid in crime resolution. In addition to a degree in criminal justice, individuals can benefit from natural sciences or engineering coursework, especially for those focusing on digital forensics. 

The BLS reports that the median annual salary for forensic science technicians was $63,740 as of May 2022.

Careers in Criminology ¶

Since criminology is a social science, a background in criminology can lead to careers centered on research and policy development. Criminology encompasses diverse career paths across law enforcement, research and academia, offering individuals a broad spectrum of opportunities beyond traditional roles. Here are some of the career pathways.

Criminologists ¶

Criminologists leverage data and statistics to understand and prevent crime, drawing on sociology and psychology alongside criminal justice. The field’s multidisciplinary approach facilitates contributions to policy analysis, forensic psychology and more. 

The BLS reports that sociologists, including criminologists, earned a median annual salary of $98,590 as of May 2022.

Policy Analysts ¶

Policy analysts scrutinize policies and their impacts for various stakeholders. In the field of criminology, they use studies and data to forecast policy effects. Their research supports government and organization efforts in criminal justice policy planning and execution. 

The BLS reports that policy analysts, which the bureau categorizes under the role of political scientist, earned a median annual salary of $128,020 as of May 2022.

Forensic Psychologists ¶

Forensic psychologists collaborate with legal professionals to explore the psychological dimensions of legal cases. Through data collection and analysis, they provide courts with insights into psychological factors relevant to legal issues. This profession employs diverse methodologies for evaluation and therapy in criminal, civil and family court settings. 

The BLS reports that the median annual salary for psychologists was $85,330 as of May 2022.

Prepare for a Career That Prioritizes Equity and Justice ¶

A criminal justice vs. criminology comparison reveals the impacts of both fields on law enforcement, policymaking and social order. For those interested in advancing equity and justice and making an impact on society, Hilbert College Global’s online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminal Justice program prepares individuals with skills in criminology, ethics, diversity and more. Graduates of the program develop critical thinking and leadership skills focused on equity and justice. 

Discover how to contribute to a just society through Hilbert College Global’s online BS in Criminal Justice program.

Recommended Readings

What Is a Victim Advocate?

Racial Disparities in Sentencing and Criminal Justice Reform

Self-Defense Techniques for Women

Indeed, 9 Different Types of Police Officers (With Job Duties)

Indeed, “10 Criminal Justice Majors and Jobs You Can Pursue”

Indeed, What Is a Criminologist? (With Sample Job Description)”

O-NET OnLine, Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Psychology Today , “What Exactly Does a Forensic Psychologist Do?”

ThoughtCo, “Criminology Definition and History”

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Detectives and Criminal Investigators

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Forensic Science Technicians

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Police and Detectives

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Political Scientists

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Psychologists

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Sociologists

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Kremlin critics: What happens to Putin’s most vocal opponents?

During President Vladimir Putin’s rule several of his vocal critics have died or been sentenced to lengthy jail terms.

Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny is just one of many Kremlin critics to have fallen foul of the government under President Vladimir Putin’s rule.

Navalny, 47, who Russian prison authorities said had died on Friday, was jailed in early 2021 after returning from Germany, where he was recovering from a near-fatal poisoning attack.

Keep reading

Alexey navalny: an archenemy putin wouldn’t name and kremlin couldn’t scare, alexey navalny timeline: from poisoning to prison to death, russia’s putin will not go unpunished for navalny’s death, wife yulia says.

He was sentenced to 19 years in prison on “extremism” charges that rights organisations widely condemned. In late 2023, he was moved to the remote prison colony in the Arctic Circle where he reportedly died.

But Navalny is not the first opposition figure or Kremlin critic to die or be penalised for speaking out against Putin’s government.

Here are a few others.

Alexander Litvinenko

The former Russian FSB spy and Putin critic was killed in 2006 after drinking tea that had been poisoned with polonium-210, a radioactive isotope.

Litvinenko had accused Putin, who was prime minister at the time, of corruption and of orchestrating the Moscow apartment bombings which were used as an excuse to start the 1999 Chechen War.

Litvinenko, who had claimed citizenship in the United Kingdom, drank the poisoned tea during a meeting with two Russian spies in London. The murder is said to have been approved by Putin, but he has denied the allegation.

Mikhail Khodorkovsky

Some of Putin’s high-profile critics have been in exile for years. They include former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who spent a decade in prison after challenging the Russian leader early in his rule.

Khodorkovsky left Russia after his release in 2013. He lives in London and has financed media projects critical of the Kremlin.

Many of Navalny’s prominent allies similarly fled Russia after his organisations were banned as “extremist”.

But the decision in February 2022 to send troops into Ukraine, which ushered in an unprecedented crackdown at home, proved to be a final nail in the coffin for Russia’s opposition movement.

Russians opposed to Moscow’s attack on Ukraine are now scattered around the world. Many have fled to Europe and Israel.

Boris Nemtsov

In 2015, Boris Nemtsov, the former prime minister, was shot dead as he walked home across a Moscow bridge near the Kremlin.

The 55-year-old had spoken out about Putin’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and regularly taken part in opposition protests.

Five Chechen men were convicted of killing Nemtsov, but the mastermind of the murder was never found.

Nemtov’s allies pointed to the Kremlin and to Chechen leader and Putin-ally Ramzan Kadyrov, who denied the accusation.

Vladimir Kara-Murza

Opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza was jailed in April 2023 for 25 years, the harshest sentence so far, for comments critical of the Kremlin and the military operation in Ukraine.

Since the Ukraine war began nearly two years ago, the Kremlin has passed strict anti-defamation laws that make it illegal to speak out against the military and can result in long-term sentences.

Kara-Murza, 42, was jailed on charges of treason, spreading “false” information about the Russian army and being affiliated with an “undesirable organisation”.

His lawyers say he suffers from serious health problems due to two poisoning attempts in 2015 and 2017.

Yevgeny Prigozhin

Although not a critic of the Kremlin, the Wagner mercenary group founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin , fell foul of his ally Putin months into the Ukraine war.

Prigozhin first rose to prominence in Russia for his fighter role in the war. But he died in a plane crash in August 2023 after criticising the army for failing to accomplish its military goals.

After taking control of Bakhmut, a city in eastern Ukraine, Prigozhin, 62, became more vocal about his dissatisfaction with the Russian defence ministry, and in June, ordered his troops to march towards the Russian border city of Rostov-on-don.

In an address at the time, Putin said that the “armed mutiny” amounted to treason.

The Kremlin has rejected accusations that it assassinated the mercenary chief.

Boris Akunin

Famous author and outspoken Putin critic Boris Akunin, real name Grigory Chkhartishvili, lives in self-imposed exile in Europe. he was added to a list of “terrorists and extremists” by Moscow last month due to his views on the Ukraine war.

The Russian justice ministry said he had spread “false information” and accused him of helping raise money for Ukraine.

On Friday, Akunin said that Navalny’s death had made him “immortal” and he was now a more significant threat to Putin’s regime.

“I also think that a murdered Alexei Navalny will be a bigger threat for the dictator than a living one,” Akunin said.

“Most likely, to drown out voices of protest, he [Putin] will launch a campaign of terror in the country.”