Criminal Justice

Explore the Depths of Criminal Justice for a Dynamic Career Path

Group of students talking to an officer in a classroom

Program Overview

Are you driven by a desire to help others, protect the community, and make a positive impact in the criminal justice system? College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Criminal Justice program is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed for a fulfilling career in this vital field. This comprehensive program covers legal studies, sociology, political science, psychology, arrest procedures, and search and seizure, preparing you for various roles in law enforcement, court administration, victim services, and corrections.

With a focus on real-world applications, this program provides you with a deep understanding of criminal justice system practices and processes. Whether you plan to transfer to a four-year institution or begin a career immediately, our program offers flexibility with various course formats and provides the foundational education required for success in the field.

Degree or Certificate Type

Associate of Arts

Fully Online

Time to Complete

2 years

Students sitting at tables in a classroom

Learning Opportunities

  • Experienced Instructors: Learn from qualified instructors with real-world experience, dedicated to your success.
  • Flexible Learning Formats: Choose from on-campus, fully-remote, hybrid, and online courses to suit your schedule and learning preferences.
  • Practical Understanding of Criminal Justice: Gain an in-depth understanding of the criminal justice system through diverse coursework and site visits.
  • Networking & Professional Development: Connect with professionals in the field through guest speakers, career interviews, and networking events.
  • Critical Skills Development: Develop critical thinking, research, and analysis methods, along with diversity awareness and a global perspective on crime and justice.
  • Transfer On: Take your CWI credits to four-year institutions to further your education and career opportunities including Boise State University and Lewis-Clark State College.

Area of Study

Degrees & Certificates

Criminal Justice – Associate of Arts Degree

2

YEARS

AA

Available Fully Online

Degree Requirements
Three people huddling at a desk conversing

Career Opportunities

  • Managers, All Other

    All managers not listed separately.

    279

    Annual Openings*

    $24.55

    Hourly Median Wage*

    $51,064

    Annual Median Salary

    39.33%

    Growth (2021 – 2031)*

  • Project Management Specialists

    Analyze and coordinate the schedule, timeline, procurement, staffing, and budget of a product or service on a per project basis. Lead and guide the work of technical staff. May serve as a point of contact for the client or customer. Excludes “Management Occupations” (11-0000), “Logisticians” (13-1081), “Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners” (13-1121), and “Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks” (43-5061).

    226

    Annual Openings*

    $36.96

    Hourly Median Wage*

    $76,877

    Annual Median Salary

    34.14%

    Growth (2021 – 2031)*

  • Business Operations Specialists, All Other

    All business operations specialists not listed separately.

    225

    Annual Openings*

    $34.94

    Hourly Median Wage*

    $72,675

    Annual Median Salary

    31.98%

    Growth (2021 – 2031)*

  • Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

    151

    Annual Openings*

    $28.87

    Hourly Median Wage*

    $60,050

    Annual Median Salary

    8.93%

    Growth (2021 – 2031)*

  • Compliance Officers

    Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere. Excludes “Financial Examiners" (13-2061), “Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents” (13-2081), “Occupational Health and Safety Specialists” (19-5011), “Occupational Health and Safety Technicians” (19-5012), “Transportation Security Screeners” (33-9093), “Agricultural Inspectors” (45-2011), “Construction and Building Inspectors” (47-4011), and “Transportation Inspectors” (53-6051).

    83

    Annual Openings*

    $29.05

    Hourly Median Wage*

    $60,424

    Annual Median Salary

    12.21%

    Growth (2021 – 2031)*

  • Information Security Analysts

    Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. Assess system vulnerabilities for security risks and propose and implement risk mitigation strategies. May ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. May respond to computer security breaches and viruses. Excludes “Computer Network Architects” (15-1241).

    66

    Annual Openings*

    $47.21

    Hourly Median Wage*

    $98,197

    Annual Median Salary

    43.72%

    Growth (2021 – 2031)*

  • Child, Family, and School Social Workers

    Provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. May assist parents, arrange adoptions, and find foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address such problems as teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy. May also advise teachers.

    55

    Annual Openings*

    $22.55

    Hourly Median Wage*

    $46,904

    Annual Median Salary

    20.23%

    Growth (2021 – 2031)*

  • Correctional Officers and Jailers

    Guard inmates in penal or rehabilitative institutions in accordance with established regulations and procedures. May guard prisoners in transit between jail, courtroom, prison, or other point. Includes deputy sheriffs and police who spend the majority of their time guarding prisoners in correctional institutions.

    47

    Annual Openings*

    $19.13

    Hourly Median Wage*

    $39,790

    Annual Median Salary

    -3.11%

    Growth (2021 – 2031)*

  • Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists

    Provide social services to assist in rehabilitation of law offenders in custody or on probation or parole. Make recommendations for actions involving formulation of rehabilitation plan and treatment of offender, including conditional release and education and employment stipulations.

    42

    Annual Openings*

    $22.56

    Hourly Median Wage*

    $46,925

    Annual Median Salary

    -1.11%

    Growth (2021 – 2031)*

  • First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

    Directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force.

    27

    Annual Openings*

    $38.84

    Hourly Median Wage*

    $80,787

    Annual Median Salary

    7.33%

    Growth (2021 – 2031)*

  • Detectives and Criminal Investigators

    Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes. Excludes “Private Detectives and Investigators” (33-9021).

    23

    Annual Openings*

    $31.06

    Hourly Median Wage*

    $64,605

    Annual Median Salary

    2.36%

    Growth (2021 – 2031)*

  • Public Safety Telecommunicators

    Operate telephone, radio, or other communication systems to receive and communicate requests for emergency assistance at 9-1-1 public safety answering points and emergency operations centers. Take information from the public and other sources regarding crimes, threats, disturbances, acts of terrorism, fires, medical emergencies, and other public safety matters. May coordinate and provide information to law enforcement and emergency response personnel. May access sensitive databases and other information sources as needed. May provide additional instructions to callers based on knowledge of and certification in law enforcement, fire, or emergency medical procedures.

    21

    Annual Openings*

    $18.30

    Hourly Median Wage*

    $38,064

    Annual Median Salary

    10.12%

    Growth (2021 – 2031)*

  • Financial Specialists, All Other

    All financial specialists not listed separately.

    18

    Annual Openings*

    $27.89

    Hourly Median Wage*

    $58,011

    Annual Median Salary

    33.57%

    Growth (2021 – 2031)*

  • First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers

    Directly supervise and coordinate activities of correctional officers and jailers.

    11

    Annual Openings*

    $23.10

    Hourly Median Wage*

    $48,048

    Annual Median Salary

    -3.84%

    Growth (2021 – 2031)*

  • Private Detectives and Investigators

    Gather, analyze, compile, and report information regarding individuals or organizations to clients, or detect occurrences of unlawful acts or infractions of rules in private establishment.

    9

    Annual Openings*

    $23.91

    Hourly Median Wage*

    $49,733

    Annual Median Salary

    13.7%

    Growth (2021 – 2031)*

  • Bailiffs

    Maintain order in courts of law.

    5

    Annual Openings*

    $18.83

    Hourly Median Wage*

    $39,166

    Annual Median Salary

    2.64%

    Growth (2021 – 2031)*

  • Fire Inspectors and Investigators

    Inspect buildings to detect fire hazards and enforce local ordinances and state laws, or investigate and gather facts to determine cause of fires and explosions.

    3

    Annual Openings*

    $47.01

    Hourly Median Wage*

    $97,781

    Annual Median Salary

    11.14%

    Growth (2021 – 2031)*

  • Emergency Management Directors

    Plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.

    1

    Annual Openings*

    $34.49

    Hourly Median Wage*

    $71,739

    Annual Median Salary

    4.19%

    Growth (2021 – 2031)*

  • Transit and Railroad Police

    Protect and police railroad and transit property, employees, or passengers.

    N/A

    Annual Openings*

    $28.32

    Hourly Median Wage*

    $58,906

    Annual Median Salary

    N/A

    Growth (2021 - 2031)*

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*Data sourced from Lightcast™ (2023), a global leader in labor market analytics, and limited to the state of Idaho. Contact CWI Institutional Research for questions regarding this data.

Admissions

Step 1

Step 2

  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
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News

Tour provides students the opportunity to see first-hand how juveniles are living, learning, and working toward release and reintegration into the community.

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CWI’s annual giving tree collects over 600 gifts for children in need in the Treasure Valley.

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Unwrapped gifts will be collected on campus through Dec. 9 to help bring holiday cheer to children in the Treasure Valley.

Read more about 13th-Annual Giving Tree

Congratulations to Senior Coordinator of Course and Curriculum Management, Samantha Grapes, named CWI’s Staff of the Month for September 2021.

Read more about Grapes Named September Staff of the Month

Brighten the holiday season for children in the Treasure Valley by donating gifts to the College’s annual Giving Tree.    

Read more about Giving Tree Gathers Gifts for Foster Children

CWI’s Criminal Justice program is excited to welcome Dr. Greg Hampikian, founder and director of the Idaho Innocence Project.

Read more about Criminal Justice Program Welcomes Dr. Greg Hampikian

Kevin Platts has been named the new Director of Public Safety Programs at College of Western Idaho.

Read more about Kevin Platts to Lead Public Safety Programs at the College

McKenzie Wood has been selected as College of Western Idaho’s Faculty of Distinction for March 2018.

Read more about Faculty of Distinction—March 2018

College of Western Idaho (CWI) has been sharing stories of success from several of this year’s graduates as we countdown to the 2017 commencement ceremony. The road traveled by students to arrive at...

Read more about Celebrating Student Success
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