Criminal Justice Colleges in New Jersey
There are a wide variety of programs available through universities offering criminal justice degrees. Below you will find a listing of schools by city as well as online criminal justice colleges that offer classes throughout New Jersey.
New Jersey is one of the most affluent states in the nation, with a per capita income in 2008 of $54,699 and a listing of nine of the 100 wealthiest counties. The Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that the state earned $434 billion in 2006, and according to the Associated Press, the state has the highest percentage of millionaires in the country. However, despite its wealth, the state had an unemployment rate in August of 2010 of 9.6 percent, which was even with the national average at the time. As far as its education system goes, New Jersey does well to prepare its high school students to enter college. Unfortunately, those that do enroll fail to earn their bachelor’s degree at above-average rates compared to the rest of the nation. That said, 61 percent of bachelor’s degree holders earned their degree within six years, thus boosting the economy as they enter the workforce, according to The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education
Regarding its crime statistics, New Jersey is ranked 16th in 2009, a slightly above-average improvement over last year’s ranking. In 2008, it was in the middle of the nation as far as its total crime index, according to a report by CQ Press. You can see this shift reflected in the decrease in crime rates nearly across all categories from 2008 to 2009. Property crimes remain a common crime in New Jersey; however, property crime rates dropped significantly over the past year. Crime in New Jersey is most common in counties nearest to New York City, Jersey City, and Newark, with Essex being the most crime-ridden county in the state in 2008. Other counties around New York City that see higher crime rates are Hudson, Middlesex, and Union. In 2009, the city of Camden had the highest crime rate in the United States, with 2,333 violent crimes per 100,000 people.
Whether you’re interested in a degree in corrections, criminology, or any other bachelor’s or master’s justice degree, the search for finding the right criminal justice academy for you begins with requesting a free information packet from schools in your area by following the links below.
Online Colleges Offering Classes in NJ
Kaplan University Capella University University of Phoenix
Cherry Hill Criminal Justice Campus Programs
Jersey City Criminal Justice Campus Programs
North Brunswick Criminal Justice Campus Programs
Willingboro Criminal Justice Campus Programs
Interested in a criminal justice career in New Jersey? Take a look at some of the best crime-fighting jobs in the state.
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
National Employment: 13,140
National Mean Hourly Wage: $42.13
National Mean Annual Wage: $87,620
New Jersey Employment: 280
New Jersey Hourly Mean Wage: $49.56
New Jersey Annual Mean Wage: $103,090
Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators
National Employment: 8,110
National Mean Hourly Wage: $30.41
National Mean Annual Wage: $63,250
New Jersey Employment: 140
New Jersey Hourly Mean Wage: $34.61
New Jersey Annual Mean Wage: $71,990
Bailiffs
National Employment: 17,140
National Mean Hourly Wage: $19.35
National Mean Annual Wage: $40,240
New Jersey Employment: 90
New Jersey Hourly Mean Wage: $13.29
New Jersey Annual Mean Wage: $27,650
Correctional Officers and Jailers
National Employment: 455,350
National Mean Hourly Wage: $20.49
National Mean Annual Wage: $42,610
New Jersey Employment: 12,430
New Jersey Hourly Mean Wage: $29.98
New Jersey Annual Mean Wage: $62,350
Court Reporters
National Employment: 3,172,420
National Mean Hourly Wage: $20.07
National Mean Annual Wage: $41,740
New Jersey Employment: 160
New Jersey Hourly Mean Wage: $26.90
New Jersey Annual Mean Wage: $55,950
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
National Employment: 110,380
National Mean Hourly Wage: $31.66
National Mean Annual Wage: $65,860
New Jersey Employment: 3,310
New Jersey Hourly Mean Wage: $41.31
New Jersey Annual Mean Wage: $85,930
First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Correctional Officers
National Employment: 45,540
National Mean Hourly Wage: $28.76
National Mean Annual Wage: $59,810
New Jersey Employment: 800
New Jersey Hourly Mean Wage: $44.44
New Jersey Annual Mean Wage: $92,440
First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Police and Detectives
National Employment: 99,900
National Mean Hourly Wage: $37.78
National Mean Annual Wage: $78,580
New Jersey Employment: 3,320
New Jersey Hourly Mean Wage: $51.79
New Jersey Annual Mean Wage: $107,730
Fish and Game Wardens
National Employment: 7,530
National Mean Hourly Wage: $26.42
National Mean Annual Wage: $54,950
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates
National Employment: 26,350
National Mean Hourly Wage: $49.99
National Mean Annual Wage: $103,990
New Jersey Employment: 1,030
New Jersey Hourly Mean Wage: $63.17
New Jersey Annual Mean Wage: $131,400
Law Clerks
National Employment: 32,630
National Mean Hourly Wage: $20.17
National Mean Annual Wage: $41,960
New Jersey Employment: 1,120
New Jersey Hourly Mean Wage: $23.17
New Jersey Annual Mean Wage: $48,180
Lawyers
National Employment: 556,790
National Mean Hourly Wage: $62.03
National Mean Annual Wage: $129,020
New Jersey Employment: 20,260
New Jersey Hourly Mean Wage: $60.37
New Jersey Annual Mean Wage: $125,560
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
National Employment: 246,810
National Mean Hourly Wage: $24.08
National Mean Annual Wage: $50,080
New Jersey Employment: 6,790
New Jersey Hourly Mean Wage: $25.22
New Jersey Annual Mean Wage: $52,460
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers
National Employment: 641,590
National Mean Hourly Wage: $26.53
National Mean Annual Wage: $55,180
New Jersey Employment: 22,340
New Jersey Hourly Mean Wage: $37.34
New Jersey Annual Mean Wage: $77,660
Private Detectives and Investigators
National Employment: 31,250
National Mean Hourly Wage: $22.66
National Mean Annual Wage: $47,130
New Jersey Employment: 480
New Jersey Hourly Mean Wage: $29.69
New Jersey Annual Mean Wage: $61,750
Data Source: http://www.bls.gov/oes
