Criminal justice is a vast field and covers various topics such as criminal detection, investigation, prosecution, adjudication, detention, correctional supervision and rehabilitation. For students pursuing criminal justice, there may be a myriad of topics for them to focus on like law enforcement, forensics, crime scene investigation, prosecution, private security and many others. When pursuing a career in criminal justice, there are many degrees, diplomas and certificates to consider. Anything from an associate to bachelor to even a doctorate degree is available. Some of the jobs that are related to criminal justice are prosecutor, defender, police investigator, judge, prison guard, administrator, security guard, probation officer and more. Students specializing in criminology, psychology, sociology, law, political science and social work have an edge over the others and find it easier to get employed.

The tenth amendment to the constitution confers police powers on the states. There are more than 18,000 police agencies in America today. Police departments at the state level may consist of the State police and the Highway patrol. At the municipal/metropoli tan level there may be the housing, school and special port police departments among others.

There are about 15,000 municipal police departments in the U.S., but the NYPD enjoys a special status among them. It boasts of over 40,000 regular officers in addition to around 13,000 special purpose officers in different police departments such as animal cruelty, beach, harbor, hospital, housing, port, railroad, sanitation, school, and transit and transportation departments. There may then be specialized units under specific departments' e.g. airborne, bomb, forensic, narcotic and sex crime units. There are numerous career opportunities in the police department with a number of vacancies being advertised regularly.