65 Criminal Justice Statistics for 2025

by: Timothy Prestianni

Criminal justice statistics provide invaluable insights into the field, shedding light on key trends in degrees, employment, earnings, and demographics. These statistics highlight the wide range of opportunities within criminal justice while equipping prospective students and professionals with the data needed to make informed decisions about their education and career paths. Understanding these figures helps us appreciate the significance and impact of this dynamic field.

Over One-Third of Criminal Justice Workers Hold a Bachelor’s Degree

Approximately 34.5% of individuals working in the criminal justice field have earned a bachelor’s degree, highlighting the importance of higher education in advancing careers within this sector.³

What is Criminal Justice?

Criminal justice encompasses the systems and processes designed to uphold laws, protect society, and ensure justice is served. This section explores the foundational aspects of criminal justice, including its purpose, structure, and how it integrates with education and careers. Understanding criminal justice helps us recognize its importance in shaping safer communities and equitable societies.

Fast Facts About Criminal Justice

• A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice is typically a 4-year program.¹ 
• Common majors within the field of criminal justice include corrections, criminal justice, criminology, forensic psychology, forensic science, law enforcement, and paralegal studies.² 
• Careers in Criminal Justice and Corrections are projected to grow 7.6% between 2016 and 2026.³ 
• In 2019, there were about 219,000 25-29 year olds with bachelor’s degrees in the criminal justice and fire protection field.⁴
  • This figure has increased 56% from 2010 (up from 140,000).
• The criminal justice “footprint” is getting smaller: the national arrest rate dropped 60% in 2020 from its peak in 1989.⁵ 
• The rate of “correctional control” fell 32 percent from a peak in 2007 to 2021. (Correctional control refers to prison, jail, probation, and parole totals.)⁵ 
• Criminal justice fields are projected to grow 12% in California.⁶ 
• The most common race/ethnicity for police officers is White.⁷ 

Criminal Justice Degrees

Earning a degree in criminal justice opens doors to a wide variety of roles in law enforcement, corrections, and public service. This section highlights key statistics about education in the field, such as the percentage of workers with college degrees, popular majors, and the financial investment required for online and in-person programs. These numbers showcase the value and accessibility of criminal justice education for individuals seeking impactful careers.

• 34.5% of criminal justice workers have earned a bachelor’s degree.³ 
• 61% of criminal justice workers have at least an associate degree.³ 
• Criminal Justice graduates by major³:
  • Criminal Justice Studies – 46,814
  • Criminal Justice – 32,891
  • Criminal Justice & Police Science – 22,722
  • Corrections – 4,039
  • Other Corrections & Criminal Justice – 3,675
• Criminal justice and corrections was the 7th most popular major nationwide, with 113,121 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.³ 
• Criminal justice courses, degrees, and certifications are great for individuals considering law enforcement.² 
• Online criminal justice degree programs can cost between $6,000-$36,000, depending on factors such as the institution and program.⁸ 
• The cost of an in-person criminal justice degree can range from $10,000 to $100,000, depending on the institution and program.⁹ 
• The average cost of a criminal justice bachelor’s degree program is around $50,400.¹⁰ 
• Most criminal justice lawyers hold a bachelor’s degree, with 53% of criminal justice lawyers earning that degree.¹¹ 

Earnings and Occupations

Careers in criminal justice span a broad range of roles, from law enforcement to specialized positions in cybersecurity and forensic science. This section delves into the earning potential across various occupations, median salaries, and the highest-paying roles. Additionally, it highlights the growing demand for certain criminal justice jobs, providing a clear picture of the field’s employment landscape.

• The highest-paid Criminal Justice careers are as follows³:
  1. Managers – $115,590
  2. Information Security Analysts – $102,470
  3. Computer Workers – $93,350
  4. Police and Detective Supervisors – $93,100
  5. Financial Examiners – $90,310 
• The civilian unemployment rate for the criminal justice and fire protection field was just 1.8% in 2019.⁴ 
• In 2022, women employed as criminal justice lawyers earned 95% of what men in the same job earned.¹¹ 
• Asian criminal justice lawyers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities ($46,845). Black or African American criminal justice lawyers have the lowest average salary at $42,588.¹¹ 
• Median annual earnings of 25-29 year olds with bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice and fire protection was $45,410 in 2019.⁴ 
• Here are projections for the most in-demand careers in criminal justice and corrections³:
  1. Accountants and Auditors: Projected jobs – 1,537,600. Projected Growth – 10.0%
  2. Managers: Projected jobs – 1,071,700. Projected Growth – 8.0%
  3. Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers: Projected jobs – 731,900. Projected Growth – 7.0%
  4. Correctional Officers and Jailers: Projected jobs – 415,500. Projected Growth – -7.7%
  5. Child, Family, and School Social Workers: Projected jobs – 362,600. Projected Growth – 14.2% 
• The median annual salary for Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists was estimated at $59,860 as of 2022.
  1. The 10% percentile salary was less than $38,550, and 90% percentile was over $101,080.¹²  
• The median annual salary for Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers was estimated at $65,790 as of 2022.
  1. The 10% percentile salary was less than $40,56,0 and 90% percentile was over $104,100.¹³ 
• The median annual salary for Police and Detectives was estimated at $69,160 as of 2022.¹⁴
  1. The 10% percentile salary was less than $41,660, and 90% percentile was over $109,580. 
• 655,890 police and sheriff’s patrol officers are employed in the U.S., with 557,660 employed by local governments.¹³ 
• 808,700 police and detectives are employed in the U.S., with 114,400 of those being detectives and criminal investigators.¹⁴ 
• 89,920 probation officers and correctional treatment specialists are employed in the U.S., with the majority of those jobs coming from state and local government (87,400).¹² 
• About half of federal law enforcement officers worked for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2020. Almost a third worked for the Department of Justice (DOJ).¹⁵ 
• The most common workplaces for forensic science technicians are in state and local governments.¹⁶ 

Criminal Justice Demographics

Demographics play a vital role in understanding representation within criminal justice careers. This section examines the gender, race, ethnicity, and age breakdowns of police officers and criminal justice lawyers, offering insights into diversity within the field. These statistics reflect the profession’s current state while highlighting opportunities for increased inclusivity.

• In 2021, 85.8% of police officers were men and 14.2% were women.⁷ 
• 44% of police officers are between the ages of 25 to 39.⁷ 
• Reported race/ethnicity of police officers⁷:
  1. 15.7% Hispanic
  2. 73.4% White
  3. 13.8% Black
  4. 6.19% Two or more races 
• There are more than 7,267 criminal justice lawyers in the United States.¹¹ 
• 51.1% of all criminal justice lawyers are women, while 48.9% are men.¹¹ 
• The most common ethnicity of criminal justice lawyers is White (75.3%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (7.9%), Asian (6.5%) and Black or African American (5.7%).¹¹ 
• The average criminal justice lawyer’s age is 46 years old.¹¹ 
• 10% of all criminal justice lawyers are LGBT.¹¹ 

Sources

1. https://learn.org/articles/Criminal_Justice_Majors_Salary_and_Career_FAQs.html
2. https://www.coursera.org/articles/criminal-justice-degree
3. https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/ 
4. https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d21/tables/dt21_505.10.asp
5. https://www.ncja.org/crimeandjusticenews/how-the-nation-s-criminal-justice-footprint-is-getting-smaller
6. https://www.criminaljustice.com/online-degrees/california/
7. https://datausa.io/profile/soc/police-officers 
8. https://www.bestcolleges.com/resources/online-students/true-program-cost/
9. https://www.imagine-america.org/much-criminal-justice-degree-cost/
10. https://www.geteducated.com/online-college-ratings-and-rankings/best-buy-lists/best-buy-online-bachelor-justice-studies/#/
11. https://www.zippia.com/criminal-justice-lawyer-jobs/demographics/
12. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes211092.htm
13. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333051.htm
14. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/police-and-detectives.htm
15. https://bjs.ojp.gov/document/fleo20st.pdf
16. https://research.com/careers/criminal-justice-careers

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