The Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security career cluster helps prepare students for careers in planning, managing, and providing legal, public safety, protective services and homeland security, including professional and technical support services.

This career cluster is divided into five pathways:

• Emergency and Fire Management Services

• Law Enforcement Services

• Legal Services

• Correction Services

• Security & Protective Services

Emergency Services and Fire Management Services

Every year, fires and other emergencies take thousands of lives and destroy property worth billions of dollars. Firefighters and emergency services workers help protect the public against these dangers by rapidly responding to a variety of emergencies. They are frequently the first emergency personnel at the scene of a traffic accident or medical emergency and may be called upon to put out a fire, treat injuries or perform other vital functions.

Sample occupations include:

• Emergency Management and Response Coordinator

• Emergency Planning Manager

• Emergency Medical Technician

• Fire Fighter

• Hazardous Materials Responder

• Dispatcher

• Training Officer

• Rescue Worker

Law Enforcement Services

People depend on police officers and detectives to protect their lives and property. Law enforcement officers have duties that range from controlling traffic to preventing and investigating crimes. They maintain order, enforce laws and ordinances, issue traffic summonses, investigate accidents, present evidence in court, serve legal documents for the court system, as well as apprehend, arrest and process prisoners.

Sample occupations include:

• Criminal Investigator and Special Agent

• Immigration and Customs Inspector

• Federal Marshall

• Police Detective and Criminal Investigator

• Police, Fire and Ambulance Dispatcher

• Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff

• Private Detective and Investigator

• Police and Patrol Officer

• Evidence Technician

• Game Enforcement Officer

• Bailiff

• Animal Control Officer

• Park Ranger

Legal Services

The legal system affects nearly every aspect of our society, from buying a home to crossing the street. Workers in the Legal Services pathway form the backbone of this vital system, linking it to society in many ways. For this reason, they hold positions of great responsibility and are obligated to adhere to a strict code of ethics.

Sample occupations include:

• Judge

• Magistrate

• Attorney

• Case Management Specialist

• Legal Assistant

• Court Reporter

• File and Document Manager

• Investigator

• Law Clerk

• Paralegal

• Mediator/Arbitrator

• Legal Secretary

Correction Services

Workers in the Correction Services pathway are responsible for overseeing individuals who have been arrested and are awaiting trial or who have been convicted of a crime and sentenced to serve time in a jail, reformatory, or penitentiary. While the primary mission of corrections is protection of the public, many in this field are involved with the treatment, education and reintegration of offenders.

Sample occupations include:

• Corrections Officer

• Probation, Parole Officer

Security and Protective Services

Security personnel often work in public buildings such as museums or art galleries to protect paintings and exhibits by inspecting people and packages entering and leaving the building. In factories, laboratories, government buildings, data processing centers, and military bases, security officers protect information, products, computer codes, and defense secrets and check the credentials of people and vehicles entering and leaving the premises.

Sample occupations include:

• Private Detective, Investigator

• Security Officer

In order to make a plan for your future career goals, you need to know how to get there and make sure it is a good fit for you. There are several tools that can be used for career research. These tools can give you a description of the career, skills needed, tasks involved, wage range, and education/training needed.

Here are a few career research tools:

• Xello

• Onet-Use the "Occupation Search" features

• My Next Move

• CareerOneStop-Use "Occupation Search" or "List of Occupations"

• ASVAB-Career Exploration Program