Law, Public Safety, Corrections, Security

Pathway 1: 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

• Correctional Officers and Jailers

• First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers

• Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists

Pathway 2: Emergency 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

• Emergency Medical Technicians

• Fire Inspectors and Investigators

• Firefighters

• First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers

• Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists

• Paramedics

• Public Safety Telecommunicators

Pathway 3: 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; and, apprehend, arrest, and process prisoners.

Sample Occupations

• Animal Control Workers

• Customs and Border Protection Officers

• Detectives and Criminal Investigators

• First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

• Fish and Game Wardens

• Forensic Science Technicians

• Intelligence Analysts

• Parking Enforcement Workers

• Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

• Police Identification and Records Officers

• Private Detectives and Investigators

• Transit and Railroad Police

Pathway 4: 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 myriad ways. For this reason, they hold positions of great responsibility and are obligated to adhere to a strict code of ethics.

Sample Occupations

• Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers

• Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators

• Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners

• Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates

• Judicial Law Clerks

• Lawyers

• Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

• Paralegals and Legal Assistants

• Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers

Pathway 5: Security & 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

• Bailiffs

• Crossing Guards and Flaggers

• First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers

• Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators

• Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers

• Retail Loss Prevention Specialists

• School Bus Monitors

• Security Guards