Criminal Justice Schools in Louisiana
The Best Programs, Degree Paths and Resources for Louisiana Students
Louisiana has a broad criminal justice system, one that employs approximately 70,000 individuals across fields like law enforcement, the courts and judicial system, corrections and law, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Attending criminal justice school in Louisiana can position graduates to work in many rural and urban communities across the state, from Shreveport to New Orleans. Learn more about the different educational options for criminal justice in Louisiana below, and find a program that fits both the academic needs and career aspirations of criminal justice students.
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The Best Louisiana Criminal Justice Schools
Methodology
To be considered for this ranking, schools were required to meet the following criteria: Accredited at the institutional level Private nonprofit or public school Minimum of 1 bachelor’s or master’s degree in subject area for 4-year schools Minimum of 1 associate degree or certificate program in subject area for 2-year schools Schools were then scored on factors such as: Cost & Financial Aid Number and variety of program offerings Student-teacher ratios Graduation rates (4-year schools only) Placement and support services offered Academic/Career counseling services Employment services Loan default rates These factors were assembled for each school and rated using a peer-based-value (PBV) calculation. PBV compares the cost of a program to the cost of other programs with the same (or similar) qualitative score and cost. PBV denotes the overall value or “bang for your buck” of a college or degree program.Not every student is created equal, nor is every criminal justice school in Louisiana. Some students want to attend a small community college, while others want to enroll at a public four-year institution. This list pinpoints the top institutions in Louisiana that offer criminal justice programs, ranking them by their tuition, acceptance rate, enrollment and other key factors. Learn more about the best criminal justice programs below.
The Most Popular Criminal Justice Careers in Louisiana
Before earning a degree, it’s important for students to map out possible employment options. Criminal justice schools in Louisiana provide many educational and degree options, and to help students identify a path that fits their professional goals, the table below includes details on some of the most popular criminal justice careers in the state. Learn more about the employment figures, salaries and academic requirements for these careers in Louisiana specifically below.
Police, Sheriff & Highway Patrol Officers
- Total Employed in Louisiana10,530
- Median Salary in Louisiana$37,940
- Degree Level Required in LouisianaAcademy Program
Correctional Officer
- Total Employed in Louisiana8,480
- Median Salary in Louisiana$31,620
- Degree Level Required in LouisianaCertificate
Compliance Officer
- Total Employed in Louisiana4,370
- Median Salary in Louisiana$56,690
- Degree Level Required in LouisianaBachelor’s
Paralegal and Legal Assistant
- Total Employed in Louisiana3,530
- Median Salary in Louisiana$41,380
- Degree Level Required in LouisianaVaries; up to Bachelor’s
Detectives and Criminal Investiagors
- Total Employed in Louisiana1,910
- Median Salary in Louisiana$48,210
- Degree Level Required in LouisianaVaries; Academy Program plus experience
Court, Municipal and License Clerks
- Total Employed in Louisiana1,730
- Median Salary in Louisiana$31,910
- Degree Level Required in LouisianaVaries; up to Associate
Probation Officer
- Total Employed in Louisiana1,140
- Median Salary in Louisiana$44,900
- Degree Level Required in LouisianaBachelor’s
Side by Side: Comparing Louisiana with Criminal Justice Nationally
Graduating from a criminal justice school in Louisiana doesn’t limit students to a single career field. Louisiana offers numerous applicable career opportunities in legal and protective services – including several occupations that are growing faster in Louisiana than the national average. Use the graphs below to learn more about specialized criminal justice occupations in the state. Scroll over each bar for specifics, including degree requirements in Louisiana, to see which may provide a good return on the college investment.
Salary
| Job | National | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Title Examiner | 42,560 | 42,840 |
| Private Detective | 40,940 | 52,840 |
| Transportation Security Screener | 37,290 | 40,050 |
| Court Reporter | 41,040 | 54,720 |
| Lawyer | 111,240 | 136,260 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, Conciliators | 53,590 | 69,060 |
| Fire Inspector, Investigator | 55,510 | 59,800 |
| Forensic Science Technician | 50,450 | 60,090 |
Job Growth
| Job | National | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Compliance Officer | 0.033 | 0.126 |
| Paralegal | 0.076 | 0.219 |
| Bailiff | 0.046 | 0.111 |
| Police, Sheriff & Patrol Officer | 0.05 | 0.095 |
| Gaming Surveillance Officer | -0.057 | 0.048 |
| Forensic Science Technician | 0.021 | 0.264 |
| Criminal Justice Professors | 0.019 | 0.213 |
| Probation Officers | 0.003 | 0.036 |
Source: Projections Central, 2015
Where to Get Hired After Criminal Justice School in Louisiana
Graduates of criminal justice schools can select from any number of potential career paths in projective services, law or corrections. The biggest employment areas include the New Orleans and Baton Rouge regions, employing nearly 40,000 individuals in the criminal justice field. Use the table below to learn more about prospective criminal justice occupations and where you could find employment.
Largest areas of employment in descending order
Protective service
- New Orleans, Metairie
- Baton Rouge
- Shreveport, Bossier City
- Lafayette
- Lake Charles
Legal service
- New Orleans, Metairie
- Baton Rouge
- Lafayette
- Shreveport, Bossier City
- Monroe
Professional Resources for Criminal Justice in Louisiana
Business Compliance Resources
Association of Corporate Counsel, Louisiana Chapter
A professional group for in-house business legal counsel and support staff, the ACC-LA provides career development and networking opportunities.
Community Assistance Program
A state program that provides community and small business resources including environmental regulatory assistance.
Louisiana Association of Business and Industry
The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry is the state’s Chamber of Commerce and represents the interests of businesses in the state through regulatory, political and judicial processes.
Louisiana Workforce Commission
State agency that supports business development through regulation and enforcement of tax policies, workforce development and labor laws.
Correctional Resources
Innocence Project
A non-profit law group that offers investigative and legal services to prisoners currently serving, with emphasis on cases that may involve innocent individuals serving life sentences in Louisiana.
Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights and the Juvenile Justice Program
This organization works to provide at-risk youth and community safety programs to prevent young people from committing crimes, and help reintegrate young people who have served time in the juvenile justice system.
Louisiana Correctional Association
A group of criminal justice professionals dedicated to improving the corrections and criminal justice systems in Louisiana.
Louisiana Department of Corrections
The state department that oversees the corrections system in Louisiana and operates community corrections programs, reentry services, victim services and careers in corrections.
Prison Enterprises
An organization that works with incarcerated offenders to provide job opportunities and occupational and career skills training across many industries in Louisiana.
Court & Judicial Resources
Louisiana Civil Justice Center
A nonprofit organization launched in 2005 that provides legal and justice services to low-income residents and individuals affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Louisiana Court Reporters Association
Recognizing the professionals and leaders in Louisiana’s court reporting professional community, the LCRA was formerly known as the Louisiana Shorthand Reporters Association.
Louisiana District Judges Association
Look up district courts of Louisiana and learn about the committees and initiatives Louisiana’s District Judges have jurisdiction over, including civil, criminal, domestic and juvenile services and education.
Louisiana Supreme Court
The state’s highest court located in New Orleans that has supervisory power over all courts in Louisiana.
National Center for State Courts – Louisiana
A state branch of the National Center for State Courts, a nonprofit organization that serves as a clearinghouse for judicial information.
Legal Resources
Center for Restorative Approaches
A program part of the Neighborhood Housing Services, the center provides a variety of training and tools to communities to improve public safety and reduce crime.
Louisiana Law Help
A website for individuals with low-incomes that provides self-help information and legal referrals through several nonprofits, as Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, Legal Services Corporation and Louisiana Bar Foundation.
Louisiana State Bar Association
An all-encompassing collection of information on the legal systems, law and training requirements in Louisiana.
Professional Civil Law Notaries Association, Louisiana
Fighting for the notary practice in Louisiana, the PCLNA was founded in 1999 and continues better the notary community through networking an continuing education programs.
Law Enforcement Resources
Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police
A membership organization of 350 retired and active chiefs of police and other law enforcement administrators throughout Louisiana.
Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice
State commission that administers a range of grant programs to support and improve the adult and juvenile justice systems.
Louisiana Sheriff’s Association
An association of the state’s 64 sheriffs and approximately 14,000 deputy sheriff’s that advocates for the legislation that supports law enforcement.
Louisiana State Troopers Association
A membership association of State Police officers in Louisiana, this group represents approximately 97% of active officers and a large number of State Police retirees.
Louisiana Tactical Police Officers Association
From training to tactical officer events and networking, the LTPOA serves tactical law enforcement officers across all agencies in Louisiana.
Wildlife & Environmental Resources
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Law Enforcement Division
Louisiana’s resource for fish and game law enforcement, including regulation information, incident reports and information on how to become a wildlife agent in Louisiana.
Louisiana Environmental Action Network
Nonprofit organization founded in 1986 that works in education and advocacy to solve environmental issues in the state.
Louisiana State Parks
Explore the natural side of Louisiana through the State Park system, including information on employment opportunities.
Louisiana Wildlife Foundation
A statewide conservation foundation that has more than 9,600 members across 24 state and local clubs.
Value Louisiana
A collaborative organization that assists business and government organizations to craft socially and environmentally friendly policies and incentives.