Massachusetts has a large criminal justice system that employs more than 100,000 individuals across the judicial system, correctional facilities, law enforcement agencies and legal industries. With multiple growing and well-paying career paths, attending a criminal justice school in Massachusetts can position students for future career successes, especially if they pursue a career in-state. Learn about different criminal justice occupational paths, use search tools to review and compare the best criminal justice schools in Massachusetts and access a variety of state-specific criminal justice-related resources on the page below
The Best Criminal Justice Schools in Massachusetts
Criminal justice is a broad field with a diverse array of academic programs at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree level. To identify the top criminal justice schools in the state of Massachusetts, we analyzed a list of factors most important to students, such as tuition and graduation rate, to determine where each educational institution ranks. Learn more about the best criminal justice schools in Massachusetts below
Top Online Programs
Explore programs of your interests with the high-quality standards and flexibility you need to take your career to the next level.
Side by Side: Massachusetts Compared to Criminal Justice Nationally
Before enrolling in a criminal justice school in Massachusetts, students should have an idea of where they want to head professionally-both in terms of study specialization and in terms of location after graduation. Looking and how Massachusetts compares to the national average for criminal justice job growth and salaries can help students determine whether or not the state provides the right opportunities. Scroll over the bars on the graphs below for details on how Massachusetts stacks up compared to the rest of the nation in criminal justice.
Salary| Job | National | Massachusetts |
|---|
| Lawyer | 136,260 | 152,990 |
| Paralegal | 52,390 | 52,790 |
| Correctional Officer | 45,320 | 66,880 |
| Police, Sheriff, Patrol Officer | 61,270 | 64,250 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, Conciliators | 64,250 | 69,060 |
| Compliance Officer | 69,180 | 82,020 |
| Fire Inspector, Investigator | 59,800 | 71,670 |
| Private Detectives | 47,620 | 52,840 |
Job Growth| Job | National | Massachusetts |
|---|
| Title Examiner | -0.004 | 0.086 |
| Law Professors | 0.061 | 0.218 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, Conciliators | 0.038 | 0.095 |
| Paralegal | 0.065 | 0.076 |
| Lawyer | 0.045 | 0.056 |
| Compliance Officer | 0.026 | 0.033 |
| Emergency Management Director | 0.017 | 0.067 |
| Supervisor: Wildlife, Forestry Officer | -0.081 | 0.076 |
Source: Projections Central, 2015
Where to Get Hired After Criminal Justice School in Massachusetts
Criminal justice school can lead to any number of career paths in Massachusetts, so graduates may ask: “Where can I work?” The map below highlights potential employers, along with the metropolitan areas with the greatest number of criminal justice employees in protective services and legal occupations.
Protective Services Potential Employers
- John Adams Courthouse
- North Central Corrections Institute
- Massachusetts State Police
- Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game
- Cambridge Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department
- Springfield Police Department
- Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
- Boston’s Animal Care and Control
- Carlisle School District
- Boston Logan Airport Total Number of Employees in Massachusetts: 79,640
Legal Occupations Potential Employers
- Private practice law firms
- Massachusetts Appeals Court
- Division of Administrative Law Appeals
- Massachusetts Board of Appeal
- Massachusetts Dispute Resolution Services
- Massachusetts Family Mediation
- Boston Municipal Court Total Number of Employees in Massachusetts: 27,920
Largest areas of employment in descending order
Protective service
- Boston, Cambridge, Newton
- Springfield
- Worcester
- Lowell, Billerica, Chelmsford
- Framingham
Legal service
- Boston, Cambridge, Newton
- Springfield
- Worcester
- Framingham
- Lowell, Billerica, Chelmsford
Professional Resources for Criminal Justice in Massachusetts
Business Compliance Resources
The Massachusetts chapter of the ACC, a professional organization for in-house legal business counsel working in the northeast U.S.
The state’s office that manages business initiatives, economic development, regulations and tax incentives.
The state’s resource for businesses seeking to expand locations or relocate to the state, the Office offers information into economic development incentive programs as well as business regulations and licensing.
The secretary of state website offers business regulation information, trademark and other corporate service information for the state of Massachusetts.
Correctional Resources
A professional organization with 400 members that provides professional development programs to individuals employed in the field of corrections.
The agency tasked with managing the Massachusetts’ correctional facilities. This site offers information on a range of career opportunities throughout the state correctional system.
Open to college students interested in working in the field of corrections of Massachusetts, this site gives information on the program application requirements and deadlines.
The state department that oversees juvenile justice in Massachusetts and offers resources on recidivism and youth education, as well as the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative.
Court and Judicial Resources
A formal association of 170 judicial interpreters that advocates for the profession, offers membership, networking events and other resources in Massachusetts.
The hub for the Massachusetts Court System online, with information on job opportunities, case and legal resources and jury information.
An association for court reporters in Massachusetts that offers professional certification and resources for students.
An association that works to bring together legal practitioners and youth clients that are involved in abuse, delinquency and other offender cases.
Legal Resources
The state branch of a private nonprofit organization that defends and advocates for the rights of individuals living in Massachusetts.
A hub for all legal resources in the state, the Massachusetts Bar also offers a membership program for many different groups of legal professionals.
An online poverty law resource that supports Massachusetts residents that need legal advice or representation.
A non-profit legal services organization that provides legal assistance in civil cases to individuals incarcerated in Massachusetts state prisons.
Law Enforcement Resources
The professional association for active and retired police chiefs that offers memberships, professional newsletter, hosts events and legislative action.
The state’s largest law enforcement union, the Massachusetts Coalition of Police represents more than 4,250 law enforcement officials across 157 cities in the state.
For more information on training standards for Massachusetts law enforcement, including commonwealth officers, University Police and Environmental Police, visit this MPTC site.
A non-profit, membership-based organization of Massachusetts law enforcement officials that advocates for police professionals through legislative policies and lobbying.
Wildlife and Environmental Resources
A division of the state office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, the Environmental Police include the following bureaus: Coastal; Inland; Boat, OHV and Snowmobile Registration; Boat and Recreation Vehicle Safety; Environmental Crimes; Marine Theft.
A public safety agency of the state of Massachusetts, the DFS provides information on the Massachusetts Fire Academy, fire investigation and emergency response.
The stage agency tasked with natural resource conservation, protection, restoration and management of wildlife and fish.
A non-profit affiliate of the National Environmental Health Association that provides educational and training programs for individuals working in public and environmental health.
A non-profit organization founded in 1992 that promotes conservation education and information on the field of wildlife rehabilitation.
