{"id":118084,"date":"2023-12-17T12:01:18","date_gmt":"2023-12-17T18:01:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/?p=118084"},"modified":"2025-05-05T16:16:34","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T21:16:34","slug":"criminologists-modern-policing-impact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/psychology\/criminologists-modern-policing-impact\/","title":{"rendered":"The Role of a Criminologist in Modern Policing"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"clearfix\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Chicago School\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/programs\/behavioral-sciences\/criminology\/ba\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Criminology B.A.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/programs\/psychology\/forensic-psychology\/ma\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">M.A.,<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/programs\/psychology\/clinical-forensic-psychology\/psyd\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Psy.D. Forensic Psychology<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> programs offer an extensive range of courses for those interested in criminology studies and joining the modern police world. While many people know the roles and responsibilities of detectives and police officers, a criminologist is another essential team member in solving crimes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A criminologist will use skills learned from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/programs\/psychology\/forensic-psychology\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">forensic psychology<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and human behavior to help solve crimes, reform criminals, and protect communities. Our program in forensic psychology prepares you for the practice and application of psychology to issues in the legal system. This includes correctional counseling, forensic mental health evaluations, police safety psychology, and more. A bachelor of art in criminology prioritizes both criminology and forensic psychology, as criminologists examine crime with a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/learn.org\/articles\/what_does_a_criminologist_do_-_job_description_salary.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">more nuanced approach<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, assessing the many influences that result in crime and criminal activity in individuals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">What are the Responsibilities of a Criminologist?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While where someone with a BA in criminology works can determine a lot of their day-to-day routines, there are common responsibilities a criminologist can be expected to perform:<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Analyze Crime Scenes: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/nij.ojp.gov\/topics\/law-enforcement\/investigations\/crime-scene\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Investigating a crime scene<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> involves crucial steps to guarantee accurate reports, assess all forms of evidence, from physical evidence to a proper chain of custody, and ensure that all evidence is preserved as it was found.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Trace Evidence Examination: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nj.gov\/lps\/njsp\/division\/investigations\/trace-evidence.shtml#:~:text=Trace%20Evidence%20Analysis%20is%20the,requires%20care%20and%20specialized%20techniques.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Handling unseen evidence<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> requires specialized techniques that criminologists perform, this evidence can include gunshot residue or even minute hair fibers. These tiny details are crucial when it comes to solving crimes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Forensic Toxicology: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it comes to examining <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nij.ojp.gov\/topics\/forensics\/forensic-toxicology#:~:text=Forensic%20toxicology%20is%20the%20analysis,is%20above%20a%20harmful%20level.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">biological samples<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a criminologist is looking for either drugs of some kind or other toxins, such as poison, to help solve the case of an individual\u2019s death, or the lead-up to their death.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Forensic Engineering: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In criminal cases, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.criminaljusticeprofiles.org\/forensic-engineer.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">forensic engineering<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> involves investigating products, buildings, or machines to determine why they failed and potentially caused harm to unsuspecting bystanders.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">How Much Does a Criminologist Make?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/protective-service\/police-and-detectives.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the 2023 median pay of a criminologist was $74,901, or $36.02 per hour in the U.S..\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Where Can a Criminologist Work?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a fundamental member of a crime-fighting team, a criminologist can work in a variety of settings, each of which offers their own challenges and rewards:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><b>Government\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With an opportunity to work for the U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI, or another branch of the government, a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/olp\/forensic-science#:~:text=Forensic%20scientists%20examine%20and%20analyze,an%20innocent%20person%20from%20suspicion.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">criminologist in these departments<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will have to use their forensic science skills to assist in the forensic laboratory to aid in solving crimes and making sure innocent individuals are absolved.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><b>Social Welfare<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social work criminology or correctional social work offers various job opportunities, such as working as a program manager, a victim advocate, or a probation officer. In social welfare, your responsibility is to your clients as you guide them through difficult life crises and help them find solutions.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><b>Law Enforcement<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Focusing on the causes of a crime, someone with a background in criminology studies will find their skill set suitable for law enforcement, where forensic work and public safety can be used hand in hand to make a positive impact in the community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><b>Academia\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Working as a criminologist in the academic world involves teaching students about forensic science and what criminologists do, as well as extensive research to help expand the field of how we examine crimes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">How to Become a Criminologist\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are three crucial steps in becoming a criminologist and working in the field to help modern policing.\u00a0<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Earn a <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/programs\/behavioral-sciences\/criminology\/ba\/\"><b>Bachelors in Criminology<\/b><\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is the first crucial step, where you will learn about the foundational aspects of crime, psychology, sociology, and criminal justice, all of which will be used in tandem to help advance your career.\u00a0<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Real World Experience\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/gogovernment.org\/federal-internship-finder\/?utm_term=government%20internship&amp;utm_campaign=Federal+Internship+Finder&amp;utm_source=adwords&amp;utm_medium=ppc&amp;hsa_acc=2324647335&amp;hsa_cam=20776745187&amp;hsa_grp=157147750233&amp;hsa_ad=683146132015&amp;hsa_src=g&amp;hsa_tgt=kwd-118143082&amp;hsa_kw=government%20internship&amp;hsa_mt=b&amp;hsa_net=adwords&amp;hsa_ver=3&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwooq3BhB3EiwAYqYoEmLOZMqxVSAZC3Yuy-njB9ra-lCbTNvsF1a-eJACLuwTFtVG3X5AKhoCzokQAvD_BwE\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">finding an internship<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> during your undergraduate studies, you will get real hands-on experience, which can either turn into a job down the road or will help you build up connections and build up your resume.\u00a0<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Join an Organization\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Joining an organization such as the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/asc41.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Society of Criminology<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> after graduating with a B.A. in Criminology can open up opportunities to get a forensics or criminal justice career, featuring annual meetings, newsletters, and the chance to submit your work for publication.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Start a Career in Criminology at The Chicago School<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p id=\"the-role-of-a-criminologist-in-modern-policing\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Criminology starts with a high-quality education and a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/programs\/behavioral-sciences\/criminology\/ba\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">B.A. Criminology<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. At The Chicago School, learning about the foundations of criminology and criminal psychology is the first step. For those who want to expand their studies or are looking to change careers, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/programs\/psychology\/forensic-psychology\/ma\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">M.A.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/programs\/psychology\/clinical-forensic-psychology\/psyd\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Psy.D.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can create new job opportunities in legal and public policy areas. The Chicago School is about more than academic theory. We prioritize giving our students the skills they need to positively impact the world. If you want to make a difference as a criminologist, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/connect-with-us\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">request info today<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to learn more.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p><\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Chicago School\u2019s Criminology B.A., M.A., and Psy.D. Forensic Psychology programs offer an extensive range of courses for those interested in criminology studies and joining the modern police world. While many people know the roles and responsibilities of detectives and police officers, a criminologist is another essential team member in solving crimes.\u00a0 A criminologist will use skills learned from forensic psychology and human behavior to help solve crimes, reform criminals, and protect communities. Our program in forensic psychology prepares you [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":118085,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[113],"tags":[],"coauthors":[1062],"class_list":["post-118084","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-psychology"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Criminologists Impact on Modern Policing | The Chicago School<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Criminologists are the backbone of effective modern policing. Discover how The Chicago School&#039;s programs prepare students for a career in this dynamic field.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/psychology\/criminologists-modern-policing-impact\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Criminologists Impact on Modern Policing | The Chicago School\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Criminologists are the backbone of effective modern policing. Discover how The Chicago School&#039;s programs prepare students for a career in this dynamic field.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/psychology\/criminologists-modern-policing-impact\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Insight Digital Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-12-17T18:01:18+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-05-05T21:16:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Criminologist.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"766\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"The Chicago School\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"The Chicago School\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Criminologists Impact on Modern Policing | The Chicago School","description":"Criminologists are the backbone of effective modern policing. Discover how The Chicago School's programs prepare students for a career in this dynamic field.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/psychology\/criminologists-modern-policing-impact\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Criminologists Impact on Modern Policing | The Chicago School","og_description":"Criminologists are the backbone of effective modern policing. Discover how The Chicago School's programs prepare students for a career in this dynamic field.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/psychology\/criminologists-modern-policing-impact\/","og_site_name":"Insight Digital Magazine","article_published_time":"2023-12-17T18:01:18+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-05-05T21:16:34+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1400,"height":766,"url":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Criminologist.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"The Chicago School","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"The Chicago School","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/psychology\/criminologists-modern-policing-impact\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/psychology\/criminologists-modern-policing-impact\/"},"author":{"name":"The Chicago School","@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/#\/schema\/person\/8dbf060a75f74b3467188c5d4ef1dd07"},"headline":"The Role of a Criminologist in Modern Policing","datePublished":"2023-12-17T18:01:18+00:00","dateModified":"2025-05-05T21:16:34+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/psychology\/criminologists-modern-policing-impact\/"},"wordCount":818,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/psychology\/criminologists-modern-policing-impact\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Criminologist.jpg","articleSection":["Psychology"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/psychology\/criminologists-modern-policing-impact\/","url":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/psychology\/criminologists-modern-policing-impact\/","name":"Criminologists Impact on Modern Policing | The Chicago School","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/psychology\/criminologists-modern-policing-impact\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/psychology\/criminologists-modern-policing-impact\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Criminologist.jpg","datePublished":"2023-12-17T18:01:18+00:00","dateModified":"2025-05-05T21:16:34+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/#\/schema\/person\/8dbf060a75f74b3467188c5d4ef1dd07"},"description":"Criminologists are the backbone of effective modern policing. Discover how The Chicago School's programs prepare students for a career in this dynamic field.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/psychology\/criminologists-modern-policing-impact\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/psychology\/criminologists-modern-policing-impact\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/psychology\/criminologists-modern-policing-impact\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Criminologist.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Criminologist.jpg","width":1400,"height":766,"caption":"A criminologist studies his notes while standing in front of a bulletin board covered with documents."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/psychology\/criminologists-modern-policing-impact\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The Role of a Criminologist in Modern Policing"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/","name":"Insight Digital Magazine","description":"The Chicago School","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/#\/schema\/person\/8dbf060a75f74b3467188c5d4ef1dd07","name":"The Chicago School"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118084","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=118084"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118084\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":119909,"href":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118084\/revisions\/119909"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/118085"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=118084"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=118084"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=118084"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=118084"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}