Expand mobile version menu
  Skip to main content

Interviews

Insider Info

"Rarely does a week go by that a major crime-related issue doesn't hit the media," says criminologist John Vivian. "When you work in the system, you are in a position to know about those issues. It makes it interesting."

Vivian is the administrator of research and development for the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections. He is responsible for developing budgets, assigning and scheduling projects, communicating with other research organizations and groups and supervising staff.

"But most importantly, I do research projects myself," he says.

He is currently working on a project that will estimate how many youth will be incarcerated in Arizona in the future. He analyzes historical data to come up with future projections. "These findings allow us to plan for future programs and policies," he says.

Vivian enjoys research that has a direct influence upon policies in the state. "It's not a matter of doing research, writing a report and then having it sit on a shelf."

Good computer skills and writing skills are important. Learning about government and how it operates is helpful, too.

"You won't get rich doing this work, but you can have a social impact," says Vivian.

Michael G. Yeager has been a criminologist for 25 years. His interest in criminology developed while he was on the debate team in high school. His crime-related debates led him to study criminology in university. He now has a master's degree in criminal justice.

In his private practice, Yeager specializes in sentencing and parole. He works with every type of offender -- juvenile, adult, male, female, violent and non-violent. "I have testified before numerous courts on sentencing matters," he says.

Typical office hours are 9 to 5, but that could differ when he is out in the field. There can be a lot of travel when working on a specific case.

Criminologists need to be well rounded, Yeager says. "Have a broad grounding in the arts and social sciences," he says.

Les Smith is the criminal justice manager for a county administrator's office in Fort Worth, Texas. He has a master's degree in criminology and criminal justice, and a bachelor of science in criminal justice administration.

Smith's career includes 20 years in police work and police administration, followed by 10 years in the criminal justice research and planning area. Smith believes that receiving his master's degree was a significant point in his career. "Many doors opened for me then," he says.

Smith is responsible for the coordination of the county's criminal justice system. He provides research data, analysis and plans for program development, personnel management and criminal justice issues.

Smith enjoys working with all "practitioners" in the justice system -- including police, prosecutors, the courts and the community. However, building consensus among these groups can be stressful.

"There are many job opportunities in the criminal justice field and they are not all police related," says Smith. "It seems students are fixated on the 'cops and robbers' syndrome because of TV."

Lorie Fridell is the director of research with the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) in Washington, D.C. PERF conducts research that is useful to police agencies.

Fridell has an undergraduate degree in psychology, and a master's and PhD in social ecology. An academic advisor led her towards law enforcement and research. "I did internships at a juvenile hall and at a forensic psychiatric ward," she says. "It piqued my interest."

Fridell and her team research topics like racial profiling, use of force, officer stress and effective management practices. "I like interacting with practitioners and I enjoy doing research that will have an impact on policy and practice."

On any given day, Fridell might develop a survey, travel to a research site and conduct interviews, hold focus groups with practitioners or write a research report.

"And, of course, there is a great deal of administrative work in this management position," she says. "And I feel pressure to make sure that the research we do and the products we produce are useful and relevant."

Fridell advises anyone interested in a career in criminology to do volunteer work or internships that expose them to the criminal justice system. It's also useful to work with residents of your community who are at high risk of committing crimes or who have been victims of crimes. "The theme is to get exposure and learn," she says.

Contact

  • Email Support

  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900

Support


Powered by XAP

OCAP believes that financial literacy and understanding the financial aid process are critical aspects of college planning and student success. OCAP staff who work with students, parents, educators and community partners in the areas of personal finance education, state and federal financial aid, and student loan management do not provide financial, investment, legal, and/or tax advice. This website and all information provided is for general educational purposes only, and is not intended to be construed as financial, investment, legal, and/or tax advice.