Criminal Justice Schools in Arkansas

Students interested in land and legal or protective wildlife services should consider attending criminal justice school in Arkansas. With six national parks, over 50 state parks and roughly 2.5 million acres of national forest land in the state, the opportunity for natural resource enforcement officers is greater in Arkansas than in many other places around the country. A criminal justice degree can also open the door to many other law enforcement and legal careers, and many colleges and universities in Arkansas offer different degree levels for aspiring criminal justice students. Explore the educational options and degree requirements for these jobs right here, and see if attending criminal justice school in Arkansas is a good fit for your future.

Explore programs of your interests with the high-quality standards and flexibility you need to take your career to the next level.

With a number of options to choose from, it can be hard to tell which criminal justice schools in Arkansas offer the best programs. The list below takes the most common denominators, such as tuition costs and graduation rates, into consideration to pinpoint the best overall criminal justice schools in the state. This can be a great jumping off point for deeper research as aspiring criminal justice students begin to narrow down the options.

As prospective students begin researching which criminal justice school to attend in Arkansas, they should also consider which area of study they’d like to focus on. With concentrations ranging from law enforcement and public service to legal and judicial occupations, it’s a good idea to check out the degree requirements for interesting careers before enrolling in school. Students may also want to consider other factors, such as salary, as they choose a career path. Check out this list of the most popular criminal justice careers in Arkansas below, and click for more information on the salary and degree each job requires in Arkansas specifically.

Though the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism reports a cost of living slightly lower than the national average, students attending criminal justice school in Arkansas can enjoy higher job growth projections than many other states, especially in regards to nature and wildlife enforcement positions. Take a look at how Arkansas stacks up to the rest of the nation for grads after criminal justice school, in terms of salary and job growth, and find the degrees needed for each job by scrolling over the graph information below.

Salary

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015

Job Growth

Source: Projections Central, 2015

From national parks to metropolitan areas, Arkansas provides a unique variety of areas for students to find employment in after criminal justice school. The map below shows which areas have the highest concentrations of public service and legal professionals in the state, as well as the average annual salary for each area. Scroll over the buttons on the map for more detailed information.

Protective Service

Potential Employers

Randall L. Williams Correctional Facility; Pine Bluff Re-Entry Center; Lake Dardanelle State Park; Hot Springs National Park; University of Arkansas; Arkansas State Police; Little Rock Police Department; Jonesboro Animal Control; private investigation firms; Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department; Arkansas International Airport

Total Number of Employees in Arkansas: 25,050

Legal Occupations

Potential Employers

Private practice law firms; Arkansas Supreme Court; Arkansas Court of Appeals; Eastern District Court of Arkansas; Benton County Courthouse; Arkansas National Guard; Arkansas Department of Justice; City of Little Rock; Arkansas Attorney General?s Office; Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration; Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs

Total Number of Employees in Arkansas: 6,660

BUSINESS COMPLIANCE RESOURCES

Arkansas Economic Development Commission

A membership based organization promoting economic and business development, specifically centered on bringing new businesses to and improving current business practices in the state of Arkansas. This page lists the many industries operating in the state, and provides training resources for continuing business education.

Arkansas Secretary of State

A collection of business and commercial service information can be found through the Arkansas SOS site, including details on community education initiatives, state business rules and regulations, corporate filings and financial disclosures. This is also a public resource for scam alerts and election information.

Little Rock Regional Chamber

From business advocacy to economic development, the Little Rock Regional Chamber is a membership networking group for businesses in central Arkansas. This site also offers information for businesses relocating from other areas and local business news.

Small Business Association – Arkansas

Information on tax registration, business licensing, corporate filings and other employer requirements can be found here. This page provides an all-encompassing small business checklist for those new or unfamiliar to legal compliance in Arkansas.

CORRECTIONAL RESOURCES

Arkansas Community Correction

The online hub for the State of Arkansas’ Community Correction agency, ACC employees and other professionals in working or interested in careers in criminal justice in the state can find information on the state’s parole, probation and substance abuse programs, specialty courts, transitional housing and other aftercare services. Volunteer information can also be found here.

Arkansas Department of Corrections

From information on the state’s correctional facilities to a job board, the Arkansas DOC website provides a collection of handy resources for those interested in learning more about corrections. There is also information about the ADC Training Academy for aspiring correctional officers.

Arkansas Justice Reinvestment Initiative

Created in response to a growing prison population in the state, the Justice Reinvestment Initiative was enacted through the Bureau of Justice Assistance at the U.S. Department of Justice, with a focus on streamlining the parole release process to reduce inmate housing costs. Learn how to get involved on this page.

InnerChange Prison Fellowship, Arkansas

An inmate re-entry program that assists adults being released from Arkansas prisons with probation and parole placement. The main goal of the program is to prevent offenders from repeating crimes, and those interested in careers in parole and probation can learn about volunteer and career opportunities here.

COURT & JUDICIAL RESOURCES

Arkansas Judiciary

A hub for the Arkansas judicial system, this website provides information on the courts, rules and administrative orders, jury service and legal meetings, training sessions and other events.

Arkansas Judges & Lawyers Assistance Program

Addressing mental health, anxiety and stress-related issues that judges, lawyers and law students face, the JLAP and their staff provide free, confidential counseling and other assistance to Arkansas judicial workers and students struggling with various personal or work-related stress issues. Volunteer opportunities are also listed on this page.

Arkansas State Court Appointed Special Advocates Association

A volunteer based program that helps children involved in juvenile dependency and neglect cases find safe, permanent homes. These volunteers are trained and appointed by the courts and act as the liaison between judges and children. Employment and volunteer information is also provided on this site.

LEGAL RESOURCES

Arkansas Access to Justice

An organization focused on providing free or affordable legal aid to at-risk and low income individuals in Arkansas. Lawyers interested in doing pro bono work can connect with case workers here, and those pursuing justice based careers can check the site’s news section for current job postings.

Arkansas Bar Association

With information for attorneys, students and the public, the Arkansas Bar website contains information on events, case summaries and provides a “Find a Lawyer” feature. Students can find job information, volunteer opportunities and networks with other young criminal justice professionals in the “Young Lawyers Section”.

Legal Aid of Arkansas

Promoting equal justice for low-income Arkansas residents by offering free or low cost legal assistance. This site connects attorneys seeking volunteer opportunities to clients in need, and also promotes other justice-centered projects and community training sessions on a variety of topics from healthcare to taxes and housing rights.

LAW ENFORCEMENT RESOURCES

Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police

From employment opportunities to networking and support services, the ACP is a membership-based group for current and aspiring police chiefs in Arkansas. This website also provides insight into community activities and the organizational structure of police forces in the state.

Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards & Training

The main resource for aspiring protective service officers in Arkansas, this site provides information on officer standards, firearms qualifications, training schedules and materials needed to apply for and complete basic training and instructor programs.

Arkansas Municipal Police Association|$||Arkansas Sheriff’s Association

Providing a group voice for law enforcement officers across Arkansas, the AMPA provides a list of useful resources for those interested on learning more about law enforcement, crime and training standards in Arkansas.

Arkansas Tactical Officers Association

A collection of sheriffs from various parts of Arkansas committed to providing information, activities and programs based on current issues concerning law enforcement in the state. This site provides information on sheriff sponsored programs, legislative advocacy and employment opportunities.

University of Arkansas Police Department

The ATOA is the next-level training program for Arkansas law enforcement and corrections officers involved in tactical operations. It also includes a membership based group that furthers inter-departmental communications and networking.

WILDLIFE & ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES

Arkansas Wildlife Officer Association

A non-profit organization made up of game wardens across the state of Arkansas promoting proper wildlife law enforcement and legislative advocacy based on natural wildlife regulations. The group is active in the community and supports many charities, and also publishes the “Arkansas Wildlife Officer Magazine” with news and information.

Arkansas Game & Fish Commission

Focused on the enforcement division of Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, this site provides information on becoming a wildlife officer, reporting options, violation points and land use.

Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism, Employment

Those interested in working in one of Arkansas many parks can find employment opportunities listed on this Department of Parks and Tourism page.

Arkansas Wildlife Federation

Dedicated to conservation law and wildlife policy, the AWF provides a membership section and magazine in addition to community events and wildlife news.