Criminology vs. Criminal Justice: Differences and Similarities

From developing a communitywide policing initiative to finding a thief responsible for a rash of home break-ins, a variety of crime reduction efforts call on the expertise of two different but related fields: criminology and criminal justice.

Criminal justice professionals respond to crimes that have occurred—and work to prevent those that haven’t. Criminology professionals’ work assists these efforts, uncovering trends in crime that can inform crime prevention efforts and criminal investigations.

Criminology and criminal justice positions can be good career choices for anyone interested in serving their communities by helping to prevent and solve crimes. But how do these fields compare, and what are the educational foundations and professional training to start a career in one of these fields?

What Are Criminology and Criminal Justice?

The first step in examining criminology vs. criminal justice is to learn what each entails, and how they come together to form one cohesive field. Following are descriptions of each of these crime prevention-focused fields.

Criminology Definition

Criminology is a social science that draws on a variety of disciplines to study the causes and impacts of criminal behavior. Professionals working in criminology focus primarily on research to uncover trends in crime. Using theories from fields as diverse as biology and economics, criminology professionals tackle tasks such as:

• Exploring how differences in the class, race, and gender of communities interact with crime rates and other trends in crime
• Researching the causes of crime and how to prevent criminal acts
• Determining the various social impacts of crime and its consequences
• Working with policymakers and law enforcement agencies to develop crime prevention programs and processes

Criminal Justice Definition

Criminal justice is the study of response to crime and offending behavior. criminologists. Professionals working in criminal justice focus on both addressing crimes that have been committed and preventing crimes before they occur. People serving in criminal justice roles can work in any part of criminal proceedings, from law enforcement to corrections, with responsibilities such as:

• Upholding the law and responding to criminal activity
• Working to prevent crime
• Administering justice in the event of a crime
• Partnering with crime victims to ensure they receive restitution

Criminology vs. Criminal Justice: What’s the Difference?

Comparing criminology and criminal justice professionals reveals some key differences in the focus of their work and their specific roles. The two differ in the following ways:

Approach

Criminology and criminal justice professionals approach their work from different angles. Criminology professionals focus on concepts and applied elements of the causes and effects of crime. Those who work in criminal justice deal with actual crimes—such as by trying to prevent criminal activity or administering justice after it happens.

Careers

Because their roles as they relate to crime prevention are different, so are many of the jobs associated with criminology and criminal justice. Following are some positions that professionals in each of these fields pursue:

Criminology Careers

Criminology jobs typically require expertise in criminal behavior and trends. The following are among the roles available in criminology:

• Criminal profiler: Criminal profilers draw on their knowledge of criminal psychology to predict the actions of those who commit serial crimes. The median salary for these professionals in May 2022 was about $50,700, according to Payscale.
• Forensic psychologist: Forensic psychologists interview suspects and those who have been convicted of crimes, combining their expertise in psychology and criminology to determine what led to those crimes. Payscale reports that the median annual salary for these professionals was about $79,680 in May 2024.
• Forensic science technician: Forensic science technicians collect and analyze evidence from crime scenes, relying on their knowledge of criminal behavior to glean what the findings might mean. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median salary for these professionals was $64,940 in May 2023.

Criminal Justice Careers

People who work in criminal justice enforce laws through efforts to prevent, investigate, and respond to crimes. Some examples of criminal justice roles are:

• Police officer: Police officers ensure that people follow the law, patrolling a specific area and making arrests or issuing citations when violations occur. Police officers had a median salary of $72,280 in May 2023, according to the BLS.
• Criminal investigator: Criminal investigators work for law enforcement agencies and investigate crimes by gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses and victims. According to the BLS, these professionals had a median annual salary of $91,100 in May 2023.
• Probation officer: Probation officers assist offenders with their rehabilitation by providing them with helpful resources and meeting with them regularly to ensure they are compliant with their sentencing requirements. The BLS reports that the median salary for probation officers in May 2023 was $61,800.

Preparation

Criminology and criminal justice differ in the preparation that jobs in each of the fields typically require.

• For criminology jobs, a background focused on sociology and other social sciences—psychology and economics, for example—generally is a requirement. Criminology professionals typically hold a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or criminology and often hold a postgraduate degree as well.
• For criminal justice jobs, preparation may include earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice . Many roles also require candidates to meet certain physical and personal background requirements.

Criminology and Criminal Justice: How Are They Similar?

Criminal justice and criminology roles also have some characteristics in common, including their focus on crime and their job outlooks. Following are details about some ways the fields are similar:

Focus

While the way they approach the issue is different, criminology and criminal justice professionals share a focus on crime. The efforts of those who work in these fields help prevent crime and protect people against it, and help to ensure that victims get justice.

Interaction

The work of criminology and criminal justice professionals often overlaps.

Criminal justice professionals, for example, rely on the findings of those in criminology to help them understand the behavior of those who commit crimes. This information is helpful in solving crimes and developing crime prevention programs. People who work in criminology roles rely on criminal justice outcomes to inform their research.

Job Outlook

The BLS projects that job growth for a number of criminology and criminal justice roles will be equal to or faster than the average for all jobs between 2022 and 2032. Among the examples of criminology and criminal justice jobs with steady or strong job growth projections are:

• Police officer: Police officers are expected to see 3% job growth, equal to the projected average for all jobs, with the BLS anticipating about 64,500 police and detective job openings each year during that decade.
• Probation officer: Probation officers are expected to see 3% job growth, with about 7,400 openings projected each year
• Forensic science technician: Forensic science technicians are expected to see 13% job growth, with the BLS projecting about 2,600 job openings annually

Build a Foundation for Serving Your Community

If you’re ready to make a difference in your community through a career in criminal justice, East Carolina University® can help you get there.

Explore ECU’s online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree completion program, which focuses on putting the concepts of criminology to work by providing equitable support and protection for all citizens. Through flexible, online instruction, you’ll learn about criminal justice and criminology topics that range from correctional facility operations to criminal law basics.

Discover how ECU’s online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program can help you complete your degree and pursue your career goals.

Recommended Readings

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Why Is Criminal Justice Important?

Criminal Justice Careers & Outlook in NC

Sources:

Indeed, “12 Jobs You Can Get With a Criminology Degree”

Indeed, “15 Top Criminal Justice Degree Jobs (With Salaries)”

Indeed, “Criminology vs. Criminal Justice: What’s the Difference?”

LegalJobs, “Criminology vs. Criminal Justice: Understanding the Differences”

Payscale, Average Criminal Profiler Salary

Payscale, Average Forensic Psychologist Salary

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Forensic Science Technicians

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Police and Detectives

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists