One way to lay the groundwork for a successful career in criminal justice is to work as a security guard. WALB-TV in Georgia recently spoke with two young women who are taking criminal justice courses at Albany Technical College. One of them, Twana Young, is planning to work in hospital security. "I noticed the big hospitals need more officers," Young told the TV station. Meanwhile, fellow student Marketa Thomas is studying to be a crime scene investigator. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of security guards will grow by about 17% from now until 2016, with about 175,000 new jobs expected to be created in the field during that time. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook adds that "job prospects for security guards should be excellent" because more experienced workers are retiring or leaving the field as demand continues to grow. At the same time, the report warns of stiff competition for the more specialized and advanced security positions, which require more experience and training. "There is always job security in law enforcement. People are always going to be committing crimes," Albany Technical College instructor Kenn Singleton told WALB.  |