Criminologist

As a criminologist, you could:

• research the reasons why people commit crime
•  advise policy makers in the justice and policing systems
•  analyse data from surveys and intelligence to spot trends
•  work on crime reduction and rehabilitation programmes
•  recommend ways to improve the effectiveness of court sentences
•  speak to offenders and ex-offenders in prisons and probation services
•  attend conferences and present research findings
•  teach students at college or university

• knowledge of sociology and anthropology for understanding society and culture
• analytical thinking skills
• excellent written communication skills
• maths knowledge
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to understand people’s reactions
• excellent verbal communication skills
• knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• a graduate training scheme

You could become a senior policy adviser on crime and crime reduction with local or national government, the police or the probation service.

You could also work as a specialist researcher in particular offences, for example online abuse, organised crime or youth offending.

You could have an academic career in a university and become a professor of criminology.

With further training, you might move into social or probation work, a career in law or join the security services.