Careers
The Criminal Justice System (CJS) is one of the major public services in the country, employing over 400,000 people. The organisations that make up the CJS offer a wide variety of challenging and rewarding career and volunteering opportunities.
Working within the CJS you have a real chance to make a difference to people's lives by providing support to victims and witnesses, making sure we bring offenders to justice and helping to build safer communities.
For further information on careers, qualifications and training available in the Justice Sector, and the qualifications that will help you get work in the sector, have a look at the Skills for Justice website. Skills for Justice works with organisations across Justice to ensure they recruit and hang on to well-trained and expert staff who ensure our communities are safe places to be. Take a look, you can find out more about all sorts of careers from Forensic Scientists to Drug and Alcohol Youth Workers
Most people understand the role of the police, which is to protect life and property and to keep the peace. Modern policing can involve using advanced technology and investigation procedures, as well as working closely with other criminal justice agencies. For example, as a police officer you would co-operate with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to bring offenders to justice through the courts.
You would first apply as a probationer and undergo training, leading to appointment as Police Constables. There are opportunities for progression to the highest ranks, in both uniformed and detective branches.
The police are assisted by Police Community Support Officers, focused on neighbourhood and community policing, as well as non-uniformed staff working in administrative, analyical and other supporting roles.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is responsible for prosecuting people who have been charged with a criminal offence. Crown prosecutors review and prosecute cases following police investigation. As a Crown Prosecutor you would advise on the appropriate charge and decide if there is sufficient evidence for a successful prosecution. Most work is in the Magistrates' Courts, but with special qualifications you could become a Higher Court Advocate and deal with cases in the Crown Court.
Crown Prosecutors are assisted by Case Workers and administrative staff who manage the progress of cases through the system, liaising with other agencies such as the Police and Witness Care Units.
Her Majesty's Court Service
Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS) manages all Crown, county and magistrates' courts in England and Wales.
There are opportunities for court managers and court clerks, who ensure the effective running of the court; ushers who take care of the many visitors; legal advisers who give advice to magistrates; as well as security staff and administrators.
Every criminal prosecution starts in the magistrates' courts and over 90% are completed here. More serious cases, appeals and cases sent for sentencing are heard in the Crown Court. HMCS is responsible for running these courts, as well as the county court where civil and family cases are heard.
www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/working.htm
Witness Intermediaries
Registered Intermediaries play an important role in allowing vulnerable witnesses with communication issues/needs equal access to justice. Some vulnerable witnesses (including victims) need assistance with communication and understanding in order to give their best evidence – intermediaries can assist them in communicating during an investigation and at trial.
Becoming a Registered Intermediary can give you an opportunity to develop new skills, gain experience in the legal system at both investigation and trial and make a real difference to the experiences of vulnerable people. Contact intermediaries@cjs.gsi.gov.uk or download further information here.
Her Majesty's Prison Service
The Prison Service protects the public by holding those committed by the courts in a safe, decent and healthy environment. The Prison Service has around 48,000 staff undertaking a variety of different roles. If you don't know much about their work, it is because most of it takes place behind fairly high walls. But step inside any prison and you'll be amazed to find a relatively 'normal' environment.
As well as prison officers, there are job opportunities in training, healthcare, chaplaincy, psychology, operational support, agricultural, catering, building and allied trades, administration as well managerial schemes.
www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/careersandjobs
The National Probation Service
The work of the National Probation Service (NPS) is to prevent people from re-offending and to protect the public.
Probation officers work closely with the courts, the prisons and the police to help rehabilitate offenders given community sentences and those released from prison. As a probation officer you would also enforce the conditions of court orders and release licences and take necessary steps to protect the public.
The Youth Justice System deals with children and young people aged 10-17 who have either offended or are at risk of offending. Young offenders are put in touch with their local Youth Offending Teams (YOTs), whose role is to supervise young people in the community and ensure they abide by the terms and conditions of their sentence.
Youth Offending Teams are made up of local specialists who are often seconded from the police, probation service, social services, health, education, and housing officers.
Volunteering
If you fancy making a contribution to your community by helping to prevent crime, support victims or help offenders get their lives back on track then read on.
Browse the volunteering section for ideas on how a small amount of your spare time could be used to make a big difference.
- Police work
- In the courts
- In your neighbourhood
- Victims & witnesses
- Young offenders
- Prisoners & detainees
The Special Constabulary is a force of trained volunteers who work with and support their local police force. 'Specials', as the Special Constables are known, come from all walks of life and volunteer a minimum of four hours a week to their local police forces.
As a 'Special' you would be thoroughly grounded in the basic aspects of police work before carrying out any police duties. This would include police service self defence, powers of arrest, common crimes, and preparing evidence for court.
Once trained, 'Specials' have the same powers as a regular officer and wear a similar uniform.
In the magistrates' courts – courts that deal with less serious crimes – it is not a judge employed by the government, but a volunteer from the local community who makes the decisions. They set the timetable for trials, hear the evidence, decide whether the accused is guilty or not guilty and select an appropriate punishment.
As a magistrate you would make life-changing decisions every day – decisions which affect the lives of every defendant and, ultimately, everyone in the community. You don't have any special qualifications, just the right personal qualities and a willingness to commit some of your time to serve your community voluntarily.
Neighbourhood Watch is one of the most successful crime prevention initiatives ever in the UK. It has been built on the simple principle of members of the public working hand-in-hand with the police to combat and reduce crime in the community. The police are paid professionals whose job it is to fight crime, but with your help, they can do an even better job.
Neighbourhood Watch schemes vary in size, perhaps covering a whole estate or just a few houses. No matter what the size, a scheme is generally led by a volunteer co-ordinator whose job is to get people working together and oversee actions to meet the aims of the scheme.
To find out about schemes in your area, or to get one started contact your local police station.
Victim Support is the national charity helping victims of crime. The charity consists of a national office, a country-wide network of Victim Support branches, the Witness Service and a national helpline. Victim Support offers help to around one and a half million people affected by crime each year. Volunteers are crucial to this work and throughout the year there are many opportunities to get involved either in your local branch or on the Supportline (based in South London).
The Witness Service (run by Victim Support) provides practical information and emotional support for witnesses attending court. To volunteer for the Witness Service you need to be available on working days (Monday to Friday) for at least one day every two weeks.
Volunteers can make a significant contribution to the Youth Justice System. You could be involved in befriending or mentoring a young person, acting as a 'responsible adult' to support young people when being interviewed by the police, sitting on special Youth Offender Panels for first-time offenders, or working as a youth court magistrate.
Youth Offender Panels are a key way of dealing with young people who commit crime. Being a panel member is a challenging yet rewarding role. You will talk to the young person, together with parents, guardians and victims to agree a tailor-made package aimed at repairing the harm done and preventing further offending. If you want to see less crime in your community, this is a great opportunity to get actively involved.
www.yjb.gov.uk/en-gb/yjs/GetInvolved/Volunteering/YouthOffenderPanels/
Prison Visitor
Officially appointed prison visitors are independent volunteers who visit prisons to offer friendship to prisoners. Any prisoner may ask for an official visitor, whether he/she has visits from family members or friends or not. As an official prison visitors you would visit all categories of prisoners, whatever their circumstances.
Regular visits from a compassionate, impartial individual from the outside can make a huge difference to a prisoner's outlook whilst they are in custody.
Independent Custody Visitor
An Independent Custody Visitor visits police stations to carry out checks on police cells and how people in custody are being treated. You would visit police stations in your local area on a weekly basis, usually with a colleague. The actual timing of visits would be at your own discretion, but is always random and unannounced.
As a volunteer you would be trained in detainees' rights and police responsibilities. After each visit you would compile a report raising any issues about the environment of the custody suite or the welfare of the detainees to be raised and addressed.
www.icva.org.uk/site/becomeavisitor/
Independent Monitoring Boards
Independent Monitoring Boards have a valuable and important role to play in ensuring that those in custody are being cared for decently and with humanity.
Board members monitor the day to day life of those being detained, talking to both prisoners/detainees and staff, ensuring that all relevant rules and conditions are complied with. You would visit establishments on a regular basis but may also be called in at any time to monitor how any serious incidents are dealt with. The work of a Board member is wide-ranging and requires both an objective and caring approach, and an understanding of individual situations and cultural needs.
