Criminal Justice and Protective Services in Georgia
Georgia's Criminal Justice and Protective Services pathway prepares students for careers in law enforcement, corrections, security, and related public safety fields. The program provides foundational knowledge of the criminal justice system while developing physical fitness, ethical judgment, and professional skills required in public safety careers.
Students explore all components of the criminal justice system including law enforcement, courts, corrections, and juvenile justice. The curriculum addresses criminal law, investigative procedures, emergency response, and community policing. Physical fitness and defensive tactics training are integrated throughout the program.
Georgia's pathway includes partnerships with law enforcement agencies, corrections facilities, and courts throughout the state. The program prepares students for both postsecondary criminal justice programs and direct entry into corrections or security positions.
Criminal Justice and Protective Services at a Glance
3
Courses
6
Credentials
4
Career Paths
State Standards & Framework
Georgia's Criminal Justice pathway standards address all components of the criminal justice system and emphasize ethical decision-making, constitutional law, and community relations. The curriculum aligns with Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) requirements.
Programs must address physical fitness standards and provide understanding of screening and training requirements for criminal justice careers. Georgia emphasizes realistic presentation of both challenges and rewards of public safety work.
Typical Course Sequence
| Course |
|---|
| Introduction to Criminal Justice |
| Criminal Justice I |
| Criminal Justice II |
Industry Certifications & Credentials
- ✓First Aid/CPR/AED
- ✓STOP THE BLEED
- ✓First Aid for Severe Trauma (FAST)
- ✓OSHA 10-Hour General Industry
- ✓NOCTI Criminal Justice
- ✓National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC)
Career Opportunities
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Growth projections from BLS Employment Projections (2023-2033). Cost-of-living adjustment uses BEA Regional Price Parities (2023). Entry-level salaries reflect the 25th percentile; experienced salaries reflect the median.
Corrections Officer
Entry LevelSalary range: $40,080 - $48,450
Police Officer
Entry LevelSalary range: $48,290 - $64,470
Security Manager
ExperiencedSalary range: $83,680 - $163,200
Probation Officer
ExperiencedSalary range: $50,080 - $59,940
Work-Based Learning Opportunities
Students participate in ride-alongs with police, tours of corrections facilities, internships with courthouse and public safety agencies, and youth police academies throughout Georgia.
Career & Technical Student Organization
Students in this pathway can participate in SkillsUSA, gaining leadership experience and competing in career-related events.
How Sage Helps Georgia CTE Programs
AI-Powered Curriculum
Generate standards-aligned lesson plans in minutes, not months
Georgia Standards Built In
Pre-loaded with Georgia's CTE standards and frameworks
Teacher Customization
Teachers personalize content while maintaining standards alignment
Ongoing Updates
Curriculum stays current as Georgia standards and industry needs evolve
Related Glossary Terms
Work-Based Learning
Work-Based Learning (WBL) encompasses a range of educational strategies that connect classroom instruction with real workplace experiences. Activities include internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing, clinical rotations, and cooperative education, all designed to help CTE students apply technical skills in authentic industry settings.
ProgrammaticProgram of Study
A Program of Study (POS) is a coordinated, non-duplicative sequence of academic and CTE courses that spans secondary through postsecondary education. Required under Perkins V, a POS integrates academic content with CTE instruction, includes work-based learning, and leads to an industry-recognized credential or postsecondary degree.
ProgrammaticArticulation Agreements
Articulation agreements are formal partnerships between secondary and postsecondary institutions that allow CTE students to earn college credit for coursework completed in high school. These agreements define how high school CTE courses align with college-level courses and establish the conditions under which credit transfers.
ProgrammaticEmployability Skills
Employability skills, also called soft skills, workplace readiness skills, or 21st-century skills, are the non-technical competencies that employers consistently identify as essential for workplace success. These include communication, teamwork, problem-solving, time management, professionalism, and adaptability, which CTE programs are expected to develop alongside technical skills.
WorkforceReady to Build Criminal Justice and Protective Services Programs at Scale?
See how Sage can help you create standards-aligned curriculum for Criminal Justice and Protective Services in Georgia.