The Perks of a Criminal Justice or Criminology Career

The Perks of a Criminal Justice or Criminology CareerThe Perks of a Criminal Justice or Criminology CareerEven in a tough job market, there are plenty of career opportunities for the well-qualified job seeker. The need for technology, engineering, and other advanced and specialized vocations are only going to increase. So, too, are community and public service careers. So when you sit down to consider where you want to go with your professional life, why should you choose a career in criminology or criminal justice? Helping Others There are plenty of surveys that indicate the number one reason people enter into law enforcement and other criminology careers is that they have a strong desire to help other people. There are few other career fields out there that offer so many and diverse opportunities to do just that. Criminal justice careers give you the ability to play to your strengths and use your specific skills for a greater good, whether through helping victims of crime as a victims advocate, helping profile criminals as a forensic psychologist, or overseeing the progress of a parolee or probationer as a probation, parole or community control officer. Job Stability Many jobs in criminal justice and criminology offer an almost unmatchable level of job security and stability. If you have the fortitude to stick it out, you will more likely than not enjoy a long career that is relatively immune to the ebbs and flows of the private sector job market. Though you often give up higher salaries to work in criminology, you gain the peace of mind knowing that your job is pretty much safe as long as you remain true to the high ethical standardsit demands. Engage Your Brain The old police stereotypes are diminishing todays law enforcement officers and other criminal justice professionals have to think fast on their feet and be ready and willing to meet a host of challenges. Regardless of what field or discipline you ultimately choose to pursue, whether it be a career in forensic science or policing, youll enjoy putting your problem-solving skills to the test day in and day out. Few professions are as mentally demanding and hold higher stakes than criminology careers. As the public rightly places higher expectations on its protectors and public servants, these careers offer rewarding challenges to keep the job interesting, whether youre in your first or thirtieth year. Health and Retirement Benefits Though the landscape is changing somewhat, public service careers still tend to offer a more appealing insurance and retirement package than many private sector jobs. For criminal justice and criminology workers, the absprache is often even sweeter. Many criminal justice professions offer an earlier retirement at a higher rate of accrual, meaning youll be able to retire younger and earn more. And because many of these jobs are physically demanding, they often come with the means to help you stay healthy longer. Amazing Opportunities a nd Experiences A career in criminology can offer tremendous opportunities and some of the best training available. Every day on the job comes with its own new and unique rewards. The fact is, most careers in criminology and criminal justice offer exactly what most job seekers are looking for. All you need to do is find the perfect criminology career for you.

Department of Labor Guidelines on Internships

Department of Labor Guidelines on InternshipsDepartment of Labor Guidelines on InternshipsNot all internships are alike and to avoid running afoul of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), its important for hiring companies and interns to know whats expected in terms of training and compensation. Federal Guidelines The DOL bases its guidelines on the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and the intention is to discourage employers from treating interns as a free labor pool. The FLSA was created to ensure all workers receive at least a extremum wage. As states begin to raise the minimum wage level, the result could be fewer internship opportunities. The guidelines are meant to reinforce that internships are foreducational trainingrather than a replacement for employees, even if a student is receptive to doing anything to get experience. Many employers spend considerable time training and mentoring their interns and do notlage derive much benefit from having them complete an internship. O ther organizations, however, expect interns to jump right in and do the work of a regular employee. Its possible the guidelines will cause these companies to eliminate internships if they dont want to pay, resulting in fewer opportunities for students. Practical Guidance for Employers While it is not required that each and every one of the seven points in the DOL checklist is followed to make an internship qualify as unpaid, it remains prudent for a company to err on the side of caution when interpreting the guidelines. If an intern successfully challenges their unpaid status after the fact, it could result in stiff penalties. These are the guidelines governing when an intern must be paid 1. The employer should state at the outset that the intern is not entitled to wages for time spent in the internship. In no case should any payment be implied. What It Means If an intern was putting in eight hours a week, then gets an assigned workload and schedule resembling a full-time employ ee, pay them. 2. The internship (even though it includes the actual operation of the employers business) should be similar to training given in an educational environment and include hands-on experience. What It Means Make it a combination of education and actionable work. 3. The internship should tie in directly with the interns academic coursework or the intern should receive academic credit. What It Means Work should be meaningful (not fetching coffee and dry cleaning for the boss). If the intern is getting no college credit, payment is advisable. 4. The internship should correspond to some extent with the academic calendar, accommodating the interns academic responsibilities. What It Means Honor the students exam schedule and other campus events. Expect to be inconvenienced. 5. An internship should have a set time frame and when the intern stops benefiting, it should end. What It Means Dont let students just sit around or repeat the saatkorn tasks for the entire internship. 6. T he intern should not displace regular employees, but work under close supervision of existing staff. What It Means If the staff doesnt have time to direct an intern, reconsider. 7. The intern is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship. What It Means If an intern is guaranteed a job, this is not an internship. Its an orientation and requires payment. Internship Best Practices Here are some additional best practices to make an internship a satisfying experience for all involved Make Sure the Experience Is Supervised Interns shouldnt be left alone in the office and should always have a point of contact while on the job. They should also know how to contact their immediate supervisor and understand how and when they will receive feedback. Set Times for Evaluation All employers should schedule three evaluations with their interns. One should be held after two weeks, another at the halfway point, and the last one at the end of the internship. Feedback is key in reservierung to educate interns so they can learn from the experience. Switch Up the Workload Interns are like sponges. They are not employees (with specialized skills) and they should be learning about different parts of your business. Rotational programs are a great way to create a learning experience that helps interns understand what type of work they like and what they are good at.

Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act - COBRA

Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act - COBRAConsolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act - COBRACOBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) gives certain employees, spouses, former spouses, children, and retirees who lose their health benefits the option to continue health benefits provided by their group health plan for limited periods of time at group rates. Eligibility is subject to certain circumstances such as voluntary orinvoluntary job loss, reduction in the hours worked, transition between jobs, death, divorce, and other life events. Typically, COBRA titelage brdes for 18 months, although in some instances, it can extend even longer. How COBRA Works Group health plans which cover 20 or more employees are required to provide COBRA benefits. In at least 40 states, there are mini-Cobra like laws that apply to smaller companies, usually those with 2-19 workers. Employers do not have to pay for former employees health insurance premium under COBRA. The e mployee is responsible for the monthly premium payment, at up to 102% of the cost to the plan. At many companies, health insurance is subsidized by the employer. That means that employees do not pay the full amount of the plans cost, but only a portion, or in some cases, employees do not pay for the insurance premiums at all. So COBRA payments can be quite costly as compared to the coverage workers received through their employer while still employed. The benefit is being able to maintain youre an identical level of insurance while searching for new employment or determining next steps - you will not need to switch doctors and the costs of your prescriptions will also remain the same. If you are eligible for COBRA benefits, your employer is required to notify the health insurance company of the event, since it qualifies you for coverage. You will have 60 days to decide if you would like to opt into COBRA coverage. You will not automatically be enrolled. Signing Up After the Elect ion Period Even if you waive COBRA coverage during the election period, you must be permitted later to revoke your waiver of coverage and to elect continuation coverage as long as you do so during the election period. Then, the plan need only provide continuation coverage beginning on the date you revoke the waiver. When Payment is Due After you opt into the coverage, your first payment is not due immediately but must be made within 45 days of the Cobra election. All subsequently monthly payments have a grace period and are not due until 30 days of the due date. This is advantageous - if you think you will potentially get a new job with insurance coverage before a bill is due, you can delay paying it until the last minute, with the knowledge that your coverage is retroactive. Get Information on COBRA Coverage If you need further information on your rights under a private-sector plan, visit Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) or call toll free 1-866-444-3272. Th e Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services offer information about COBRA provisions for public-sector employees. Contact yourState Department of Laborif you work for an employer with less than 20 workers and have questions about mini-Cobra regulations. COBRA and the Affordable Care Act The passage of theAffordable Care Act (ACA)has in some ways diminished the importance of COBRA. That is because theACAprovides a relatively easy way for individuals to purchase health insurance. Its possible that buying insurance through your states health care marketplace will be less expensive than sticking with your employer-based health insurance. Prior to theACA, COBRA was also an important benefit because it guaranteed continuous care - this factor was important for people with pre-existing conditions, who struggled to find insurance coverage. Under the ACA, no one can be rejected or charged more for health insurance because of their health. In addition, premiums for seniors can be no more than three times as much as they are for young adults. Here are some of the factors to keep in mind when determining if you want to opt into COBRA or purchase a plan under the ACA CostAs mentioned above, its possible that coverage in your area may be cheaper under the ACA. However, recent actions by the federal government have led to increased costs for ACA insurance options offered through the exchanges. The removal of the mandate for individuals to have insurance coverage and the expansion of opportunities for states to provide short term plans exempt from ACA mandated coverages have driven some healthy individuals out of ACA and raised premiums for the somewhat less healthy individuals who remain. Income-Based Subsidies Under the ACA, there are also income-based subsidies available. If a person purchases coverage through an exchange instead of COBRA, the subsidy is based on your income during the year that the policy is in effect. In other words, subsidies are based on your inco me in the year that you apply, including the soe in income after your employment ends. However, in some cases, employers may cover the monthly COBRA premiums as part of a severance package if thats the case, COBRA becomes the more cost-effective option. ConvenienceIf you are in the middle of medical treatment, keeping the same doctors and levels of coverage may be quite important. Some people may choose to keep COBRA regardless of cost because of familiarity and peace of mind. Also, finding a plan that suits your needs on your states marketplace takes time it may seem easier to just stick with the health insurance you already are familiar with, particularly. Other Health Insurance Coverage Options Individuals from two income families might find that it is more cost effective to be added on to their spouses health insurance policy. If you are 65 or older and stop working, you will be required to initiate Medicare coverage even if you elect cobra coverage. Then it may be cheaper t o select a Medicare advantage program other than your employers former company to wrap around your Medicare coverage. The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundationhas aSubsidy Calculatorthat will display different insurance subsidies and premiums with minimal household information. The information contained in this article is not legal advice and is not a substitute for such advice. State and federal laws change frequently, and the information in this article may not reflect your own states laws or the most recent changes to the law.