Data Snapshot
The Data Snapshot for Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security (PDF) helps educators, students and parents see connections between the Plans of Study and career opportunities in high-skill, high wage, in-demand fields.
Clay Hart
Deputy Sherriff, Louisa County/Assistant Chief, Holly Grove Volunteer Fire Department, Louisa County, Virginia
- Louisa County High School, Louisa County Public Schools
- CTE studies: Firefighter I and II
Fired up about helping others
Clay Hart grew up around the Holly Grove Volunteer Fire Department. He started volunteering there as a junior member at age 12, cleaning trucks and maintaining equipment.
“My father has been the chief of the department for 35 years and is a retired City of Richmond firefighter,” Clay says of his family’s history with the fire station.
Now, Clay’s a deputy sheriff in Louisa County, but he hasn’t quit being a firefighter. He’s still volunteering at Holly Grove and serving as the assistant chief. That volunteerism aspect is one that Clay values.
“It keeps kids out of trouble and shows them organizational skills and how to be responsible,” Clay says of the benefits of growing up as a volunteer firefighter.
In fact, Clay got certified as a firefighter before he graduated from Louisa County High School in 2004. The high school provided a firefighting class that prepared Clay to become a certified firefighter.
As far as others who want to follow in his footsteps, Clay says, “The best thing I can tell them is try to find a volunteer fire department near where they live and become part of their membership and start learning and figure out if it’s something they are interested in…. If so, they can start obtaining all the proper certifications.”
|
Wes Burgoyne & Kevin SonifrankWes Burgoyne
- Patrol Deputy, Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office
- Corrections Deputy, Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office
Both attended:
- Broadway High School/Massanutten Technical Center, Rockingham County Public Schools
- CTE studies: Criminal Justice
- Additional studies: Central Shenandoah Training Academy
Read More...
Protecting their communities
Both Kevin Sonifrank and Wes Bourgoyne decided to pursue careers in law enforcement because of role models they met growing up. Wes knew friends of his father who were on the police force, while Kevin was intrigued after a DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) officer visited his classroom. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do since I was young,” Kevin says.
Kevin currently works in the booking department at the Rockingham Regional Jail, where he processes people who are arrested. He previously helped out new hires as a field training officer. Wes is now a patrol deputy, but previously worked in the courts system.
Both launched their careers during high school in the criminal justice program at Massanutten Technical Center. Wes praises the program, which included a lot of interaction with police officers and investigators.
Kevin became an ambassador for the program, giving tours of the facility to interested students and speaking in front of classrooms. “Six months right out of high school, I was hired at the sheriff’s office,” says Kevin. “I think a lot of it had to do with me going to Massanutten Technical Center and having good references.”
Wes and Kevin both like the ability to give back to their community and the fast-paced nature of the career. “You get to help your community and be there for people,” says Wes. “Every time I get to work, I don’t know what to expect. It’s something different every single day.”
The Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security cluster is about planning, managing, and providing legal, public safety, protective services and homeland security, including professional and technical support services.
Employment Projections: 2010-2020
The Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security career cluster is projected to gain employment from 2010 and 2020, growing by 13 percent, about the national average rate of growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security occupations had about 4.8 million workers in 2010, and projects about 5.4 million by 2020.
The report Employment Projections for Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security, 2010-2020 includes data on occupations growing faster that the nation average, pathways employment overview, occupations with the most job openings, and employment projections.Occupations in this cluster and what they make in Virginia |
|||
| Occupation | Employed in VA | Typical salary | Education level** |
Bailiffs |
360 |
$18K – $67K |
HS |
Court reporters |
200 |
$26K – $92K |
4C |
Detectives and criminal investigators |
3,190 |
$39K – $122K |
4C |
Emergency management directors |
530 |
$29K – $101K |
4C |
Fire inspectors and investigators |
130 |
$34K – $87K |
HS/4C |
Firefighters |
7,880 |
$22K – $75K |
HS |
Forensic science technicians |
340 |
$32K – $84K |
4C |
Lawyers |
15,140 |
$54K – $187K* |
DP |
Paralegals and legal assistants |
8,070 |
$29K – $75K |
4C |
Police and sheriff’s patrol officers |
16,360 |
$32K – $84K |
4C |
Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers |
2,950 |
$22K – $55K |
HS |
Private detectives and investigators |
1,610 |
$25K – $75K |
4C |
Probation officers and corrections specialists |
2,900 |
$31K – $82K |
4C |
Security guards |
31,040 |
$17K – $41K |
HS |
* 90th percentile salary is greater than $187,199
** | HS: High school | CC: Community college | 4C: Four-year college | MD: Master’s degree | DP: Doctoral or Professional degree |
Career Cluster Planning
A resource for counselors, administrators, and educators
CTE Administrative Planning Guide (APG) – includes information to help local school divisions plan and schedule instructional programs. The APG is organized by career clusters, with a complete listing of courses, concentration sequences, and credentials available to students as they plan for career entry and continuing education. Users may access course information by cluster or by searching for specific courses or certifications.
Career Planning Guide – includes an easy way for students and counselors to look for courses to further career goals. One can search for occupations, browse by Career Clusters or favorite academic subjects.
Academic and Career Plans of Study
Development Information
Information and tips for instructional leaders, administrators, counselors and teachers/faculty for creating a career pathway academic and career plan of study.
- Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security Cluster Information
- Checklist for Developing Career Clusters Plans of Study (Word)
Sample Academic and Career Plans of Study
School divisions are asked to develop sample plans of study based on the courses offered within their schools, the employment needs of the region, and the post-high school educational opportunities needed for these careers. Once these sample plans are developed, they can be customized to the needs of individual students so that all students have the opportunity to have an individualized academic and career plan of study.
Sample Pathway Plans of Study for Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security:
- Correction Services (Word)
- Emergency & Fire Management Services (Word)
- Law Enforcement Services (Word)
- Legal Services (Word)
- Security & Protective Services (Word)
- Blank Plan of Study (with fields) (Word)
Also see Sample Plans of Study for all clusters and pathways.
Resources
The Career Clusters logo and its extensions are the property of the National Career Technical Foundation, as managed by NASDCTEc. Some content on this page is from the publication, R U College & Career Ready? - 2013 Edition; and is used here with permission from the Virginia Business Publications LLC and Trailblazers in the Demographics and Workforce Section of the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia.
View VDOE's Expenses