Complete all requirements needed to obtain a high school diploma. If you have opted not to complete high school through traditional means (attending high school for all four years), then taking and passing the General Educational Development (GED) test is necessary.
Decide on which profession you want to pursue within the criminal justice field. The potential positions available within criminal justice is vast, so it is important to know exactly what career path you want to pursue. Your decision will affect what degree type you will need--associate's, bachelor's, master's or PhD--and where you need to apply to obtain that degree, such as a community college, trade school or university.
Research schools that offer the criminal justice degree program you need. There are plenty of colleges, universities and trade schools available that offer criminal justice degrees. You will need to make sure that the programs offered provide the skills and knowledge necessary in your chosen career. You can speak with your school counselor about possibilities, or you can do a search online for schools that may interest you. Create a list of schools you would like to attend, but make sure the list is not too long in order to make the selection process simpler.
Read through all of the information available about the programs offered by each school you have selected. Most of the requirements for the programs are available online. If there is any specific information you cannot find online, you can contact the school directly so they can provide the information to you. Reading through the courses offered, as well as the requirements needed to apply, will help you further narrow down your list of choices.
Gather all the necessary information needed to apply to your desired schools/programs. This will typically include: an application, application fees and GPA (grade point average)/GED scores. The required materials and information varies, so it is important to check for any additional materials you may need. Also, if you are pursuing a master's in criminal justice, you will need transcripts for all colleges attended, confirmation of receipt of a bachelor's degree and possibly a list of courses taken that are specific to the field.
Apply to the schools you have selected as your top choices. Application deadlines vary, so know that information in advance. Most colleges, universities and trade schools take a month or more to review applications and make decisions, so be patient. Once you have received notification of which schools accepted you, you can then move forward with choosing the school you will attend.