Many students go to college in order to pursue a degree in criminal justice. There are certain key areas of study that can help an aspirant of a degree in criminal justice to be well-informed about this important aspect of the law. The following article aims to provide a brief overview of the key areas one would come across while studying criminal justice. Chain of evidence Chain of evidence is an important part of criminal justice in its own right. As corrupted and tampered evidence is not acceptable in court, there are procedures for maintaining the cleanliness and integrity of the evidence procured in a crime scene. This area of study allows you to learn the many procedures based on the type of evidence you are dealing with. It also educates you on what happens to a criminal investigation in a case the chain of evidence breaks and much more. Law and due process Law and due process is a vital part of the study responsible for introducing you to how criminal justice works. It encourages you to investigative procedures and court systems. This course provides you with the prowess of securing a crime scene, interviewing witnesses, and debriefing suspects. It also shows you what the procedure for arresting an individual is along with how the court system supports criminal justice. Use of proper force It goes without saying that – law enforcement is dangerous. Hence, how to use just the right amount of force still is one of the top areas of study. What Hollywood shows to be the exciting part of the job is actually quite tricky. This area of study includes learning what proper force exactly means. It involves learning the difference between proper and lethal force. In this study, you will learn about the limitations that the government imposes when it comes to using force. You might be required to use force in situations that have a chance of turning violent, like managing a crime scene, in pursuit of a suspect, or terroristic attacks. This area also defines the rules and regulations that offer or do not offer protection to officers based on the situation along with determining what is considered a crime as per the law. Investigative principles One of the important parts of criminal justice is the investigation of a crime. This entails procedures such as collecting evidence, analysis of the crime scene, interviewing witnesses, and arresting as well as interrogating the suspect. It also includes research into the aspects of a particular investigation, including checking for a criminal history or any connection to the crime in question that the suspect might have. Following the appropriate protocols for managing witnesses and evidence provides law enforcement with a chance to build a strong case. If not, the prosecution can risk an acquittal or a mistrial. These are some of the important areas of study that you would come across while pursuing a degree in criminal justice.