Perhaps because of the large popularity of television programs such as CSI, more students are interested in pursuing criminal justice careers than ever before, as was evident when high school students in Michigan arrived in droves for a recent criminal justice career workshop.

The annual workshop, designed to stimulate interest of high school students in Romeo, Michigan, in law enforcement careers, invited speakers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security and the Michigan State Police, among others, The Romeo Observer reports.

"There was an extraordinary amount of talent and experience here for students to draw upon," Judge LeDuc, who sponsored the event, told the news provider. "Our blue-ribbon faculty volunteered their Saturday morning to meet with students."

Students were introduced to a wide variety of career options in law and criminal justice. Speakers emphasized that joining the police force does not only mean apprehending criminals but could also lead to the nascent field of criminal sociology.

At the national level, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that police and detectives held about 900,000 jobs in 2008. The majority of these professionals work in their local communities and about 20% serve in state and national police agencies.