Keeping a Clean Record

In order for anyone to get into a law enforcement job, you must have a clean criminal record and driving history. The department you apply to will give you a polygraph examination and you must pass this test. No employer is going to want to hire someone with an extensive driving history because it will cost more to insure you. If you are currently a college student and under the age of 21, try not to get into criminal behavior that gets you in trouble. If you have any type of record, you might as well stop wasting your time and look for another career because law enforcement isn't for you.

Could This Be Right for Me?

A law enforcement career, whether it be Federal, State, County, or local is a demanding job with high risks. Not every person is cut out to be involved in law enforcement. Some people start out and automatically know it's what they want to do; others aren't so sure they can meet the standards and take on the responsibility of protecting people and keeping the peace. So how does one go about deciding whether a law enforcement job will work?

First, do the research and find out what a law enforcement job will require; mentally, physically and emotionally. A lot of these jobs require shift work where your schedule may have you working from 11 at night until 8 in the morning the next day. This isn't an ideal schedule if you are taking care of a family. Next, I would visit your local, County, or State police department to inquire about doing a ride along. This is a great experience that gives you first hand experience, allowing you to get up close and personal with police work. Some people do a ride along and love it and they're in the police academy a few months later. Other people see what police work is really like and run away as fast as they can. I believe that any job in law enforcement will either be one you absolutely love or hate all together. There really isn't an in between. So before you enroll into the police academy and spend close to $5,000, do some research to decide whether a law enforcement career is right for you.

Getting Started

I first realized I wanted to spend my time pursuing a career in the criminal justice system in high school when I took a forensic science class. This led me to becoming involved in my local police explorer post and their ride along program. I have now been a police explorer for three years. This program gives you an inside look at the job of police officers and the tasks they perform. I have learned so much and received hours upon hours of free training. This program has put me ahead of many people coming into the police academy or college not knowing very much about the criminal justice system. I believe that the key to starting off toward any career is to become involved in as much as you can handle in your schedule. Building an impressive resume will only help you in the future. Stay active and do community service or school programs. Employers look for this sort of involvement and it can't hurt to get involved. After graduating from high school, I started college at the University of Cincinnati, majoring in criminal justice. I'm now in my second year of school and learned so much. It's amazing how much you can learn in only a few years of college and the major of your choice. I have two more years until I graduate and begin my career in the field of my choice. As of now, I plan to attend the police academy in a year and find a part time police job as I finish my last year of college. I recommend that if you are looking to start a career in law enforcement and you are under the age of 21, you join the police explorers and go to college and get involved. You don't necessarily need to major in criminal justice, but it may help to focus your attention to gaining further knowledge in this field. Good luck and stay out of trouble. If you have any kind of criminal background or extensive traffic history, you might as well start looking for a new career outlook.