What steps are needed to get involved with law enforcement?

Question

I am fascinated with criminal justice and am considering a career change. What steps would I need to do to get a foot in the door?

Answer 1

First of, it's a long process. You have to be willing and committed to atleast spend 6mos in the process or more. I just finished doing a paper for my final in my Criminal Investigation class...So I'll let you read it. I has all the information required to join any law enforcement agency. I personally chosed the LAPD. The first step I took was getting my BA in Criminal Justice. Then I applied for the San Bernardino's Sheriff's Dept. It's a long process, but it's worth it. See if my report is helpful for you:
The initial qualifications for joining the LAPD are that you must be at least 21 years of age from the date of the written test, have a high school diploma from a U.S. school or a G.E.D., a citizen or have applied and become eligible for citizenship and have a good background as well as going through the nine step selection process. The first step to getting involved is completing the Preliminary Background Application (PBA) and Job Preview Questionnaire (JPQ). The PBA and JPQ can be obtained through the online site, www.lacity.org/per/safety.htm. This step will help anyone applying for a law enforcement position to know any problems that may cause delays in continuing in the process. After the PBA and JPQ, the following step is the Multiple-Choice Written Test. This part of the process measures candidate’s reading comprehension and English usage. If a candidate fails this part of the selection process, they may retake the test after six months.
The third step is the Personal Qualifications Essay (PQE). Since police officers are required to fill out different forms, reports, and logs officers need to be able to have understand and be capable of writing legible and clearly and understand English grammar. The PQE also tests the behavioral flexibility, judgment and decision-making of potential officers. After a candidate successfully passes the PQE, he or she advances to the Physical Abilities Test (PAT). This step consists of two portions, the agility, strength, and endurance as well as aerobic capacity. During the first part of the PAT, your agility is tested with a side step. You have 10 seconds to side step as many times as you can and then repeat the test again. The cable pull is used to test your upper body strength by determining how many pounds you can are able to withstand. Next, your endurance is measured by pedaling as fast as you can for two minutes on a stationary bicycle. The second portion of the PAT that tests your aerobic capacity is 1.5-mile run in 14 minutes on a treadmill.
The background investigation consists of a completion of a Personal History Form and getting fingerprinted. This part of the process includes interviews with family members, friends, neighbors, supervisors, and co-workers. A check on your employment, police, financial, education, and military records is also conducted. Once the background investigation is completed, the polygraph examination is followed. Any previous information submitted to the department will be verified through the polygraph examination. The following step is valid for 12 months, the Department Interview. This interview is conducted by a panel to evaluate your personal accomplishment, job motivation, instrumentality, interpersonal skills, and oral communication skills. Candidates that are selected during the department interview will be offered a Conditional Job Offer.
Every candidate must go through a Medical and Psychological Evaluation. It is important that every potential officer in good health condition as well as mentally stable. The final steps of the selection process are the Certification and Appointment. Certification of the candidate’s name to the Police Department doesn’t guarantee appointment to the Police Academy because more names are submitted to the Police Department than there are openings. The Department then can select and set appointments for those who best qualify based on the overall achievement of the interview and test process.

Answer 2

If you are not in possesion of a law enforcement degree, some experience,(most likely military), and sadly enough if you are a young to middle aged white male, you are screwed. There is a small town up here in MN where I live. About 7k people. They had an opening for a part time patrol officer and recieved over 400 applications. On top of that, my cousin, whose dad was a state trooper for over 20 years, tried to get on the force out of the army. But he was a paratrooper. He had to go to college, and join the Air Force for 3 years as an MP to get on. And that was in f'ing IOWA. And right now, police departments look at minorities first. Whether or not they are best suited for the job, they get first dibs.

Answer 3

Thats good that you want to be in criminal justice, just remember your life will be on the life everyday if you'regoing to be a cop, or a lawyer is even better!!! but i believe that you should go to some law enforcers that have been in the game for years & see what they can give as career wise. They will be happy to assist you

Answer 4

Go to the nearest store and tell the person behind the counter to give you all thier money or you will pop a cap in thier a$$. Wait for the police to show up.

Answer 5

All you have to do in Arizona is volunteer to join the border vigilantees enforcing the border against illegal aliens.

Answer 6

Go down and apply, apply at alot of them, take thier tests and keep trying till you get hired.

Answer 7

Goose steps?