Is their any way to become a police officer with an Felony on your record?

Question

I really want to go into law enforcement (police), but I commited a Felony when I was 18. I have paid my dues and completely take responsibilitity for what I did. I received Community Service, Restitution, 10 Weekends in jail, and 5 years probation for the crime. All of which I completed in the requested time period. Somebody please help me with this. I live in Garner, NC. Convicted in same county-WAKE

Answer 1

I've got a friend who is having the same problem. Another friend of ours who is a police office said that he could got to the court house and have his record seeled. Then anything that happend prior to age 21 I think would be seeled. Another choise for you could be too try the military police corp. I don't know what you were arrested for but you might be able to get a waiver. Hope this helped and good luck.

Answer 2

There are a lot of people responding to your question who have no idea what they are talking about. There are two way and ONLY two ways to do it.

1. Go to a super small agency who won't give you a background. If they ever find out though you are done. I know 1 person who did this for almost 10 years before he was caught.

2. You need to get a pardon from your governor. They don't hand those things out like candy. Your going to have to work your butt off, but it can be done. Start by doing an extreme amount of volunteer work and getting a degree in either criminal justice or law enforcement. Start writing pardon letters NOW because it can take YEARS to get a pardon. Keep sending the letters and keep doing everything you can to make society a better place. You do all that and a politician is way more likely to cut you a break for something you did when you were 18.

And no you can't go into the military with a felony so that woulnd't do you any good.

Answer 3

Sorry, but the harsh answer is no. All police departments have several immediate disqualifiers, one of which is being convicted of a felony. Obviously, since you list what you had to do for punishment, you were convicted of a felony. Unfortunately, you committed this felony when you were 18. Your only hope would be if you committed the felony when you were a juvenile, which in all states is 17 and under.

Sorry bud, I am a firm believer that people can change but every police department is brutal on this. Also, the guys answer above me is incorrect. Police departments are goverments agencies, not private. They can turn anyone down for ANY reason.

Answer 4

First, once you have been convicted of a felony you are check-marked as an enemy of the people, you nowadays become "a person of interest" you no longer enjoy the false promise of innocent until proven guilty. Once branded, no matter what the charge, you remain branded as a felon, you are now a second class citizen legally, technically. You are no longer a citizen, cannot vote or have the right to bear arms. Those are two of your basic american rights. Your best and only choice is to try to and have your record expunged or sealed. Doing it from your county will be quite a challenge, try doing it from an adjacent county. Then sit down and very honestly ask yourself why in the world you would want to be a police in this day and age? If you possess the same spirit of oppressing someone else then your judgement which got you a felony in the first place hasnt changed, grown or matured. You've merely switched sides.

Answer 5

Once you have been convicted of a felony in the USA you cannot carry a firearm. ANYWHERE in the USA not just each state. This is a federal law not a state law. Unless you can find a police station that has officers that don't carry a firearm and hire felons then I am very sorry. Not saying this is always fair but it is law.

Answer 6

I've never heard of a law enforcement agency hiring a convicted felon. You have to look at it like this, if you were to testify in court against an accused murder, rapist, arsonist, etc., the defense will bring up your criminal record. A jury will be less likely to believe a convicted felon. A police officer must have an upstanding reputation because defense lawyers get paid to big bucks to dig up someone's past and question their creditability.

Answer 7

Convicted felons can't become police officers. But f you receive a pardon, it is possible that you could become an officer. However, getting police officer jobs is becoming more and more competitive. When police departments are hiring, they usually have many qualified applicants for a relatively small number of openings. Any red flags can hurt your chances of getting hired by some departments. Your chances of getting hired wouldn't be good.

Answer 8

Even though you did serve your time, did community service, restitution, ect. No law enforcement agency will allow someone with a felony conviction on their record to work with them.

Answer 9

You could possibly get a job in a small town (probably not in NC), who may not check your record. It may depend on what the conviction was for. Some things are a definite "no." Your biggest problem is going to be legally possessing a gun (officers need one, most states won't let felons carry/own one).

You could hire a lawyer and have the record expunged, but law enforcement can still often get expunged records.

First and foremost--don't ever lie about it. If you do, then get a job and are found out, you are in bigger trouble.

Answer 10

Sorry my friend, no way around that one. Once your a convicted felon you lose other rights as well. You can never vote again. Your only chance is maybe outside of NC.
Go on to some other state websites. You may get lucky and find a state that will pardon your your young mistake.