Are you fascinated by the escapades of professionals trained to fight crime and bring justice to victims? Do you find yourself drawn towards a career in criminal justice? People wrongfully assume that a career in law enforcement requires full physical fitness and powerful fighting skills. They come with training, but essentially, a career in the law enforcement requires motivation and passion. These careers involve high-risk and high-stake situations in highly stressful environments. These professionals are always at risk of injury, fatality, or worse consequences while breaking down on deadly criminal syndicates.
Do you wish to pursue a career in law enforcement but are struggling to identify your true vocation? Keep reading to explore some fantastic career paths.
Table of Contents
Criminal Investigation
There are several career paths in law enforcement that facilitate a criminal investigation. For instance, detectives, criminal investigators, and criminologists are all involved in investigating crimes, collecting evidence, and hunting down the culprit. Detectives and investigators are in charge of solving cases by conducting investigations.
They gather evidence, round up suspects, conduct interviews and questioning, identify witnesses and assist prosecutors with legal proceedings. Detectives and investigators specialize in different areas, such as human trafficking, organized crime, robbery, homicide, etc. Most professionals work with local and state law enforcement agencies or federal agencies, such as the FBI or NSA.
In law enforcement, career advancement comes with academic progress, specialized training, and experience. If you’re working as a law enforcement personnel, consider pursuing an online criminal justice degree to enjoy promotions and advancement. Earning an associate degree or specialized training can help you enjoy greater significance in your department/organization.
Military Police
A popular career in law enforcement, military police is a rewarding career path that offers stability and security. Military officer enjoys great responsibility and a powerful domain in the United States. MP personnel is responsible for maintaining law and order and hold jurisdiction to investigate crimes and make arrests. Their responsibilities are quite similar to those of civilian police personnel. However, MP plays a significant role in counter-terrorism, and they are always ready for battle. They assist the military with battlefield security, protecting political dignitaries, and training police forces.
Correctional Officer
Correctional officers work in jails and prisons, and they are responsible for monitoring convicted criminals and serial offenders. Much as the name implies, they are required to create a disciplined and correcting environment for criminals. They run large prisons and jails and are responsible for maintaining decorum, security, and a strong ethic.
Correctional officers also work with arrested accused who are awaiting trials or sentences. They are in charge of maintaining discipline in a correctional facility. In specific settings, they work with seasoned and hardened criminals, and in others, they work with juveniles and delinquents. Their responsibilities include inspection, maintaining inmate records and reports, and supervising criminals.
In most cases, correctional officers undergo training at an academy or the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Most career paths require an undergraduate degree with advanced training and experience.
Police Officer
Police officers are the first line of defense between criminals and their victims. They are the first to respond to a crime scene or an alarm raised by a victim seeking help. They respond to emergency calls, conduct patrolling activities and maintain law and order within a community.
How do you become a police officer after completing high school or obtaining a bachelor’s degree? The exact educational requirements depend on the state and the agency. Most agencies require recruits with a college degree, while others take recruits with a high school diploma. Federal law enforcement agencies require an undergraduate degree with a specialization in criminology.
Recruits then undergo extensive physical, mental, and academic training to learn legal jurisdiction, fighting, and communication skills. Police officers who choose specializations, such as narcotics or homicide, undergo specialized training and on-the-job training.
Forensic Science Technician
If you’re fascinated by crime scenes, here’s a career path that is packed with action and excitement. Forensic science technicians specialized in highly sophisticated evidence gathering, handling, and analysis techniques. They visit crime scenes to gather evidence, and then they analyze the evidence in highly-controlled laboratories.
They bring in specialized forensic expertise and training to help law enforcement personnel with valuable forensic insights. They capture photographs and record all their observations to present their insights to detectives and in court. In laboratories, they use cutting-edge forensic technologies to examine evidence and draw insights.
Forensic technicians hold advanced academic degrees in forensic science, criminology, biology, or chemistry. They are required to pursue initial training and on-the-job training to expand their skills and cement their expertise.
Conclusion
Creating a successful career in the law enforcement requires dedication, passion, and a pragmatic strategy. Once you’ve identified the right career path, it’s time to work on completing the academic requirements. Law enforcement demands extensive training, induction, and on-the-job, which can prove immensely challenging and tough. It’s crucial to prepare yourself for the adversities and keep yourself motivated.
