Criminal Justice Career Paper

Careers in criminal justice range from forensic analysts to the K9 units. They all serve a different purposes in protecting the lives of those around us. Without criminal justice careers there would be no structure in society. When you choose the path of going into criminal justice, one must know there putting themselves in harm’s way every day. But the feeling of knowing your serving a purpose is like no other. There are many different types of law enforcement jobs out there but the three most intriguing are a state trooper, police officer, and FBI agent. Out of the three choices above the career that I seek most interest in is a state trooper. State troopers must demonstrate good judgment; thoroughness, conscientiousness, common sense,
motivation, and enthusiasm for the job.
They must be dependable and willing to get involved in order to help deal with the problems of today’s society, Troopers have to be able to assume responsibility and make decisions often under pressure. They have to be able to work without supervision, follow orders, and function well under pressure. Activities of state troopers vary from state to state. In some duties they may have to be patrolling state and interstate highways, and enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws. State police officers work a five-day 40-hour week, with rotating shifts. State police officers usually patrol alone although others work with a partner. They are constantly in contact with their communication centers to check in with their superior officers and receive orders. State troopers must always be prepared to work outdoors for long periods of time in all kinds of weather, and they must always be prepared to use a gun. Qualifications for the position of a state trooper vary from state to state. All applicants must be U.S. citizens between the ages of 21 and 35 at the time of the appointment. State police agencies require a high school diploma, but most people with college training have a greater advantage. Many states require a
certain number of college credits. All applicants must receive a passing mark on a written civil service examination as well as a qualifying rating on an interview conducted by a police board of examiners. Each applicant must pass a comprehensive medical examination, and some states require candidates to undergo psychological and psychiatric testing to determine emotional stability and suitability for this work. Applicants are also given performance tests designed to measure their strength, agility, and stamina. The average salary for a state trooper in NH is $61,260
FBI agents are responsible for investigating crimes such as assaults on the President, bank robberies and kidnappings.
Additionally, they investigate other crimes such as stolen property, stolen vehicles and crimes against victims when state lines are crossed. The main function of an agent is to gather information. Many of the agents work long hours performing mundane tasks such as interviewing people, conducting computer research and spending hours on the telephone. At other times, agents place themselves in life threatening situations while trying to stop crime. Many times the work can be confrontational in places like seedy bars or high crime areas where police are targeted. Agents put in late hours and endure many hardships. To become an agent, an applicant must be a graduate of an accredited law school or a college graduate with a degree in accounting, engineering or computer science. A college graduate not possessing a specialized degree must have three years of full-time work experience. Agents must be citizens of the United States and be between the ages of 23 and 35. An agent must possess good work habits, interpersonal skills, and be able to work as a team member. Applicants must also be in excellent physical and mental health. The average FBI agent salary in NH is
$96,265. Qualifications and or skills that would help a person to become a police officer are sense of responsibility, successful completion of CPR courses, and survival swimming courses. You must also have a high school diploma and if you have any post-secondary education it would certainly be an asset if it is a degree in social sciences such as sociology and or criminology. At the time of entry into the RCMP training facility you must also have a valid driver’s license and before you are allowed to drive a patrol car you must have at least 16,000 km of driving experience. The Physical Abilities Test (PAT) consists of two parts. The first part is taken after placement on the eligible list and is administered at a City facility. It is designed to measure your strength, agility, and endurance. The second part, which consists of a treadmill test, will be administered usually at the time of the Medical Evaluation. The PAT is a pass/fail qualifying test. You may take the test parts as often as is necessary to pass, and the score is valid for 12 months. The average salary for a police officer is $56,884.
These three careers have caught my attention greatly. Twenty years from now, I could see my self-involved in one of these careers with no regrets. They all cover every aspect of a career that I’m looking for. They keep you physically and mentally involved, along with having something new happen almost every day. You will never be bored being on duty. These are great careers that I urge others to look into further.