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Expert: - 4/28/2008


Question
Hello. I currently possess a BA in Psychology. I am pursuing a Master in CJ-Forensics. I would like to know where this could take me in the police/correctional field. I am interested in working directly with offenders of all levels. I know what my school is telling me but I would like to hear from someone in the field. Thank you and I hope to hear from you soon.

Answer
Hi Patricia,

That is a very interesting field you have decided to enter.

I think you should look at where you may want to live and what level of the correctional institutions you want to be involved in. Local county jails, while not being as big as other institutions, offer more direct and open contact with the inmates. They are only in county jails if they are serving less than 1 year in jail and for mostly minor offenses.They would be good candidates for short term treatments if that was an area you were interested in.

State correctional institutions on the other hand have longer terms and would allow for longer treatments and tracking of the inmates needs. Federal Prisons are the same as states.

So depending on what type of treatments of subjects you are interested in it will dictate what type of institution or area you work in.

I would look at the current programs being offered by the Federal and State (where you live)correctional institutions and see if any of them interest you, or look at the needs of those institutions and develop and offer one of your own. That might be a great way to get into them.
I hope this offers you some ways of looking further into it.

Be safe.

PS> Please do not forget to rate this answer, thanks.

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I have been a police officer for 30+ years! I am the Police Academy Commander at the Santa Fe College, Institute of Public Safety in Gainesville Florida It is a full service Law Enforcement and Corrections training facility. I can answer most questions concerning law enforcement procedures, law enforcement training and general questions about law enforcment. I can also answer questions about becoming a law enfocement officer. I have a booklet and web page I have written that answers many questions about how to become a police officer called "So you want to be a cop (police Officer) in Florida?", which is free, Google it.. All you have to do is ask. I teach the following subjects: RADAR/LASER, Law Enforcement Driving, Law Enforcement Firearms and Patrol Techniques, Officer Safety, WMD's for Patrol Officers, Application of Law, Communications skills, Dealing with the Mentally and physically handicapped, and many more subjects. I have worked as a subject matter expert for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and helped to write the police curriculum for the State of Florida. I like answering questions about how to become a police officer, and questions about why did an officer do this or that type questions. I also like answering any questions you may have about police work in general. I do not mind helping with homework questions or trying to answer your questions about legal subjects that I have knowledge of. You will never know the answer until you ask! If you do ask a question, PLEASE take the time to at least rate the answer. I do not get paid to answer these questions and do it on my own time. If you ask, please rate it when I answer. Thanks!!! If its a question about becoming a police officer, it may be answered here: http://sites.google.com/site/flaleohelp/ My "hobby" website - http://www.youtube.com/user/3rdID8487 Military Videos on YouTube and Facebook!!

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