Expert: Dick Rogers - 1/3/2009

Question
hi, I am currently a Junior in college and am attending Western Illinois University. I have been wanting to work in a crime lab since i was in 7th grade. This last semester i had a hard time with the math portion of my major. My Major as of right now is Biology, and double minor in  criminal justice and forensic science.  I am starting to realize though that my disability in math is catching upto me regardless of the extra time i put in, and the tutoring i take. I want to still work in the area of criminal justice though, i have always been interested in that. As much as i want to work in a crime lab i want to be able to do great in my job and not struggle. I was looking into working with people more, ad i have been looking into some dept. that have a special victims unit, i know that i would have to first become a police officer, and work my way up to a detective but i think that that job would be very rewarding. I was wanted to ask what i would need to major or minor in to get to that point if i really wanted to become an investigator someday. any information or input on this would be very helpful since i feel really lost right now because i am a junior and wanting to change my major, i know it wont be too much of a change considering i have already taken quit a few criminal justice classes. Thanks you for reading this.

thanks again,
gabrielle

Answer
Gabrielle, I feel your pain with the math...some things in life are not ready made for some of us.  As to what you should take in school to prepare yourself for some interesting job in law enforcement and which will prepare you for assisting victims of crimes, I would emphasize courses which would apply to your getting ahead in the law enforcement field in general.  For example, my schooling was in Psychology...which didn't apply so much to officers in the field as much as it did the way people behave and what motivates people.  I really think that the basic law enforcement function...being out in the field dealing with people on a regular basis does more for a persons understanding of human nature than any school can provide.  In doing basic patrol work, one is exposed to significant examples of human nature in the best environment.  By the time you have six or seven years of this work under you belt, you are quite prepared to enter some form of investigative work involving victims, i.e., sex crimes, crimes against children, etc.  Too many people emphasize the schooling and give little credence to working in the field.  I hope this helps...if you need more info, feel free to query me again.  Good luck.