Expert: Loren Stevens - 1/21/2010

Question
I, as a child, have made my share of mistakes, one, that I am speaking of, was Breaking and entering, I was 12 years old, and made the mistake of thinking my older brother was "Cool" so, since I have learned my lesson and been on the straight and narrow, I've had 1 speeding ticket for MPH over, other than that, my slate is spotless, however, I have always admired and appreciated what men and women of law enforcement do for us as per caring for the weak, giving us justice and encouragement to do what is right, even when the situation is hard, I have aspired to become an officer for just under 10 years now, and I finally have the opportunity to take courses, and get my life going right and get the career I've always wanted, however, after reading one of the asked questions, I am a little discouraged, but I still want to know if there is a way possible to get into this line of work? Thank you for your time and service to our country!

Answer
Hello Donovan,
I can't speak for any of the law enforcement agencies, but I wouldn't rule out your chances, if I were you.
Juvenile criminal records are typically sealed upon becoming an adult, unless an offense was certified as an adult.
I think your crime spree of ONE burglary, at the age of 12 is not a deal breaker.
Sure, it is unfortunate, and if asked about it, tell it honestly. Generally, "sealed" records can be opened to refute testimony, depositions, or sworn statements.
Spend some time on how best to frame your answer, as it pertains to your youthful indiscretion, where you learned a needed and important lesson in life.....
Then, as in now, turn the page, on that which you cannot change.
If you take some college classes, I suggest some written and oral communication classes. They will serve you well. I wouldn't worry about typical law enforcement or criminal justice classes at this juncture, but that's my opinion. Be sure to consult with an academic adviser.
You'll want a clean driving record, no stupid debt/credit issues.
Some volunteer work is a good experience.
Take some Constitutional law classes, or political science. You'll want to understand atleast the Bill of Rights, along with focused attention on the 4th and 14 Amendments.
Be prepared for a polygraph on the substantive aspects of your application. They will be looking for: honesty, character, potential, and maturity.
Stop by the personnel or human resources office at an agency that you like. Get all the recruiting information you can. Maybe even speak with a union rep of that agency. You want to get a feel for the department. You'll want to grasp organization, staffing patterns, general appropriations etc.
Maybe go on line with FEMA and OSHA. I seem to recall they offer some free on line courses on emergency mgt. ALL relevant, for a career in public safety. And, good to put on the table as you compete for the job. During hard economic times, government jobs are at a premium, and the competition is spirited. The candidates who pony up the best/most relevant "stuff", tends to be favored.
There are something like 40k law enforcement jobs in this country. So, I wouldn't sweat about an old hic-cup in your youth.
I would say this is a good time to find out what you are made of. This means going forward, even if 'things' don't evolve as planned.
I am confident you can hack it..
Hope this is helpful. Good Luck,
Semper Fi.
loren