Expert: Jason Grabill - 2/11/2004

Question
Hi there,
 I am a 26 year old college student, currently attending to earn my Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice Administration. I will Be about 29 when I finish. I am doing this ultimately to become a police officer, it is something I have wanted to do all my life. My question is: What other types of law enforcement could I go into with a Bachelors in CJ? I want to start out as a Police Offficer, but I don't want to stop there, I want to explore different feilds. Could you give me a few tips on climbing to the top in law enforcement, and what other feilds I might be able to go into with proper training and qualifications.
Thanks so much for your time.
Richard Sloan
rsloan777@netzero.net

Answer
Richard:

  A BA in CJ is a good start.  Make sure, above all else, if you can, you take courses in English, Creative Writing, and even Journalism if you can get them in.  Law Enforcement does more writing than anything else.   If you can write well, you'll go far.

  As far as other career options, many Federal agencies are in desperate need of Agents/Officers right now, and they all, for the most part, require degrees to get in.  The FBI, CIA, Naval Investigative Service, Air Force OSI, etc, are all looking for people who want to serve.   Worth considering.   Some State investigative agencies (in South Carolina, the SLED...South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, which is the State Investigative agency, like 'Super Detectives') also hire folks with degrees.  

  As far as being a 'regular' police officer, some agencies are paying a premium for those with BA degrees.  This will also help you, once you get in and have done your time on the street, to advance in the agency.

  One thing about the Feds, tho, they almost always have an "age cutoff", which is usually 35 years old.  They won't take you over that age, and it's not waiverable.

  You may also want to look into the "CSI" type of work, if that is something you are interested in.  Most of those outfits require some type of forensic degree also, but with the BA, you may be able to get in on the ground floor of something.

  Basically, your opportunities are limitless, you are only bound by your own imagination as to what you want to do.

  Good luck!

   Jason