Available Law Enforcement Jobs

There are many different jobs in the law enforcement field. Some of these include: Police Officers, Deputy Sheriffs, Correctional Officers, and State Troopers. Each field has its own regulations.
The essential duties of these law enforcement officials are the same. They all work to maintain peace and civility and to enforce the law. Each field requires the applicant to be at least 21 years old, with the exception of Correctional Officers. Applicants for correctional officer positions must be at least 18 years old. All of these fields require good mental stability and applicants must be in good physical condition. Applicants in each field should expect to be able to pass vision, hearing, strength and mental health tests. They will also need to pass a drug screening and polygraph test.
Police Officers and Deputy Sheriffs will attend a training academy where they will spend 3 or 4 months receiving classroom instruction as well as supervised experience in real life situations. To improve an applicant's chances in obtaining a position as a police officer or deputy sheriff, he or she should complete a degree program from a technical school in criminal justice. This will allow the officer to advance more quickly within his or her career.
Correctional officers will attend academy training as well. They will receive supervised training in real life situations within areas such as firearms expertise, security, prisoner relations, and self defense. To work as a federal corrections officer, one must finish 200 hours of official training the first year of work and another 120 hours of specialized training within 60 days of being hired.
Becoming a State Trooper is a little more difficult. It can be very stressful and dangerous, so extensive screening is required. A potential candidate must pass a written exam, physical exams, and a criminal background check. Some states will perform a drug test and psychological evaluation before the interview to eliminate undesirable candidates. Applicants must have a high school diploma or a GED Certificate. Some states require the applicant to also posses an Associate's Degree in criminal justice.
Most law enforcement jobs have the same fundamental requirements: a passion for public service, the dedication to peace and civility, and the desire for achievement. Each field may vary slightly as to the key training necessary to be successful in that field. Potential applicants must posses the drive needed to be a successful law enforcement officer.