Law Enforcement Today
Law enforcement today is a field with a growing need for qualified candidates. Crime is increasing across the board, and new categories of technology-related crimes require whole new types of training. What this means for you is that there’s an exciting career in law enforcement waiting for you, no matter what your skill set or background.
Hot Law Enforcement Jobs
Police Officers
Police officers are the first line of defense between the public and criminals. Police officers generally work on a local level to respond to crimes, take reports, and deal with local motor vehicle accidents and enforcement. There are many opportunities for qualified individuals to work their way up to investigators, detectives, and special task forces.
U.S. Marshals
U.S. Marshals hunt and capture federal fugitives. U.S. Marshals in the field have a non-standard work environment, and deal with different challenges and situations every day. Becoming a U.S. Marshal requires a broad-based background of diverse skills and expertise to handle the various tasks you’ll encounter. However, this is a job where you’ll never get bored, and U.S. Marshals capture more federal fugitives than every other national agency combined.
FBI Agents
The FBI is a massive intelligence-gathering organization, with 35,000 people on its payroll and an active drive to recruit new, qualified individuals. As an intelligence-gathering organization, the FBI recruits individuals with a broad range of backgrounds, including technology specialists, intelligence analysts, language specialists, scientists, and other diverse professions. The FBI’s admissions requirements are tough, but the FBI is a tough organization that deals with tough issues every day.
Forensic Scientists
Forensic scientists are the people who examine and preserve evidence in criminal and civil cases. The folks you see on CSI who perform detailed analysis of evidence to draw conclusions about the criminals and ultimately help to catch them are forensic scientists. Technology plays an increasing role in forensic science, and the demand for forensic scientists – especially specialists in particular fields or the use of a specific type of technology – is growing.
Employment and Benefits
Law enforcement employment is often dangerous. Your work setting may vary from an office job to potentially dangerous fieldwork, and people who pursue a career in law enforcement must be prepared for that. Your work setting can change daily, or throughout your career as you work through the ranks.
However, because the law enforcement field is potentially dangerous, it tends to pay fairly well. Police officers have a good salary and benefits, and working up the scale from there, through FBI and other law enforcement professions, typically correlates with pay increases. If you don’t mind the danger, or enjoy excitement, you might be well-suited to a career in law enforcement.
Law Enforcement Education
Education requirements for a law enforcement career really vary depending on the career you want to pursue. The FBI, for example, requires you to graduate from a qualified degree program, have several years of professional experience and meet certain requirements. U.S. Marshals have similar requirements. On top of your regular education and experience, these organizations also require you to be in peak physical condition, and attend specialized training programs provided by the organizations themselves.
Police officers, on the other hand, have a broad range of educational requirements depending on the specific career path. In many states, you can become a police officer with nothing more than a high school education and good physical condition. Most states recommend additional education, and requirements do vary depending on locale. However, becoming a police officer provides opportunities for you to get into the law enforcement field even without an extensive education, and work your way up.