Trying to make a decision

[lovedance4ever]

Hello everyone. It has been a while since I last posted on here, and quite a bit has happened since then.

I am a criminal justice student, and am currently struggling with making a decision regarding the path I want to take. This year, the county I live in will be administering a police exam, which has made me both very excited and anxious. I am finally of age (19) and have enough college credits to apply for the exam, but I am also wondering if it is a wise decision for this time in my life. If I were to pass, I would eventually have to go away for several months to study at the police academy, which means I would have to take a leave of absence from school.

I really want to get as much experience in this field as possible, because I am aiming for a career with the FBI in the future. However, is it wise to attempt to juggle this much responsibility (supposing I pass and get the job)?

Another option is to take the corrections officer exam, which will also be offerred this year. It is more feasible in the sense that I would not have to go away for training. But, there is also no guarantee that I will get a job working in a local prison; the one nearest to where I live is nearly an hour away. Moving would really put a breach in my education, and that is something that I absolutely want to avoid.

But even as I name all of these negatives, I still feel as though I want to go forward with these exams, because either job would be a great way to gain experience. I feel that I have a good chance of passing both the written and physical exams; I am just trying to decide if it is a good idea at this time.

So I ask…what would you do? Good or bad idea? My father had a fit when he found out that I am considering a job as a corrections officer (I am female), because they have begun putting women officers in male prisons.

Thank you for taking the time to read my messed up, confused thinking. All answers are greatly appreciated!

God Bless,

Christa

 

[Lamentation]

So I ask…what would you do? Good or bad idea? My father had a fit when he found out that I am considering a job as a corrections officer (I am female), because they have begun putting women officers in male prisons.

I work in the corrections field, indirectly, as a programmer; though I’ve heard and seen more than enough that if I had the choice between LEO or Corrections I would be a LEO hands down (at least you have some hope at being respected, especially with the posibility as a female in male company). Now, it also depends on which type of corrections as well… A county jail housing those going on trial is going to be a much easier time than a state penitentiary with inmates who have no hope of release, and thus nothing to lose.

With your eventual career goal of the FBI, I would say you should stay in school. You haven’t specified which kind of job within the FBI you would like to pursue, but the ones offering jobs these days tend to want the educational background more than the experience. They want to be the ones giving the experience.

 

[EasterJoy]

How much does it cost to take each exam? Unless you’ve signed on the dotted line for the military, taking an exam does not seal your destiny. It usually helps, actually, to take an exam before the time that “counts”. Also, if you are pleased with the results of your exam, it is not uncommon for the result to be usable for several years afterward.

As far as being forced to work in a men’s prison against your will, I think you’ll find that possibility on your working contract before you decide to take a job. I have a friend who, on the advice of her father, who was very successful, absolutely never signed a contract without having an attorney read it first. Ever. She says it is money well-spent, as a lawyer can read a simple contract very quickly, while you can suffer for something you did not understand for a very long time.

Were it me, I would take the exams if I could afford them, fully planning to complete my education even if I scored high. The results would give me a good idea of my strengths and weaknesses, not to mention the kind of things they ask on the law enforcement exams. If I needed to leave school, I’d have more opportunities than if I had passed on the opportunity to take the exams. If I take the exam in the future, I’d have had practice and could expect that I might get a better score and (therefore) the best possible job offers.

I wouldn’t leave school with the intention of coming back unless I were forced to leave by finance, exhaustion, or another compelling reason. If you intend to finish your education and you can do it well now without impoverishing yourself, do it now.

 

[JM3]

One step at a time. Take the police exam, then see where you stand.

 

[lovedance4ever]

Thanks for the responses! It is great to get different perspectives on this matter.

Now to clear up some questions that were presented. As far as the FBI is concerned, I am really interested in working in the field as a special agent, rather than behind the scenes. This is something that I have always wanted to do; however, I know it is a very difficult profession to go into, and that can be discouraging at times. That is why I am looking for as much experience as possible.

I also forgot to mention that I plan to go to school part-time while working a job. Not finishing my education is completely out of the question in my mind. It just might take a little longer if I were to juggle the two.

The application fee for each exam is only $15, which is a good price.

Thanks again, everyone!

 

[EasterJoy]

Thanks for the responses! It is great to get different perspectives on this matter.

Now to clear up some questions that were presented. As far as the FBI is concerned, I am really interested in working in the field as a special agent, rather than behind the scenes. This is something that I have always wanted to do; however, I know it is a very difficult profession to go into, and that can be discouraging at times. That is why I am looking for as much experience as possible.

I also forgot to mention that I plan to go to school part-time while working a job. Not finishing my education is completely out of the question in my mind. It just might take a little longer if I were to juggle the two.

The application fee for each exam is only $15, which is a good price.

Thanks again, everyone!

BTW, have you talked to your academic advisor or your criminal justice professors? They will have knowledge of your local situation that could be invaluable to you as you make this decision. (It could be, for instance, that people who score ____ on the exam are eligible for some kind of formal work-study scholarship in your field.)

 

[lovedance4ever]

BTW, have you talked to your academic advisor or your criminal justice professors? They will have knowledge of your local situation that could be invaluable to you as you make this decision. (It could be, for instance, that people who score ____ on the exam are eligible for some kind of formal work-study scholarship in your field.)

I have not as of yet. I actually just transferred to a different college last semester, so I do not really know any of the criminal justice professors at my new school (yet). I did leave my other college on a very positive note, and I could always talk to my old teachers. Great idea!

 

[chevalier]

Oh, o kindred soul. I wrote my thesis in law school on interpreting the doubt in favour of the accused. That’s what the FBI specialises in, right?

Joking aside, don’t you ever put a dent in your education unless you really know what you’re doing, and if you think you know, then think again. This said, if you can handle the psychological impact of not passing (which I don’t, and tend to sue), and if the failure won’t be on your record, then by all means you can take one on a “just to try” basis.

Also, you may think yourself a big girl but don’t ever neglect big bad men. You are idealistic, they are not, and they will not give you any easy treatment just because.

I knew a prison lawyer once. As in, not a lawyering inmate but a lawyer that wears prison service uniform and has a rank. It was a blast figuring out my last could-have-been girlfriend with her (a lawyer gone PR wizard). I even made sure to go the gents for a particularly long time to facilitate their conversation. She was quite the character. Sued the attorney general and won before she even made bar.

 

[EasterJoy]

I have not as of yet. I actually just transferred to a different college last semester, so I do not really know any of the criminal justice professors at my new school (yet). I did leave my other college on a very positive note, and I could always talk to my old teachers. Great idea!

You can talk to your brand-new-just-met-today professor about this kind of thing. I say this having known many professors: You don’t have to put in a semester for them to care about you!