Do you need a Degree in Criminal Justice to become a Police officer?
411571
No. Usually the minimum education requirement is a high school diploma. However, officers who advance in ranks, or provide more advanced skills and services, have some college or university diploma or degree in addition to their police academy training.
91423
College degree in criminal justice.  Volunteer as a reserve officer in your city/town/county.  No heavy drug use.  No criminal history.  Good physical shape.
504295
First you want to go to a college for your two year degree in Criminal Justice then onto a University for your 4 year degree in Criminal Justice. Then from there you will want to apply for the FBI school in the East. There is a couple of them. I am currently studying to go into that area of Law. Right now I am going to a college then I will be going into the Navy to take The Judge Advocate General program the Navy Offers. THat is another great place to start if you want to go into Law.. I wish you the best!!
1049126
If you are looking to be a special agent, you have to have a bachelor degree. You will not be looked at otherwise, regardless of your IQ score. The majority of the other positions require degrees as well. The only way that you could bypass this academic prerequisite would be to have served in the armed services (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, etc) or to have many years as a police officer. The best option for you would be to enroll in school or sign up with the police. You have to consider the fact that there will be people out there that, while they may not have all the special skills that you have, will have a degree or two, and this would bump you out of the running. For instance, I have 2 degrees, 2 minors, and 2 memberships in national honorary societies.....though I only have to meet 1 of 3 criteria to go in at the GS level that I want, I meet all 3. So, if you and I were going up for the same position, I would most likely be the person that gets the job, because I meet all the requirements. So, like I said before, if you want to work in a position of high importance (meaning something that you need security clearance for), you're going to have to go get a degree or enlist in the services or work in a police dept. for a while. Good luck!\n\n\n\nAlso, you do not need to necessarily have a degree in Criminal Justice. Any bachelor degree will suffice, but there are specific fields of study that are in high demand right now. You can go to www.fbi.gov to get this information.
790527
Forensics do not need a special requirement and don't need to be a special agent.\nI'm not sure about the USA but in Australia, the Forensics Department are made up of Senior Constables and higher.\nTo become a Forensics Officer you need to be in the job for at least 3 years, then you have the chance to apply for Forensics Department. \nThe only requirement would be to have completed some studies regarding Forensics, such as Certficate IV Forensic Science or a diploma or degree.\nThere are many type of Forensics, there are "Bench Scientists" where they go out to a crime scene, take samples and photos required and go back to the lab to test it all out, some tests are passed onto different sectors, such as Forensic Arsonists who work with bombs, guns etc, Forensic Biologists who work with the biology side such as skin cells, as well Forensics who work with trees, bark, dirt, leaves to try match the crime scene with an offender. \nThe FBI & ABI would be far too busy to answer your questions, go to the website and try find some information, if no avail, call recruiting. They are always more than happy to help you with inquiries.
796240
no,  remember that many police departments don't have crime scene techs,  the actual officers do all of thier own work,  or they are just dectives that do the investigations.\n\nAll my years in uniform, from robberiers to fraud, to theft, to assult,  we always did our own crime scene investigation and collected our own evidence.  We then checked them into evidence storage, and the evidence supervisor took them and sent them into a crime lab.\n\nAnd most small departmetns ( I would bet and it is a guess) I would bet about 90 percent don't have crime labs or crime scene techs.\n\nSo you are left with first a small number of departments scattered all accross the US.  And each one will have various degrees.  Some may require thier own state POST training and certification from POST as thier requirements.\nOthers will look for those trained at state crime labs.\n\nI have not checked in years, but Southeast Missouri University, used to have a progam that worked with the MO State Crime lab, where students could work on actual cases and evidence.\n\nI don't know if they still offer it but they used to
230072
"Becoming a Crime Scene Investigator"\nhttp://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/becomeone.html\n\n"Some positions require you have a 4 year degree in science while others only require a GED or High School graduation. Generally, if you want to work in a crime laboratory as a Criminalist you will need at least a 4 year degree in science (such as Biology or Chemistry). If you want to be a Crime Scene Technician you usually need less formal education. Some agencies require you be a sworn police officer before becoming a Crime Scene Investigator."
607088
Each individual school "should" post a listing of the jobs you can get after you receive your degree.  The following is a listing of information from the school I got my undergrad at (http://www.wiu.edu):\n\nThere are numerous types of employers for criminal justice majors including federal, state, and local government as well as private employers. Employment opportunities are excellent in areas with growing populations. A bachelor's degree is often required for most state and federal positions and is becoming increasingly required for municipal and county positions.\n\nLaw Enforcement\n\nThe law enforcement and justice administration program prepares individuals for careers within law enforcement agencies. The program provides professional knowledge, understanding, and skills for line police officers and investigators, as well as preparation for staff and administrative positions in local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.\n\nAmong those agencies employing LEJA graduates are:\n\n    * Municipal police departments\n    * County sheriffs' offices\n    * Regional law enforcement units\n    * State police agencies\n    * State regulatory agencies (i.e., conservation, agriculture, motor vehicle, university police)\n    * Federal law enforcement agencies (i.e., Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Customs, drug enforcement agencies)\n    * Federal regulatory agencies (i.e., health and human services; agriculture; immigration; U.S. Park Service)\n\nCourts\n\nServices needed today include presentence investigation, communication with potential jurors, maintaining official records, certifying records of court orders, and establishing court calendars.\n\nCareer options include:\n\n    * Court administrator\n    * Court investigator\n    * Court personnel\n    * Probation officer\n\nCorrections/Probation\n\nOpportunities within these areas include detention, rehabilitation programming, parole, and community-based programs such as halfway houses, drug treatment centers, and alcohol detoxification centers.\n\nCareer options include:\n\n    * Parole officer\n    * Personnel in local detention facilities (juvenile and adult)\n    * Correctional officer\n    * Alternatives to detention programs\n\nPlanning and Research\n\nThis area of employment is involved with tasks such as analyzing needs, evaluating programs, writing grants, preparing and analyzing statistical data for public information, building databases, and doing crime-specific planning.\n\nCareer opportunities include:\n\n    * Criminal justice planner/researcher (state and regional)\n    * Consultant to municipal, county, or state governmental agencies.\n\nSecurity Administration\n\nSecurity careers are as abundant and diverse as those in law enforcement and there are opportunities for management trainee positions. Areas of employment opportunities in security exist in computer agencies, warehouses, casinos, governmental facilities, and more. Wherever people desire to protect their property or assets, security measures will usually develop.\n\nCareer options include:\n\n    * Retail security\n    * Industrial security\n    * Hospital security\n    * Hotel/motel security\n    * Railroad or airport security\n    * Private security (i.e., Pinkerton, Wells-Fargo, Burns)\n    * Insurance investigator\n    * Private investigator\n    * Teaching\n    * Military police\n    * Paralegal assistant\n\nOther Education Options\n\n    * Graduate school\n    * Law school
49562
Most police forces will not take uneducated 18 year olds.  They require at least an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice.  Some require a Bachelors Degree.  The military has MANY more occupations other than policing, from cook to fireman, mechanic, to air traffic controller.  Very different, but both important to our society.\n\nAlso, soldiers don't eat as many donuts(kidding!)
185681
Depending on the police department that you want to be a police officer for. I have seen police officers with simple assualt convictions on their record, BUT you haven't been convicted yet! Get yourself a good attorney, it would be well worth the money!
1148961
I think you just have to have a Bachelor's Degree(4-year) from college, and it can be from any subject, but I would recommend criminal justice. There will be  extensive background checks and psychological testing, and some sort of physical fitness requirements.
268780
Most Police Departments only require 20 to 50 credit hours (Sophomore level) to become an officer. Some colleges offer Criminal Justice degrees - the closest that I know of off the top of my head is Texas State University in San Marcos.\n\nAlso, since most Police departments are scrambling to hire officers, most should be very willing to get you any additional info that you'd need. Good Luck!!!
929706
You may want to discuss this with the probation office you wishto work for.  In many areas they look for social science or social work degrees as much if not more than a criminal justice degree.\n\nAnd normally for a state probaton officer you are going to have about 400 applications for any one opening,  and over 1/2 of those will be from working police or correctional officers.\n\nThey see probation or parole often as a promotion or desk job where they get to work M to F .\n\nSo while you may meet requirements at a AA but if you don't have a BS or BA not much of a chnace for it
59663
If you are interested in a career in law enforcement, Albany NY has one of the best schools of criminal justice in the nation. The FBI requires a masters degree, however your degree need not be in a law related field. Lawyers, computer tech. and CJ majors are just of a few of the degrees the FBI looks for. So does the college really matter..no just the degree.
77130
Hi, I have 2 Bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Sociology. I have been emplyed as a probation officer for 18 yrs. The law enforcement field hires with these degrees.
598811
If your child wants to become a police....you can look into a university that has a criminal justice program...if he wants to work with the FBI or TSA..have him take as a second major..some type of psychology class...with a criminal justice bachelors degree there are many fields that he can move into...the chioces will more than he can handle....Be sure that he does not get into any type of trouble with finances or drugs...these 2 areas can keep him out of the field\n\nGood luck to you both!
787795
Yep... you need to be 21... you have to carry a gun. To get a permit you have to be 21, so why would this be any different? As an officer you need to patrol bars and such, and those are 21 and over venues. If you start police academy now, you will be close to 21 by the time you get out. you can apply to the academy at select colleges, and take further classes to get a criminal justice degree- that will probably help with pay grades later on.