Hi,

I've been preparing to pursue a career in Law Enforcement and/or Corrections for awhile now. I live in a Small town, and I wanted to get your advise on a decision I've been contemplating over the past week. Since I live in a small town, the regulations for joining Law Enforcement are pretty minimal - Diploma, Police Academy, and some past experience. Even though It would be fairly easier to join Law Enforcement here compared to other areas, I'm thinking of starting off in Corrections.

We have 2 county Jail's here with on-site training for CO's. The main reason I'm considering this is, I'd like to have some hands on experience, and also something better to present when attempting to go into Law Enforcement. Do you think I should spend the extra time getting experience as a CO, and then go into Law Enforcement? Or just jump in as soon as possible. Any advise provided in appreciated.

Best Regards,

atCaleb

 If you end goal is policing, then you want to focus on building life experience and having a nice, solid resume. Corrections definitely builds life experience and your resume, but it's also a commitment you have to make in a sense. It's not necessary, but it'll help. Just make sure you make time to get a diploma

Here are your options:

1) Get hired by a big department that pays you to go to a police academy. 
2) Put yourself through a police academy and get hired on somewhere smaller that can't afford to put you through an academy. Just make sure you don't want to go to a big place. Some big agencies require you to go through their academy regardless if you went through one already.
3) Start with a sheriff's office in the jail where they are known to transfer over to patrol after you get a few years experience.

In the meantime you can't hurt yourself by going to college and getting at minimum an associates degree. Work on physical fitness as well. There is no easy way to get there. I graduate May 19th. I've been chasing my dream for years.

1 hour ago, HolyOrangeJuice said:

Here are your options:

1) Get hired by a big department that pays you to go to a police academy. 
2) Put yourself through a police academy and get hired on somewhere smaller that can't afford to put you through an academy. Just make sure you don't want to go to a big place. Some big agencies require you to go through their academy regardless if you went through one already.
3) Start with a sheriff's office in the jail where they are known to transfer over to patrol after you get a few years experience.

In the meantime you can't hurt yourself by going to college and getting at minimum an associates degree. Work on physical fitness as well. There is no easy way to get there. I graduate May 19th. I've been chasing my dream for years.

Yeah, our Sheriff's manage the Jail and also do switch people to patrol.

Working in a small area and in the jail lets you learn how to deal with people. The same people you're going to deal with on the street. You'll learn who is in and out of that place all the time. Good place to start. Many do.

 

Ough... Corrections... Out here it's as far from the police work as it is possible. They say those who serve in corrections often end up acting like inmates. Guess the US must be really different since a young man wants to join correction voluntary and is looking at it as a nice career path. 

<-------- Corrections Deputy.

Corrections is a good start. Your "customers" in a jail are going to be the same customers on the street. You will learn how to talk to people. (Or wash out or get hurt...)

Some of the best road guys I know got their start working on the inside. Departments do like the inside experience.

However, some places will hesitate to hire you if you're just looking to make corrections a stepping stone, and you may have a hard time gaining trust/respect among your co-workers if they know you are just looking to jump ship as soon as possible.

Every state is different, local corrections (county level) here in MI, I'm a sworn Sheriff's Deputy. Some places you don't have that same status.

Edited May 9, 20169 yr by TylerF

17 hours ago, TylerF said:

<-------- Corrections Deputy.

Corrections is a good start. Your "customers" in a jail are going to be the same customers on the street. You will learn how to talk to people. (Or wash out or get hurt...)

Some of the best road guys I know got their start working on the inside. Departments do like the inside experience.

However, some places will hesitate to hire you if you're just looking to make corrections a stepping stone, and you may have a hard time gaining trust/respect among your co-workers if they know you are just looking to jump ship as soon as possible.

Every state is different, local corrections (county level) here in MI, I'm a sworn Sheriff's Deputy. Some places you don't have that same status.

Yeah, I could understand how people would look down upon you for that. But, I understand that the career path I'm looking to pursue will take years to accomplish.

If anything, I'd work in corrections for at least 4 years whilst studying Criminal Justice. So, It's a stepping stone, but something I truly plan on doing for awhile. Until the opportunity is presented to switch to PD and/or County Sheriff.