How did you first become interested in this field?

My uncle was a police officer.

What type of training best prepared you for your work as police captain?

I earned an associate’s degree in criminal justice and I am a lifelong athlete.

What is an average day at work like for you?

My days involve a lot of meetings, collaborations with non-profits and community based organizations, discussions about criminal investigations, budget review and preparation, emergency management oversight, and responding to a lot of emails and phone calls.

What do you like most about your job?

I like that every day at work is different. I also enjoy interacting with people from all walks of life and experiences.

What advice do you have for those who are interested in working in this field?

Get a good education and be smart about your choices of friends and how you show up in the world.  Even as a young person in HS or college, the choices you make can affect your ability to get into law enforcement.

Always listen to both sides of the story in any situation because you don’t want to overreact to one side, only to learn that wasn’t quite how it all happened.

Build your relationships and don’t burn any bridges. You never know where people will show back up in your life!

Learn More:

• How to Become a Police Officer
• Police Science Degrees

Douglas Maifeld is a Police Corporal and D.A.R.E. Officer in Maine. He has been in this line of work for over 21 years.

How did you become interested in criminal justice?

I have always wanted to become a police officer even since I was 6 years old.

What type of training or education prepared you for your work in this position?

I have an associate’s degree in law enforcement from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy.

What is an average day at work like for you?

We work 12 hrs days and each day varies. I am a patrol supervisor, and I do a lot of youth related functions being the DARE officer. I am also responsible for the police department’s web site, Facebook account, and all computer related issues.

What do you like most about your job?

I really enjoy the D.A.R.E. program.

What advice do you have for those who are interested in working in this field?

Don’t get into Law Enforcement for the wrong reasons. It can be exciting and rewarding, but it can also be tedious patrolling and dealing with the same individuals day after day. This might sound corny, but you need to want to do the job because you want to help serve and protect the community.

How did you become interested in this field?

When I was a kid I loved creative story writing about fictional detectives. They sparked my interest for criminal justice.

What type of training or education prepared you for your work in this position?

My undergraduate degree, the police academy, and real world experience as an officer best prepared me for my work. Formal education builds the foundation, but, the craft of the practitioner fortified the rest of the construction.  You can’t sit in the ivory towers of academia and truly understand what you’re talking about.  It happens every day though, and people, who think they know what they’re talking about, write textbooks. The real practitioners are out there every day dealing with real people, applying the classroom to see if it works.

What is an average day at work like for you?

Interacting with students who feel they have a calling to a career in criminal justice, debating, researching and writing to advance the field of criminology.

What do you like most about your job?

Criminal justice students and researching the craft of criminology; interacting with other practitioners; avoiding the theorists!

What advice do you have for those who are interested in working in this field?

Work hard, study hard, be creative, become a critical thinker, think for yourself, loosen up and question things, develop a serious affinity for the investigative process; get that degree and go to the police academy, then walk in the shoes of the practitioner!

Although Jessica’s background is in organic chemistry, she developed an interest in forensics by watching the show Forensic Files on the Discovery Channel. In her current position, she is able to apply her knowledge of organic chemistry to forensic science, by working on samples from cases in criminal justice and environmental issues.

What type of training or education prepared you for your work in this position?

My entire college career and everything that I learned from organic chemistry best prepared me for my career.

What is an average day at work like for you?

You come in and perform data reduction on the samples you ran the previous day, check out the backlog of samples that have been logged in, choose your samples you are going to run that day, prepare them and load them on your instrument. It seems like very little to do but in actuality it takes up the whole day.

When you refer to the “samples”, what exactly are you testing? Does it vary with each case?

Currently I work with environmental samples (water and soil along with oil, wood, cement, etc.).  When you work in the crime lab the samples can be blood, urine, saliva, hair, teeth, etc. Samples will vary from case to case.

What types of things are you looking for when you are testing the samples?

This also varies from case to case.  In my work it depends on what analysis is ordered by the client. In the crime lab it will depend on what the detectives or DA’s (district attorney’s) are looking for, be it drugs, alcohol or other substances.

What types of cases do the results you find pertain to?

For environmental issues, it could be that a site has had tanker truck spill over and the cleanup crew on the site needs to see how far the contamination has spread. It could also be that a company is dumping chemicals instead of disposing of them properly and are being brought to court. Our data would be used to confirm the illegal dumping.  Cities and towns also use our lab to test their drinking water to make sure it is not contaminated and that it is safe for public consumption.  For the crime lab it could be murders, DUI’s, arson’s, clandestine labs, or wherever else analysis is needed.

How involved are you with the actual case that the samples come from?

I just run the sample that is presented and I do not do anything else.  Crime lab analysts will have to testify in court about their data but it is very rare to have to do that in the environmental field.  For crime lab cases it is best that the analyst does not know much about the case because it might bias the results which is why the analyst is not involved.

What is the outcome of the tests you run on the samples? (or what are you aiming for?)

The outcome is to make sure that all compounds are identified if they are present and reported accordingly into the labs data system.

Who uses the information you generate by testing the samples?

In my work the clients, the EPA, and the clean up personnel use the testing results the lab issues to them to monitor sites and clean them up if they are contaminated.  For the crime lab it would usually be the detectives, DA’s and defense attorneys

What do you like most about your job?

Working with the instrumentation and troubleshooting when the instrument is not working properly.

What advice do you have for those who are interested in working in this field?

Definitely make sure this is what you want to do because it is hard and stressful. A lot of the time the instruments are not working properly or the samples do not come out right. You have to be able to “think outside the box” because this field is definitely not by the book. Every problem is different and you need to be prepared to expect the unexpected. Also make sure you go to a school that is accredited in the degree, and make sure the professors are helpful and willing to work with you because my professors are really what formed my education. They gave me the tools and helped me when I was stuck.

Did you need any additional criminal justice or forensic training when you started this position or were you fully prepared for the work with your background in organic chemistry?

The organic chemistry learned in school is just the basics and once you obtain a position in the field you are trained for at least 3 months, or 6 months for DNA analysts.  If you do not understand organic chemistry it will be very difficult for you to interview for the position and you will most likely not be considered.  To this day I learn new things about the instruments and the samples because every case is different. I think I will never truly be prepared, just knowledgeable!

Learn more about forensic science and other exciting careers in criminal justice.

Mr. Dwyer earned his undergraduate degree from Norwich Military University while studying history and government. It was here that he developed a strong interest in community service, and became very interested in both sociology and psychology.

What type of training best prepared you for your work in juvenile corrections?

I enrolled in a Criminal Justice graduate program at Anna Maria College and I received my master’s degree. I also took sociology courses which I found helped me understand why children and adults act the way they do, and helped me better understand human behaviors.

What was an average day at work like for you?

The best thing about my average day at work was that it was far from average. Every day was a new day, new experience, and had new issues to face. Court experiences can range from working in a suburb of Woburn to working at a more urban court like Lowell, Brockton or Cambridge. While these were very different experiences, I had the same motives to help people.

What did you like most about your work as a juvenile probation officer?

The fulfillment of helping someone change their life for the better, assisting victims through the court process, creating community programs to help prevent issues, and diversion programs to get troubled kids back on the right track.

What advice do you have for those who are interested in working in this field?

Any and every person who wants to work for an agency that will have a direct impact on changing the lives on children for the positive should seriously think about getting into this field.

Mr. Dwyer also advises those who are interested in working in the field of juvenile corrections that these types of positions are often underpaid and underappreciated. They are, however, very emotionally rewarding. He explains, “Any time you deal with trouble children and families you are doing God’s work. You really have to want to do the job.”Dwyer also highly recommends taking courses in sociology and psychology.

How did you become interested in this field?

Dan first became interested in the criminal justice field through the Law Enforcement Exploring Program which is offered through the Boy Scouts of America. This program aims to expose youth ages 14-21 to a career in law enforcement by allowing them to work with local law enforcement agencies.

What type of training or education best prepared you for your work in this position?

Dan earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at Salem State College. He was an active member in the criminal justice club on campus and worked as a student security officer. In the summers between semesters he worked as a seasonal police officer and volunteered as an auxiliary police officer. Dan also took some time off during college to train with the military and served as a military policeman in the Massachusetts Army National Guard. Dan  took civil service police exam during college and then after graduation the entered the police academy.

What is an average day at work like for you?

Now that Dan works as a supervisor, he works four ten hour shifts and then has four days off. His day starts with roll call at noon. He provides direction and information to officers who are coming on duty, reviews reports, works on projects assigned to him by the chief of police or other supervisors, and patrols the streets and supports the other officers who are on the street.

What do you like most about your job?

The thing that Dan enjoys most about his work as a police sergeant is his ability to help people and make a difference in the community.  He also finds it very fulfilling to be able to solve small problems before they become larger.

What advice do you have for those who are interested in working in this field?

Dan recommends that students who are interested in pursuing a career in criminal justice explore all of the different career possibilities in law enforcement and then focus on the area that they are most interested in. He also suggests that they look into these 5 catagories where he feels they will see the most opportunities for employment:

•    Federal Agencies
•    Local Agencies
•    State Agencies
•    Corrections Agencies
•    Sheriffs’ Agencies

Each agency can be broken down into many different areas, so different positions within the same agency can vary greatly. For example, if you work a state law enforcement agency you could work in the environmental department or the mental health department. There are different application processes and exams to take for each area and level of law enforcement. This makes it very important to thoroughly investigate the different areas of law enforcement, what the different application procedures entail, and where you would be best suited to work.

Most importantly, Dan recommends that those who are interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement get as much experience as possible prior to becoming a law enforcement officer. Get involved in anything you can, and be sure to look into volunteer positions, internships, criminal justice extracurricular activities, military training and other experiences.

Dan also spoke about the different incentive programs that encourage police officers to earn college degrees and participate in certification programs such as EMT training. Although these incentive programs will differ from state to state, law enforcement officers are often offered pay increases and stipends for the additional training and education programs that they participate in. In Massachusetts, for example, the Quinn Bill (which we will focus on more in a later post) encourages police officers to earn degrees and provides educational incentives through salary increases.

So how do you become a police sergeant? Earn a degree in law enforcement or criminal justice, get as much exposure to the field as you possibly can, find the area of law enforcement that suits you best, and study for and take promotional exams.

Do you or anyone you know work in criminal justice and want to be featured in our blog? Fill out this simple questionnaire and help inspire others to pursue their dreams of working in criminal justice.

Anne began working as an Intelligence Analyst six months ago.  Because she is employed at a federal agency, she is not able to share as much information about her position as some of our previous interviewees. She does, however, give us a good look at what it took to get her where she is today.

How did you become interested in this field?

Writing and research were essential components of my education and previous jobs as a copyeditor and investigator at a due diligence firm. I wanted to continue writing and research, but became interested in switching over from private industry to the federal government.

What type of training or education best prepared you for your work as an intelligence analyst?

I earned a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in Journalism. My initial intentions were to write/report for a magazine or newspaper. I decided later that my skills and personality were better suited for more “behind the scenes” work.

What do you like most about your job?

I like that I’m challenged with learning new information almost every day and then tasked to use or apply that information appropriately.

What advice do you have for those who are interested in working in this field?

Using my own experience as an example, I think that regardless of what track you think you’re on post-college, there is time to shift your skillset and market it to pursue a different field that was not realized until later in life.

If you are interested in working for a federal agency as an intelligence analyst, be sure to check out the article: How to Become an FBI Agent.

Do you or anyone you know work in criminal justice and want to be featured in our blog? Fill out this simple questionnaire and help inspire others to pursue their dreams of working in criminal justice.

How did you become interested in Criminal Justice?
I have always had an interest in law enforcement and being involved in a profession that helped to make my community safer. I also enjoy being a part of the brotherhood/sisterhood of police officers.

What type of training or education prepared you for your work as an Intelligence Detective?
I spent 6 months at a law enforcement academy and have continued my education through various trainings to include yearly in-service as well as special training in gangs, narcotics and interview techniques.

What is an average day at work like for you?
An average day involves investigating any threat assessments reported to the Intel Unit and developing information that comes in through various sources into viable intelligence and disseminating it to the necessary units.

What do you like most about your job?
The thing I like the most about my job is taking various bits of information that nobody thinks is meaningful and finding that little piece that brings it all together and helps contribute to case.

What advice do you have for those who are interested in working in Criminal Justice?
My advice would be that if you have an interest in this field, get involved at an early age in your local explorers or cadet program to get a feel for what police work is like.

Learn more about How to Become a Police Officer or Earn your Law Enforcement Degree.

Do you or anyone you know work in criminal justice and want to be featured in our blog? Fill out this simple questionnaire and help inspire others to pursue their dreams of working in criminal justice.

How did you become interested becoming a paralegal?
I went to school for Criminal Justice, but after graduation becoming a police officer no longer appealed to me. I had several friends and family members that were attorneys, yet law school didn’t “speak” to me either. I found my place in the paralegal profession after testing the waters in the corporate world.

What type of training or education best prepared you for your work as a paralegal?
My training in the Criminal Justice field helped me tremendously, but it not a requirement. An associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree is, however, required by most law firms. In addition to a college degree, I completed a paralegal certificate program at the University of Delaware. Most firms will also require a paralegal certificate in addition to a college degree. I highly recommend a certificate program because the coursework is specific to the duties you will have as a paralegal and that type of hands on experience is invaluable.

What is an average day at work like for you?
An average day means drafting and filing lawsuits, drafting documents to opposing counsel or clients, attending depositions, and/or meeting with clients to complete interrogatories. Interrogatories are detailed questions from opposing counsel as means of discovery.

What do you like most about being a paralegal?
While I do enjoy the heavy client contact that I have, I also enjoy the balance that I have working independently. Legal research and fact checking are my favorite tasks. It means that I may be the first person in the firm to learn of a new statute or a change in the law. It is then my responsibility to draft a memo and inform all attorneys.

What advice do you have for those who are interested in becoming a paralegal?
My advice is to study a major that is close to the legal field or used in conjunction with it. This would include criminal justice, law, english, communication, business, international relations, journalism, or political science. Then I would suggest spending one year attaining a certificate or an associate’s degree in paralegal studies. Large firms prefer to hire staff members that are well rounded. I would also recommend completing the state and/or national boards to become a registered paralegal. I feel that since paralegals work under the license of an attorney, it is our responsibility to be well educated and informed as to not infringe on the attorney’s license and create an infraction worthy of Office of Disciplinary Counsel inquiry.

Learn more about How to Become a Paralegal.

Do you or anyone you know work in criminal justice and want to be featured in our blog? Fill out this simple questionnaire and help inspire others to pursue their dreams of working in criminal justice.

So do you really want to know what it takes to become a police officer? How about a paralegal? What is a day in the life of a correctional officer really like? If you are interested in pursuing a career in criminal justice, you might be very interested to hear the answers to these questions!

Criminal Justice School Guide will be starting an interview series as a part of our blog. We are hoping to interview real criminal justice professionals to find out what their jobs are like, how they got involved, and what advice they may have for people who are interested in starting a career in criminal justice. It should be pretty cool!

Do you or anyone you know work in criminal justice and want to be featured in our blog? Fill out this simple questionnaire and help inspire others to pursue their dreams of working in criminal justice.

Stay tuned as our series will begin shortly!