Personal Statement: A Career As A Correctional Officer

My desire for a career in law enforcement started while pursuing my undergraduate degree at the University of Central Florida. As a freshman biology major with hopes of becoming a Radiologist, it did not take me long to realize the medical field was not for me. Peers in my classes had a passion and interest for the material that I did not possess. My grades poorly reflected the type of student I was. Realizing it was time for a change, at the end of my sophomore year I started seeking guidance. Unbeknownst to me, my disinterest in the curriculum was a major contribution to my poor performance. I completed career assessments and sat with academic counselors in several different areas of study. I was feeling more confused than ever because Criminal Justice courses often sparked my interest, but I hesitated due to the dangerous nature of police work.

Once a person become a Correctional Officer, it is very important that they continue training. In the past many prisons facilities are being accuse of cutting back on training or diverting training funds for other purpose. Stojkovic and Kalinich thinks it is good for correctional officers attend a CDC program because it empower potential leaders for proactive and visionary work. In training Correctional Officer will learn institutional policies, regulations, operations, and custody and security procedures. Some job mandate Correctional Office keep up the credentials will serve the Correctional Office position. All new Correctional officers must undergo 200 hours of training before their one probation is up. In addition, they must complete

Last year I was belligerent on what my purpose was, and what major to study. I continued to take classes to try and determine what to study but still was not definite on what I wanted to do. There was a career counselor that I met with to assist me in knowing my strengths weaknesses as well as my interest. I then took a career test where it was revealed that my strengths was helping others and a being amongst others. I always knew that I loved assisting others and eventually in my life I wanted to somehow work with individuals who suffer from substance abuse. I desire to obtain both a bachelor in criminal justice and social work. In my heart I know that I can help people with both majors, by assisting people through law enforcement as well

Being a firefighter is everything to me; it’s my dream job. But why did I want to embark on a lifelong, rewarding journey as a fireman? Looking back, I realized that three things really intensified my love for firefighting and sparked my dreams to become a career firefighter. The first was a near fatal car accident that my grand mom was involved in. My next realization is simple - I love helping others and having the potential to do something positive for the community I serve. Finally, the excitement along with the adrenaline I have when I get to go on a call Is like no other feeling; there is no other feeling that I can compare it to.

Following graduation, I took a position as a Youth Counselor in a residential treatment center for adolescent sex offenders. Accepting this job was difficult as I had previously felt that sex offenders were the one population I would not want to work with. But I was pleased to find that I truly enjoyed the job. I learned to successfully work with a very difficult population and developed skills in conflict resolution, group therapy, and recreational therapy. This position helped me solidify and strengthen a strong belief that all people are worthy of respect, unconditional positive regard, and equality of opportunity.

There will always be a fight for justice, and where there is crime there are those who must solve them. I wish to pursue a career in the criminal justice industry, mainly working as a forensic science criminalist. Those who use scientific logic and evidence found at the scene of the crime to solve the case, The heroes who don’t wear the labcoats instead of the black and blues. Heroes like these need certain skills, interests, and values that make them an official criminalist.

To work in the field of criminal justice, whether with rehabilitating offenders or in research analysis, has always been a goal of mine stemming from the beginning of my undergraduate studies at Lakeland University. It is in the Reentry Unit of the Department of Corrections, that there is the emphasis to work with offenders in order to reduce recidivism with the focus of providing support in educational programming, skill building, and goal planning to prepare offenders for community reintegration. Overall, the Reentry Unit of correctional system is an integral portion that provides a pathway for offenders to reintegrate.

Over the past two years I have continuously studied and worked within the criminal justice field. My studies from Vincennes University varied within the field of criminal justice and at times pertained to corrections. Working as a Campus Safety Officer gave me experience with a variety of people and personalities. During my time as a Campus Safety Officer I was educated on defensive tactics, pepper ball training, hand-to-hand combat, OC pepper spray, and Monadnock expandable baton training. I have excellent communication skills and am able to keep calm during stressful situations.

As someone who has attended online school since 2008, I would like to think I enjoy learning about things within the Criminal Justice field. Initially when I started this educational journey, I took classes in something that interested me, not so much in terms of what I wanted to do with the degree once completed. See, I had plans to stay in the military for the full twenty, however life had other plans for me. Having a child and being in the military are tough commitments to have when combined, so I decided to go for the family life instead. So, here I am about to graduate from a school I have been going to for 7 years, achieved an Associates as well as a Bachelors and want to continue on with a Masters; unfortunately the school does not offer

Criminal Justice is a career one can choose to pursue. “I take it as a job, but I love it. It’s not like work to me; it is something I love to do…. Like they say, if you love what you’re doing, you never work a day in your life”. (Tutor). Becoming a probation officer is not easy. One will deal with multiple duties, such as, gender, dealing with people on a daily basis, education, and be able to fulfill the requirements to become a probation officer. However, if one likes working with people and following rules, this is definitely the career for interested applicants.

Growing up in a low income neighborhood, with high crime rates has had a big influence on me to become a parole officer or social worker. In highschool I watched many of my classmates drop out of high school, do drugs, and even end up incarcerated. Seeing these people drop out made me realize I wanted to pursue a career that would engage in helping others especially those who grew up in neighborhoods like mine.

Officers in correctional facilities are included as being a part of every state's law enforcement endeavors. The federal government utilizes different sorts of law implementation specialists all authorizing laws and approaches set up at the most elevated amount of government (Walker & Katz, 2012). This can include special agents and support staff for the various federal agencies like the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). They do not enforce local or even state laws; however they do provide these jurisdictions with assistance along the way of significant criminal activity within the area. Government prosecutors frequently organize the endeavors of operators from a few offices on the double to construct

A Correctional Officer supervise arrested persons awaiting trial and convicted criminals serving time in penitentiaries, jails, and reformatories. One primary role of correctional officers is to avert attacks, escapes, and other disturbances, ensuring inmate accountability and security. Outside of the jail or penitentiary where they work, correctional officers have no policing duties.

Working in the legal system and the Criminal Justice system is a dream and a commitment for me. I promised myself and the good Lord that I would pursue a degree in legal system/criminal justice system. My ultimate goal is to help the legal system and help refine the criminal justice system. These systems have failed so many people but I believe in the good of the system.

The academic program of study I selected was criminal justice because I always had a dream of being becoming a lawyer. Also my family member and friends used to tell me I would be a great lawyer because I like to prove my point. I have always wanted to my make way up to become a lawyer. I would start small as a probation officer, go to police or FBI academy then finally I will become a lawyer after I work in most of those forces and gain the experience first. Some of my career goals will be to meet my program requirements at Goodwin College for an associate degree in criminal justice.