Mental Health Disqualifications & Boyfriend's Criminal Charges

[themelanieanne]

I'm in college and I'm torn between a Criminal Justice major and eventually applying at a Police Department and a Forensic Science major and going that route. I have two questions I would like to know if anyone knows the answers to.

(1) What mental health diagnosis automatically disqualify you? Or does it all depend upon the psych testing I've heard you go through?

- My reason for asking: I'm not eighteen yet. I have a current diagnosis of Bipolar II Disorder, but I'm being reassessed before my eighteenth birthday for a lesser diagnosis; currently looking at cyclothymia.

(2) If you're married or in a serious, committed relationship with someone, will their criminal history affect your application at all?

- My reason for asking: My boyfriend and I are in a serious relationship. He was recently brought in for quite a large number of felony vandalism charges.

Any information you can give me would be very very much appreciated :D

[L-1]

Re the psych issue, it is going to depend on your mental state at the time of application. Go here http://www.post.ca.gov/Publications/...quirements.pdf and start reading at section 9055. It will explain the psych screening process. The go here http://lib.post.ca.gov/Publications/...cal-traits.pdf and it will list the psych dimensions being sought.

While these are California's guidelines, the standards are fairly universal throughout the US.

I can't answer the criminal history matter without more information. Generally speaking you are not held accountable for the conduct of others. However, living with or having an ongoing relationship with someone who is actively engaged in criminal behavior can be problematic for you.

[retdetsgt]

The boy friend will take you right out of the running in a heartbeat. You can be hired if you are blood related to felons, but if you voluntarily associate with them, we don't want you.

Detention deputies here are routinely fired for moving in with felons they met while they were in jail.

[mcsap]

Mental Health issues are a HUGE RED flag to Law Enforcement. Unlike an illness....we can never know if you are " cured ."

Getting serious with a guy who has multiple felonies magnifies the old statement that " love is blind ." But it also asks the question ... " Is love also deaf , dumb and stupid ? "

[icu650]

If you were the CEO of a major corporation would you hire someone with a possible mental health disorder that is having a serious love relationship with a felon or would you hire another person who has no mental problems and has a wonderful relationship with a loved one. Seriously, if you had this choice which one would you pick. I am not trying to beat you down as far as becoming a cop. I do think you can increase your chances by seriously looking at your relationship and how many other times this will screw you up. Jail time, lawyers cost, damaged reputation, children growing up could all be included in your future. Work on your mental health status and drop the anchor.