Am I favorable for Law Enformcement?

[Steelers4Ever43]

Hello all, I'm a 21 year old male living in Pennsylvania. I am currently attending Penn State University for an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice. My background is 100% clean except for 1 underage drinking charge that I got 2 years ago when I was 19. The disposition was a 175 dollar fine and 90 days suspended driving privileges. To my knowledge, I do not have bad credit. I know I would have to check to be sure, but I've never dealt will collection agencies, never defaulted on a loan, etc... I will obtain my degree in December of next year. I have tried marijuana in the past, but this was quite some time ago. I can't give an exact date, but more than 2 years ago. Am I a favorable candidate for Law Enforcement?

[greg72982]

You should be OK but my advice, go out of state.

[Steelers4Ever43]

Why is that? I was actually really hoping to get into PSP.

[greg72982]

Why is that? I was actually really hoping to get into PSP.

PSP is a good gig but it's not easy and I have seen them nitpick backgrounds. If you aren't tight with any politicians and have nothing tying you down, go out of state.

BTW how much marijuana usage? Quantity is as important as how long it has been since you last used...

[Steelers4Ever43]

Uh, I really have no idea, lol. I don't know enough about marijuana to know how much I smoked. Thatw as a really long time ago and it was only a few times with some friends.

[greg72982]

Uh, I really have no idea, lol. I don't know enough about marijuana to know how much I smoked. That was a really long time ago and it was only a few times with some friends.

I don't know PSP's standards but under ten times is acceptable, generally speaking.

[retdetsgt]

Uh, I really have no idea, lol. I don't know enough about marijuana to know how much I smoked. Thatw as a really long time ago and it was only a few times with some friends.

When asked, you might wanna come up with a more definitive answer. We assume things like "a couple of beers" is at least a 6-pack and a few is a case. If you get my drift.

[Steelers4Ever43]

The best answers I can possibly give is 4 or 5 times. And whatever is a normal sized dose of marijuana. How do they expect us to remember details like this?

[Citicop]

They don't expect you to have weighed it...

They do expect you to be able to get pretty close to the number of times you used it, though. I don't think that's unreasonable.

-Citicop.

[Steelers4Ever43]

Yes, I agree. Also, I might just get the associates degree and then go ahead and get a Bachelor's anyway. Not only would it put more time between the marijuana use and the underage drinking, but obviously a 4 year CJ degree looks a lot better than a 2. That decision is a year away, but it's definitely something I should and will consider heavily. Although, someone told me the best time to get in PSP is going to be about 2 years from now. Can anyone give me the low down? What is ACTUALLY going on with PSP right now and what's going to be going on in a few years?

[Citicop]

Remember that the degree does not need to be in Criminal Justice. Police agencies DO NOT CARE what degree you have, any degree is just as good as CJ from wherever you are going to school. Biology, Art History, Communications, Marketing, Business, Psychology... they're all just as good as Criminal Justice to a Police Agency.

-Citicop.

[Creeker]

Remember that the degree does not need to be in Criminal Justice. Police agencies DO NOT CARE what degree you have, any degree is just as good as CJ from wherever you are going to school. Biology, Art History, Communications, Marketing, Business, Psychology... they're all just as good as Criminal Justice to a Police Agency.

-Citicop.

^ What HE said^ x 1000

Examine exactly what career you will qualify for with a CJ degree vs virtually any other degree, and I believe you will find that CJ's are pretty specifically limiting as to their usefulness outside of Law Enforcement. Should you find yourself either unsuited for LE, or physically injured and unable to work in LE, you may want to consider your options.

Bear in mind that I offer this as a Criminal Justice degreed, Retired from Law Enforcement - Injured in the Line of Duty - Cop.

I've often wished I'd have taken my own advice and just gotten a Business or some such other degree to be able to establish a second meaningful career.

[retdetsgt]

Remember that the degree does not need to be in Criminal Justice. Police agencies DO NOT CARE what degree you have, any degree is just as good as CJ from wherever you are going to school. Biology, Art History, Communications, Marketing, Business, Psychology... they're all just as good as Criminal Justice to a Police Agency.

-Citicop.

Not to mention that you don't bring much to the table with a CJ degree. Really, what skills did you really get from it?

I always recommend something like computer science or, if you plan on climbing in rank a degree in public administration. CJ is just a hodge podge of classes that do little to help you when you become a cop.

I have a bachelors and masters in sociology which are equally worthless, but I got those after I became a cop and was looking to use them after retirement and teach.

But like the old saying, "If you want to hear God laugh, just tell Him your plans".

[pac201]

Hello all, I'm a 21 year old male living in Pennsylvania. I am currently attending Penn State University for an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice. My background is 100% clean except for 1 underage drinking charge that I got 2 years ago when I was 19. The disposition was a 175 dollar fine and 90 days suspended driving privileges. To my knowledge, I do not have bad credit. I know I would have to check to be sure, but I've never dealt will collection agencies, never defaulted on a loan, etc... I will obtain my degree in December of next year. I have tried marijuana in the past, but this was quite some time ago. I can't give an exact date, but more than 2 years ago. Am I a favorable candidate for Law Enforcement?

This kind of stuck out to me, was your drinking charge a DUI?

I agree with the others, I think you will be okay.

[retdetsgt]

This kind of stuck out to me, was your drinking charge a DUI?

I agree with the others, I think you will be okay.

Whoa, good catch! Yeah, that's a whole new ball game.