Background issue

[mlaw001]

Hi-
Considering a going back to school for a Criminal Justice Degree...can anyone advise if a retail theft conviction 27 yrs ago (when I was 18) will prevent me from being able to get a law enforcement job? Thanks

[Citicop]

mlaw-

Welcome to RP!

I've moved this from the "Politics" section to the "Background" section as it is much more appropriate there.

Provided you have a clean record since (and the original charge and conviction were not felonies) you should be fine.

Out of curiosity, what field are you in now, and what makes you want to jump over to Law Enforcement at the tender age of 45?

-Citicop.

[mlaw001]

Thanks for the welcome! I have been in the construction/design field for the past 20 years...land development/construction has slowed significantly since 2008, so I would like to move to a career that is less dependent on the economy, and actually more in line with my interests.

[GoDirectly2Jail]

Hi-
Considering a going back to school for a Criminal Justice Degree...can anyone advise if a retail theft conviction 27 yrs ago (when I was 18) will prevent me from being able to get a law enforcement job? Thanks

"Retail theft" is very broad. Was it a stick of gum from the convenience store you worked at, or was it a Rolex from the jewelry store you worked at?

What state are you in, what did you steal, what were you charged with (code section), what were you convicted of (code section)?

[marinepilot]

mlaw-

Welcome to RP!

I've moved this from the "Politics" section to the "Background" section as it is much more appropriate there.

Provided you have a clean record since (and the original charge and conviction were not felonies) you should be fine.

Out of curiosity, what field are you in now, and what makes you want to jump over to Law Enforcement at the tender age of 45?

-Citicop.

mlaw, may I be the second to Welcome you to RP, and this time from the Florida Panhandle! I've quoted Citicops response in an effort to show you how going to our New Member Introductions forum before posting questions right away can give us a chance to get to know a bit about you.

And just so you don't feel totally crazy, I got into the law enforcement field at 39 after a 21 year career in the Marine Corps, so it's not totally impossible to do! My first agency was a small junior college department, so it wasn't super strenuous, but at 42 I moved to the county Sheriff's Office and that was a shocker!

Like Citicop said above, as long as your crimes weren't felonies, and everything else is clean since then, anything is possible.