How To Become A Sheriff
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Uphold the Law as a Sheriff
If you want a way into the law enforcement profession but you don't necessarily have an abundance of post-secondary education or relevant work experience, consider training to become a sheriff. In this role you will work to protect people and their properties at the local, state or even federal level, and you will receive training once hired, as long as you meet certain conditions. This position will allow you to be exposed to the world of law enforcement and gain experience that you can then apply to furthering your education or advancing to other positions within the field. Having a formal education to be considered for employment is not necessary, but it certainly would set you apart and act to your advantage, so look into what areas you should set your focus on.
Conditions and Training
In order to be eligible to apply to be a sheriff, you first and foremost need to be a US citizen over 21 years old. On top of that, it is required for you to have your high school diploma or equivalency to even be considered. Further post-secondary education is not mandatory, but it is always beneficial to first of all, be the most competitive and appealing candidate, and second of all, to be considered for advancement in your job or to change jobs for another law enforcement position. Having at least a 2 year associate's degree is highly recommended, since it will give you some preparation for the job to come, and it will also put you ahead of the pack. A criminal justice degree is the best area to focus your studies, and to add to your convenience, you can pursue your studies online at places like Kaplan University and Liberty University Online. A bachelor's degree would be even more impressive on your application and would open more doors for you. It would also put you at the top of the salary range, which is about $45,000-$69,000 of this very competitive field that isn't expected to increase by much compared to other careers in criminal justice. If you are accepted to be a sheriff, you will then be admitted to sheriff's training at one of their numerous academies, where you will undergo studies in basic law enforcement, criminal investigations, and apprehending suspects. They will provide all the necessary preparation to be ready for the job.
Job Duties
In this role, you will work to enforce all laws in your region, whether they be criminal, traffic or administrative regulations. You will be in charge of keeping the people and their possessions in your region safe and work to deter any potential crimes from being committed. You will also work on criminal investigations to help apprehend criminals, and you could be put in contact with other law enforcement agents for support. A sheriff basically has to maintain peace and order in his jurisdiction, so daily activities could take on the mundane act of speeding tickets to the dangerous extreme of looking for offenders.
Criminal Justice Degree |
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