| When looking into positions in law | | | | |
| enforcement and security, you will probably | | | | Corrections Officer |
| find that there are more options out there | | | | |
| than you believed. Some of these career | | | | Nearly as demanding as working as a Police |
| options require less training or more, of | | | | Officer is a career as Corrections officer. |
| course, or have higher or lower pay rates, | | | | Like Police Officers, Corrections Officers |
| and they all have their own set of advantages | | | | must go through a series of tests and |
| and disadvantages. Here, youll find an | | | | examinations to determine if they are fit for |
| overview of three law enforcement-related | | | | that particular career. While not as rigorous |
| careers: Police Officer, Corrections Officer, | | | | as the Police Officer application process, |
| and Security Officer. | | | | the Corrections Officer application process |
| | | | includes many of the same elements, such as a |
| Police Officer | | | | written examination, a health screening, and |
| | | | a background check. |
| Of the three law enforcement careers | | | | |
| discussed here, working as a Police Officer | | | | Though salaries in the Corrections field can |
| is generally the most demanding, as it | | | | go up past $70,000 annually (Supervisors |
| requires extensive training and an ability to | | | | Managers), most Corrections Officers earn |
| deal with tense and life-threatening | | | | less than a police officer. The median salary |
| situations. Unlike in the security and | | | | for a Corrections Officer or Jailer is |
| corrections sectors, Police Officers work | | | | $33,600 (2004). |
| throughout the city, adding an extra level of | | | | |
| risk to the position. | | | | Security Officer |
| | | | |
| Because of this, the recruitment process for | | | | Unlike Police or Corrections Officers, |
| new Police Officers in most U.S. cities is | | | | Security Officers or Guards generally work in |
| long and extensive. In L.A., for example, the | | | | the private sector for institutions such as |
| recruitment process involves 12 steps, | | | | banks and casinos, or in the public sector in |
| including background reviews, polygraphs, and | | | | public buildings, laboratories, etc. The |
| psychological, mental, and physical | | | | responsibilities of a Security Officer vary |
| evaluations. After the applications and | | | | greatly, as does the pay rate. A Security |
| recruitment process has completed, candidates | | | | Officers responsibilities range from patrol |
| are generally offered a recruitment training | | | | and inspection of people and property, to |
| program, which takes place before true | | | | theft and fire prevention, to interviewing |
| recruit training. | | | | witnesses. |
| | | | |
| Though Police Officers go through the most | | | | Unfortunately, as work as a Security Officer |
| rigorous examinations and training, there are | | | | requires less training than other law |
| some definite benefits to this career in | | | | enforcement careers, the pay is also lower. |
| comparison with other law enforcement | | | | Security Officers earn a median salary of |
| careers. For one, the pay is generally | | | | $22,900 annually. However, for those working |
| higher. New Police Officers (with 1-4 years | | | | in the private sector as Personal Security |
| on the police force) make a median salary of | | | | Specialists, that amount can go up to |
| $38,000. With five years on the force, the | | | | $36,000. |
| median salary rises to $44,000. | | | | |