| There are few jobs in the world as rewarding as | | | | walls with potentially dangerous criminals. A lot of |
| a career in the criminal justice field. I remember | | | | time the Corrections Officer wears many hats. |
| when I first started. I was full of ideas and an | | | | Counselor, disciplinarian, first responder, detective, |
| attitude on how I was "going to change the | | | | manager, and secretary. There are so many |
| world". I may have not changed the world, but I | | | | tasks for a Corrections Officer to complete and |
| know that I have left a lasting impression on | | | | at the same time be aware of his surroundings |
| some misguided individuals. Before you decide to | | | | with security on his mind the whole time. |
| become involved with criminal justice I will go over | | | | Dispatcher The dispatcher's job can be very |
| some details of a few of the most common fields | | | | stressful. It is more than just answering phone |
| and from my observations from working in the | | | | calls. A dispatcher must be able to communicate |
| profession. Deputy/Police Officer The up side of | | | | specific information to police, fire, and EMS. Most |
| this career is that you come in contact with all | | | | often at the same time, and answer the phones! |
| kinds of people, and have the opportunity to | | | | Accurate and fast typing skills are a must in this |
| impact their lives in a positive way. You also have | | | | profession. With the use of CAD (computer aided |
| a chance to bring criminals to justice that need to | | | | dispatching) it has helped the dispatcher organize |
| be off the streets. That is not the whole thing | | | | the process much easier, but in a crisis dispatching |
| though. You can get involved with different | | | | can turn from organized chaos to a disaster if |
| aspects of the job such as being a school liaison | | | | everyone is not on the same page. Court Bailiff |
| officer, field training officer, swat, administration, | | | | The bailiff has to ensure the security of the court |
| K-9, detective, academy instructor, and any other | | | | room Many of you have seen on T.V. a bailiff just |
| duty your department has to offer. On T.V. they | | | | stand around and does not do a whole lot. That is |
| glamorize the cop catching the big crook or | | | | good. Imagine an angered family member in the |
| solving a crime with high tech. gear. All you have | | | | courtroom pulling out a gun to take out his |
| to do is stop a drunk driver from killing a family | | | | revenge on the defendant who assaulted or killed |
| to be a hero in my opinion. Corrections Officer A | | | | his family member. It has happened. The bailiff is |
| Corrections Officer is person that works inside a | | | | always scanning the courtroom looking for a |
| jail or prison. They are responsible for the | | | | potential problem. This has been just an |
| inmate's well being and the security of the facility. | | | | introduction to the series that will follow. In future |
| These are the unsung heroes of our correctional | | | | articles I will analyze each of the above careers a |
| facilities. Everyday they are locked behind the | | | | little closer. |