I’m looking for a good college that offers a legit criminal justice program and I don’t know where to start searching. everytime I try to search it on Google, it always comes up with online schools or else the colleges are jokes or scams. So any advice on where to go so I can fulfill my dream of becoming a ATF/FBI agent or private investigator?
John Jay in NY, Sam Houston State Univ in TX, but any Bachelor’s degree is sufficient for federal special agent positions (very few exceptions). CJ, Computer Science, Sociology, Accounting, or Psych may stand you in better stead for most positions. Those meeting the minimum requirements may not compare well to the best qualified applicants, and there are always more applicants than positions. The FBI likes lawyers and accountants, but they hire from various backgrounds, with at least 3 years of substantive employment (http://www.fbijobs.gov/). Any responsible employment is acceptable, but law enforcement may be beneficial. Other federal agency job announcements should be available at https://my.usajobs.gov/login.aspx.
The FBI in particular needs people capable of investigating major frauds and conspiracies involving numerous business and technical occupations and professions; whereas, local police are more oriented to street crime. Federal agents must be capable of understanding and communicating at a level above that usually expected from patrol officers. Federal agencies are looking for people who fit in at all social strata, and the expectations are greater with regard to preparation of reports and affidavits. In my experience, state and local officers have their affidavits written by prosecutors; whereas, federal agents write their own.
The FBI and NCIS have been Excepted Civil Service in the past, providing fewer civil service restrictions. Being a military officer may be advantageous, and military service normally provides veteran preference in the hiring process. However, enlisted service will not necessarily enhance one’s prospects. Being a practicing attorney or accountant would also place one in a good position. Forensic computer expertise is desirable in almost all agencies. Language capabilities are prized by all agencies.
You are more likely to be successful if you do not restrict yourself to one agency. Moreover, agents get hired from other agencies regularly. If you have proven yourself in another agency (particularly federal), you will have an advantage for FBI hiring. Being a police officer may be helpful, depending on personal performance and agency reputation.
I recommend that people major in psych and minor in CJ (even though I majored in CJ for a BS and PhD, with a Masters in management sponsored by Customs [on government time]). The academic specialization for a graduate degree is not necessarily important, but as I said, management was chosen by the agency I worked for.
GPA (above 3.5 is a plus), testing, physical fitness, work experience, possibly a polygraph, ability to communicate orally and in writing, and graduate degrees are what determine who gets hired. And, I repeat, there are always more applicants than there are positions.
There are numerous special agent positions (see list below, not all have full arrest, search, and seizure authority), in what was and I assume still is the 1811 job series (1810 are unarmed investigators without arrest authority). There are also law enforcement related positions in the Dept of Homeland Security and other agencies, such as inspector positions or Border Patrol agents, that could be open to those with 2 years of college or less. And, there are federal police officers within federal agencies (e.g., Dept of Veterans Affairs, Treasury, Federal Protective Service). Agencies:
ATF, Customs and Border Protection (uniform wearing: Border Patrol Agent, Inspectors [not full authority]), DEA, Dept of Def, Dept of State, Dept of Homeland Sec (ICE, TSA)
Dept of Labor, FBI, FDA, Fish & Wildlife (few positions, many applicants), Inspector General Offices within other departments and/or agencies, IRS, Secret Svc, Securities Exchange Commission, Each branch of the Armed Forces (some civilian some active duty)
Air Marshals work for the Dept of Homeland Sec, a very boring job (one who did the work likened it to the movie Groundhog Day). Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms (bombing, arson, felons with weapons) is in the Dept of Justice. The U.S. Marshals Service has two divisions, one is responsible for fugitive investigations, and has a grade structure similar other major federal agencies; and the other deals with federal court security and detainee security. Most federal agencies have Inspector General special agents with varying authorities. The State Dept also has special agents, as does IRS (they do tax evasion and money laundering, which is not as boring as it sounds). State Dept agents ride desks overseas, and do protective details (other than heads of state), visa and passport violations in the US. Apply at as many places as possible, and accept the first offer. Then, if that’s not where you want to be, keep applying to the agency you want.
California Coast University (CCU)