Why I Chose Criminal Justice Essay

There are three significant issues concerning law enforcement, namely enacting the law, police discretion, and assessment of criminal behavior. Different entities create and enact laws that are specific for the societies those laws represent.

My mother has always asked me what I wanted to be when I get older. For so many years I was not able not able to answer this question. She is not the only one that have asked me this question. I have found that this question has become to be common to many of us. On the other hand, after working for fifteen years as a security officer, I know exactly what I want to do with my life. I want to further my education and skills to pursue my career. I have chosen Criminal Justice as my choice of studies. I have already obtained an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice from Ashworth University. My intention is to continue to go to college and obtain a bachelor degree in this field and work hard in order to gain as much information as I can. I am a

When someone breaks into one's home, or hurts their friends or family, the first thing you think to do is call the police. Police are always there for everyone when they are in danger or when someone breaks the law, however many people today mistreat police officers and law enforcement workers. Over the years tensions have been growing between law enforcement officers and citizens. Some feel that officers don’t care about the people and use too much force, however this is usually a misconception or misunderstanding. Police officers are the most mistreated group of people in America. Police officers are mistreated in media, there is a lack of respect for police officers, and they deal with resistance from criminals.

Throughout my childhood I have lived in the same town, lived in the same tattered trailer, and have never truly known comfort in the financial sense. My family has always struggled. This is part of what has motivated me to at least do something with my life. I want my family to know that monetary comfort and that my children will be able to go to the college that they want to attend and have worked their butts off to get to and not worry about paying for it. This is why I decided to continue schooling after high school.

As I make my way through the college experience, it is crucial that I take advantage of all opportunities available to me, especially within my desired field. Therefore, as a criminal justice major I would be most interested in becoming involved in activities such as when Lt. Ross Dillingham visited a victimology class. Lieutenant Ross Dillingham had the students look through unsolved homicide cases and provide their input. The students were able to review autopsy reports, crime scene photographs, police reports, and witness accounts that allowed them to have firsthand experience with the criminal justice system. Considering my desired career choice, a homicide detective or a forensic analysis, an experience such as this one would greatly benefit me. I would be able to learn the importance of thorough investigation and the need for accurate police reports.

One would be hard pressed to argue that the criminal justice system in America is perfect. Everyday, countless headlines can be seen nationwide about some perceived injustice within the courts. Our criminal justice system is no different than our society wherein special people get special consideration, men and women are held to different standards, and so forth and so on. As an American, I have accepted these facts of life. I am a father of two boys, a varsity baseball coach and a police veteran of 17 years. In my experience as a father, coach and police veteran, I have seen and heard it all.

In Bryan Stevenson's book “Just Mercy”, he discussed how many people are put on death row. He is a real lawyer who had to deal with inmates who were put on death row even if they said they were innocent. It made him realize how bad our criminal justice system is. Injustice, racism, and socioeconomic statuses were the main huge reasons why some were executed. Wealthy, poor, having no criminal records or having a few; there will always be discrimination towards those who are black.

“You have two hands, one to help yourself, the second to help others.” (Audrey Hepburn) Ever since I was young I have felt the need to help others and do my part. That is why I chose to pursue the criminal defense field. Even though it will be a long process of paper work, court appearances, heartaches and headaches, after it all I will have the pleasure of knowing I was able to make a difference in somebody else’s life. Although the hours can be intimidating, being a criminal defense attorney will provide a steady income to raise a family on and would allow me to pursue my passion of helping the less fortunate.

Today our world is filled with crime. The people committing these crimes must have a consequence for their illegal actions. The system in place to keeping everything fair and safe is called the criminal justice system. This was put in place to ensure there is fairness and justice served to people who break the laws set up by the government.

The career I am going to be pursuing is criminal justice. I am going to apply for the border patrol, an opportunity that one of my fellow law enforcement officials has pointed out to me. As far as my interest in the career, I have had an interest in becoming a police officer for a long time. This has been my career interest since I was eight, thanks to my cousin who is now a detective for Minnesota. My target goal is to one day become a detective for the Detroit or for the Federal Government. This career is not only the career that I have passion for but I feel myself exceeding in the field.

Crime is defined as an act or omission that the law makes punishable. There are different ways in dealing with crime. One, our current system, is the criminal justice approach. Also known as retributive justice, this system is more offender directed than anything else. The other system, which many people think is better, is the community justice, or restorative approach. The restorative approach is much more victim oriented. There is a debate over which system should be used to deal with crime. The two differ in many ways.

Rather, I have learned from my mistakes and any bad decisions I’ve made over the years and expanding my knowledge of the consequences to bad decision making. This is the point in my life that defined me as an individual. Through experience, I’ve learned the best route is the truthful one, no matter how difficult telling the truth made if for me. After high school I started Jr. College and began majoring in Criminal Justice. But, I did not complete school to obtain my degree. In time, I joined the United States Marine Corps. There they help enhanced my decision making skills, leadership abilities, and helped me grow as a man. After serving on active duty I worked in the corporate world and joined the Marine Corp reserves. It wasn’t until after a few deployments to Iraq I decided to finally get focused on my career in law enforcement by attending the Hillsborough Community College Police Academy and continuing my education there by working on my A.A.S. Degree in Criminal Justice there as well. I do plan on expanding on that by getting a Bachelor’s degree at U.S.F.

Before going into college to study Criminal Justice, I had the same opinion as most people had when it came to criminals or deviant behavior. The classic “if you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime,” phrase was mentioned many times throughout my youth, whether it be for something as simple as an explanation for grounding me or to explain why doing the wrong things will give you a one-way ticket to prison. My life was surrounded by crime. I managed to separate myself from the “wrong-doers” with the help of my mother, but I still spent most of my life around law enforcement. To me, police officers were always the ones doing everything right. In my mind, if someone died at the hands of a police officer it was probably their fault, if they were beaten they deserved it, the police were only doing what they had to do to make our communities a safer place.

or she did not nee to record it. If the Government do succeed in the

My ambition has always been to work in Criminology. I am applying for this course as crime, criminal justice, law and the psychology behind why people commit crimes has interested me since early childhood. Working within criminology requires a wide range of skills that include dedication, reliability, concentration and the ability to remain professional and I believe that I posses these skills.