Federal Law Enforcement Careers: Laying the Groundwork

Students studying criminal justice are often interested in careers in federal law enforcement; however, many students are unaware of the wide array of opportunities at the federal level and the requirements for various law enforcement positions. Further, an increasing number of faculty in criminal justice and criminology do not have a background in law enforcement sufficient to advise students on federal law enforcement job opportunities. The present work addresses that concern, in part, through examination of the various opportunities and qualification requirements for federal law enforcement jobs. A particular emphasis is placed on Series 1811 Criminal Investigator positions, and a cursory examination of federal‐level careers in forensic science and profiling is offered.