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Demystifying background investigations: What you can expect when applying for a law enforcement job

While each department may conduct the background investigation a bit differently, there are many commonalities that apply to all criminal justice agencies

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While each department may conduct the background investigation a bit differently, there are many commonalities that apply to all criminal justice agencies.

Photo courtesy InPublicSafety

By Charles Russo, Professor of Criminal Justice at American Military University
InPublicSafety.com

For five years, I served as the background investigator at a county sheriff’s department. After that, I was hired by a municipal police department and was immediately assigned as their background investigator for the next three years before finally escaping the office to return to road patrol.

Frequently, job seekers would ask me the same questions time and time again and it became apparent to me that no one had really taken the time to explain the background investigation process to individuals applying for jobs in law enforcement and corrections. While each department may conduct the background investigation a bit differently, there are many commonalities that apply to all criminal justice agencies.

Step 1: The Application Process
First you must decide to submit an application for a sworn position with an agency. If your application is incomplete, you may receive a letter saying so, along with another application packet to complete. However, in some agencies, the application is logged as incomplete and you will never hear from that agency again.

Full Story: Demystifying the Background Investigation Process: What You Can Expect When Applying for a Law Enforcement Job

In Public Safety is an American Military University (AMU) sponsored blog that features analysis and commentary on issues relating to law enforcement, emergency management, fire services and national intelligence. This blog features in-depth discussions authored by leading experts with decades of experience in their field. To stay updated on blog posts and other news relevant to these sectors, please follow us on Facebook by “liking” AMU & APUS Public Safety Programs. You can also follow us on our sector-specific Twitter accounts: @AMUPoliceEd, @AMUFireEd, @AMUDisasterEd, @AMUIntelStudies

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