Police Officer
The Houston Police Department (HPD) has a continuous need for dedicated police officers to join their force. All candidates for employment on the HPD are required to complete the Police Trainee Program before they are assigned to the police force. These individuals will be responsible for patrolling the streets, investigating and solving crimes and protecting the citizens of Houston.
To qualify for the HPD Police Training Program, a candidate must have at least 60 credit hours of college education or two years of military service; he or she must be between the ages of 21 and 44 and pass all background and physical ability checks; he or she must be a U.S. citizen with a valid driver’s license and and must have no felony or misdemeanor convictions. The average starting salary for an officer on the HPD is $31,000 per year, plus overtime. In addition, health and dental insurance, paid vacation and retirement options are available to employees.
Attorney
Every individual who is accused of a crime has the right to legal representation; in addition, the government must provide a prosecuting attorney to argue its side of the case. Criminal defense attorneys have the option to work as sole practitioners, or they may work for a larger law firm; while prosecutors are employed by either the state of Texas or the Texas branch of the United States Attorney’s Office. Both sides present their cases, with the prosecution attempting to prove that the accused is guilty; while the defense attorney is responsible for putting reasonable doubt into the minds of the jurors.
In order to practice law in Texas, an individual must earn a Juris Doctor from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association; receive a passing score on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination; and also receive a passing score on the Texas Bar Examination. According to the Texas Workforce Wage Information Network, a Texas attorney can expect to earn an average of $109,000.
FBI Special Agent
Prospective criminal justice professionals who are interested in pursuing a career involving federal crimes have the opportunity to work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Houston office. Similar to the role of the police officer, FBI Special Agents investigate and solve crimes while protecting the citizens of our nation. However, FBI Special Agents specialize in crimes which violate federal laws such as kidnapping, organized crime, terrorism, bank robbery and white collar crime. Agents may participate in special undercover operations that sometimes take years to produce results.
In order to become a Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or FBI, a candidate must: be a U.S. citizen between the ages of 23 and 37; hold a four-year degree from an accredited university; have at least three years of professional work experience; qualify for one of the FBI’s five specialty programs; and pass all physical tests and background screens. Candidates must then successfully complete the FBI Training Program at Quantico. As of 2010, the average base salary for an FBI Special Agent was $43,000 per year, plus increases for overtime hours and location bonuses for those who are assigned to a high-cost office such as New York or Washington, D.C.
Reference
City of Houston: City of Houston eGovernment Center [http://www.houstontx.gov/police/careers.htm]
The Bureau of Labor Statistics: Laywers [http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos053.htmhttp://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos053.htm]
Federal Bureau of Investigation: Houston [http://www.fbijobs.gov/11.asp]
Texas Workforce: Wage Information Network [http://www.texasindustryprofiles.com/apps/win/eds.php?geocode=4801000048&indclass;=1&indcode;=000000&occcode;=23-1011&compare;=2]
