Career With Criminal Justice

A career within the criminal justice field that I find interesting and would like to pursue would be a career as a deputy within the United States Marshal Service. The primary responsibilities and duties of a deputy U.S. marshal include providing protective services for judicial officers such as judges, attorneys and jurors; transporting prisoners ; conducting fugitive investigations such as locating and apprehending wanted criminals; tactical operations including special missions involving homeland security or national emergencies; asset forfeiture which consist of managing and disposing of seized and forfeited properties acquired by criminals through illegal activities; and witness security which includes ensuring the safety of witnesses who are testifying for the government in cases involving organized crime and other significant criminal activities. The work of a deputy U.S. marshal often involves dangerous situations and can be stressful as they may be subject to witness accidents and deaths. Although most marshals usually work a 40 hour work week, they must be available at any time on call in the case of an emergency situation which may also put a strain on their personal lives. U.S. marshals also travel frequently and may work indoors or outdoors in many different climates and locations.

Training to become a U.S. marshal consists of a 17 ½ week long academy program that includes training such as defensive tactics, firearms training, physical conditioning, computer training, search and seizure, officer survival, prisoner search and restraint, first aid, as well as various other physical and classroom training and exams . Prior to attending the academy applicants are strongly advised to be in top physical condition. Due to the vigorous physical training of the program applicants are required to pass a physical fitness test given by the United States Marshal Service personnel. This test must be successfully passed within six months prior to attending the academy.

To qualify to become a deputy U.S. marshal, an applicant must be a U.S. citizen. They must also be between the ages of 21 and 36. Applicants must also have either a bachelor’s degree or three years of qualifying work experience or a combination of the both. Qualifying experience includes specialized work, at least one year, demonstrating the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform duties of the position. They must also have experience dealing tactfully with associates, subordinates, the public and prisoners; planning and carrying out criminal investigations, making arrests, serving court orders, executing warrants, preparing reports, and using firearms. Additionally they must have experience in utilizing knowledge of the law and court proceedings as they relate to search and seizure matters.

            Compensation for entry level deputies is based on a pay scale which varies due to geographic location which employed. However, on average, the annual salary for entry level deputies ranges between $38,511 and $48,708. In general, individuals are eligible for promotion after one year. The employment outlook for U.S. marshals is expected to grow 10 percent which about the average growth of any job. This field is highly competitive and selection is vigorous so advanced education and experience is important. Some benefits of being a U.S. marshal include the diversity in the job duties, opportunities to travel, job security, and benefits that come along with the position. Some disadvantages however may include the strenuous working conditions, emotional distress, and disruption of their personal life.

            In order to achieve this career goal I will need to focus on obtaining more education in order to work towards getting a bachelor’s degree. I will also need to work on physical conditioning and getting into better overall shape in order to past the pre-academy physical test. I will need to obtain more experience so I will try to obtain a position where I will be able to learn and practice utilizing some of the skills needed to be a marshal such as preparing documents, dealing with the public and performing some form of investigations. I would like to take a few courses to gain knowledge of the law and court proceedings. I would also like to receive some more firearms training and possibly obtain a license. Some potential contacts and resources I could utilize in order to maintain more information about this career would be the U.S. Marshal Service recruiter and also the official U.S. Marshals website. The website has plenty of valuable information including how to apply, qualifications needed, compensation information and more. Any other questions I may have can be answered by the U.S. Marshals Service recruiter who is always readily available.


Cesar Fernandez

Assessing My Abilities and Interests

   When assessing my abilities and interests I noticed there was a common theme which actually helped me realize and understand my main career goal. Although I am focused on finding a career that allows me to help my community and gain more knowledge and expertise, my ultimate goal, in all honesty, is find a career that allows me to be financially comfortable. Many might think this to be selfish and materialistic, but there are reasons why I am so focused on obtaining this goal. I grew up in a low income family and throughout my life I’ve always had to struggle financially. Where other kids dream of becoming an artist or doctor one day, my goals have always been a little different. Out of financial struggle and lack of stability growing up, my dream was just to make sure that one day I would not have to worry about money. I dreamed of being able to provide for my family, having a decent home, putting my kids through school, all while not having to live a paycheck to paycheck lifestyle. I would like to find a career that challenges me and provides me with knowledge gain, but my real satisfaction will come from knowing that I am providing a better lifestyle for myself and my family.

     Now when it comes to the importance of finding a job that matches your abilities and interest and values, I do believe that this is true to some extent. While you should focus on finding a career that will eventually lead to your ultimate goal and satisfy your values, I do believe sometimes you may have to put your personal values and interests aside, at least  temporarily, while you gain the knowledge and experience in order to advance. For example, with myself, I would like to one day obtain a high ranking position within the police department. This position will allow me to fulfill my two most important personal and work values which are to help others and to obtain financial stability. However, I understand that as a stepping stone to get to that position I must first enter the force as a lower ranking officer and therefore take a salary that may cause me to struggle for some time. Although this will be challenging and a bit frustrating, I know I need to do this in order to gain the training and experience I will one day need if I plan on advancing within that career. It is a sacrifice I would need to make temporarily but I know it will pay off in the end.

After assessing my abilities and values and outlining all the things I am looking for in a career, I now understand what my ultimate goal is and what I need to obtain that goal. Whether your goal is to be the boss one day,  help save lives or to just plain get a paycheck, a goal is a goal and as long as you work hard and take the necessary steps to achieve that goal, there’s no way you won’t find true job satisfaction.Cesar Fernandez

Networking

Networking is one of the best ways to gain an advantage when it comes to job seeking but it does also give people a better understanding of the world around them. One thing you can do is to look up clubs at Kingsborough. You can meet other people that are passionate about the subject you like, for example the Film Club. Meeting other students in this club and professors can lead to being more informed. Possible connections to the industry can open up, for example, a fellow student that knows about filming equipments and can give you tips on how to maximize the use of the equipments. Professor might have friends in this profession and can help you out in talking to them about internships or insightful pointers. By the end you will get a clear view in how things work if not informed.

Another way to network is by talking to your counselors, in my experience it has help me a lot when it came to knowing more about my academic outlook and how to get to where I want to be. By talking to counselors they can give you a better sense of where to go. If it be school related, career and jobs/internships related information. Even if there are no jobs available at the school you can leave them your information and they will call you when things open up.

One last source of networking is with your class professor. In my experience in every level of school, knowing your professor is a plus. By talking to your professor more and asking for help can lead to a better understanding of the class work. If the class relates to the career you see yourself in the professor might help give you more information of the career and what it takes to make it. In the end putting your name and presence out their even if you think is not much can it can lead to opportunities that otherwise might not have happen if you did not put yourself on the map. Knowing people is always a plus even if there is nothing to gain from them.

- T.L. Acevedo

Resume Tips

To make a good resume the one thing you should always do is know who you are on paper. List your name in bold letters, put down your current address, phone number you are more accessible to and a professional email address that bares your name only. Write down your current school and if still attending post your graduation date. Put down your past employment in chronological order and task given in your former job, make sure to put down correct work experience information as the employer might background check it and if any information is not correct it will look bad and make your prospect of getting the job lower.

 
Put down skills that suits the job you’re currently looking for if set skills you indeed have. Everything in your resume should fit what you think the employer is looking for as best as possible. Write down everything you did in your past jobs even if it was minimal and unimportant in your mind. Cover letter might not be needed but some employer might require you to write one. Check for any minor mistakes and keep things simple, while flashiness might get the employer to glance at your resume, they might see it in a negative way.

- T.L. Acevedo

Career Path

Choosing a career is not a simple task. When choosing a career you are choosing what you see yourself doing in the future, for me this task was not as simple as I thought it was. Before you decide what to choose make sure you figure yourself out first. Find what you put your priorities at, for example I value creative and artistic freedom. Some might value financial gains more and seek a career where pay is higher. In my path to choosing a career I looked at what I enjoy and am passionate about, this is how I came to the conclusion to seek a career in the video game industry, where my value of being creative and artistic is met. After choosing your career of choice its best to seek other careers that interest you, it is never a bad thing to seek other potential career paths as there is always the chance of you changing your mind at any curtain point in the process.

I made sure to look up information on my career of choice and how to get there. Make sure to look up what degrees you need, skills, low level positions before reaching the job title you want to settle in, always dig up information related to your chosen career because you assuring yourself that this are what you want to do. One way to look up info is to search companies related to the career, research them and even call them to ask questions. One final advice is to make sure that you’re not choosing just for the sake of wanting to get it over with since this is your future, if you are struggling to decide it is helpful to talk to others like you family members or school counselors, even fellow students. They will help out by giving helpful advice that makes you see what your values are at, what schools are best for you and even possible internships or entry jobs.

- T.L. Acevedo

Job Research

           In about five years from now I expect to be either an FBI agent or a professional baseball player. Since this is a student development class based on criminal justice, then I’ll talk about the FBI. The qualifications for being an FBI agent are that you have to be a U.S citizen. You need to be between the ages of twenty-three and thirty-seven by the time I get an appointment. You need to have a four-year degree from a college or university in the United States. There are five entry programs. Those entry programs are accounting, computer science/information technology, language, law and diversified. After qualifying for one of the following five entry programs you have to have one or more of the following critical skills: accounting, finance, computer science/information technology expertise, engineering expertise, foreign language proficiency, intelligence experience, law experience, law enforcement or other investigative experience, military experience, physical science expertise, diversified experience, or tactical operations/special forces. After you have qualified officially you would have a series of four tests. A physical test, a vision test, a hearing test, and a medical review. For the physical test, you will be required to do a maximum amount of sit-ups in one minute, run a timed 300-meter sprint, do a maximum amount of push-ups, it is not timed, and a timed one and a half mile run. For the vision test you are not allowed to have a vision worst then 20/200 and if you have corrected eyes you are allowed to have 20/20 in one eye and up to 20/40 in the other. For the hearing test you will be required to have average hearing loss of 25 decibels (ANSI) at 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hertz, single reading of 35 decibels at 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hertz, a single reading of 35 decibels at 500 Hertz
and a single reading of 45 decibels at 4000 Hertz. You will be required to give in your medical history for review.

            In order to be accepted into the FBI you cannot have a criminal record. You cannot be a former serial killer. Also, you cannot be a drug abuser. An FBI agent does not have a typical work day. Their work for the day is based on their investigation. Working for the FBI is a big risk. They deal with criminals. Not misdemeanors, they deal with demented killers, terrorist and sociopaths. Your salary depends on your position. If you’re a trainee, you earn a salary of $51,043 annually. If you’re a newly assigned special agent, you earn from $61,100 to $69,900. Also, you might earn a one time relocation bonus of $22,000 to offset the high cost of living in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Washington D.C., Boston and Newark. Advanced super agents in non supervisory assignments earn a base salary of as much as $93,175. Advanced super agents that are in supervisory, management, and executive leadership positions earn a base salary of as much as $129,517.  The way you move up in the FBI is the same any other job. If there is an opening and based on the quality of your work and efforts. The advantages of being an FBI agent are that you’re a federal employee. Also, you get benefits for the government and you’re on the right side of the law. Also, now you can make a difference in the nation by putting criminals away. The only disadvantage is that you are putting your life at risk. The “globalness” of the industry is not really there. I mean they are known around the world but they do not go out of the united stated. Five actions I plan to take in order to become an FBI agent are 1. I plan to graduate out of a four-year college not sure which one yet, 2. I plan to work for the NYPD and become a detective there, 3. I plan to work out and be in great physical shape, 4. I plan to get Lasik eye surgery so my vision is corrected and 5. Simply apply to the FBI. 

Samuel Castro

The World of Speech Pathology

Speech With Milo Nouns App Uses iPad Mirror as Children’s Learning Tool

Submitted by admin on 11/14/2012 @ 8:05 AM

Companies mentioned in this article: Speech With Milo

SAN FRANCISCO -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Teaching kids language skills can be challenging and frustrating for parents, teachers, and speech therapists alike. But the latest entrant to a suite of entertaining and educational speech therapy apps created by Doonan Speech Therapy may hold the key to getting youngsters interested and engaged in learning language.

The Speech With Milo “nouns” app will launch in conjunction with this week's ASHA conference in Atlanta, Georgia, and will become the tenth app in the Speech With Milo platform, joining apps that help kids learn verbs, prepositions, and adjectives, as well as an articulation board game and interactive storybook. The Speech With Milo family of apps has more than 150,000 collective downloads.

The app also supports a first of its kind front-facing camera app, which allows children to see themselves in the “iPad Mirror.” This mirror technology will be utilized on iPads 2, 3, and 4, as well as on the iPad mini. The iPad 1 will feature images and audio only, allowing children to see pictures of Milo with the stated noun, as well as record their own voice. The technology for iPhone 5 is pending.

The Speech With Milo app suite was designed by Poorani Doonan, founder of Speech with Milo and a licensed speech-language pathologist based in San Ramon, California. She created the apps because she found that while children responded to the iPad, there was a real need for basic language building apps.

“As a therapist, the one thing I’ve learned is that kids love to see themselves,” explained Doonan. “A mirror is a great tool in therapy! Now, with this new camera app, children can see themselves as they learn. They are surrounded by the colorful world of Speech with Milo.”

“Specialized apps tend to be extremely expensive and not necessarily friendly to non-professionals,” Doonan added. “We wanted to make an app that any parent could pick up and build basic language skills with their children.”

One speech therapy professional who tested the app shared her impressions of it: “It is a lot easier to get kids to say ‘chicken’ when they look like they are in a chicken suit. You can record a video of children saying each and every word on camera—then play it back with them or share it with friends and parents.”

The app will officially make its debut at the 2012 ASHA Conference in Atlanta on November 15^th, giving thousands of speech pathologists the ability to receive an in-depth demo from the Doonan Speech Therapy founders.

About Speech With Milo Nouns App

Developed by speech-language pathologist Poorani Doonan of Doonan Speech Therapy, Speech With Milo “nouns” is an interactive iPad, iPhone, and iTouch app that can help children stay more focused, attentive, and entertained while learning about noun usage and building their language skills. Unlike other speech therapy apps, Speech With Milo “nouns” features an original front-facing camera app, which is the first of its kind. The technology allows children to see themselves in the “iPad Mirror,” facilitating their learning experience. Speech With Milo “nouns” is part of an educational platform of 10 Speech With Milo apps that provide parents, teachers, and speech-language pathologists with engaging, fun, and affordable tools to help children develop basic language building skills.

Copyright © Business Wire 2012

Contact:

talkTECH Communications
Kristen Tischhauser, 310-994-6441
Kristen@talkTECHcomm.com

By Ashley Sagiv