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Criminal Justice

What are some of the career advancement opportunities in criminal justice?

Discover a World of Career Advancement in Criminal Justice

What are some of the career advancement opportunities in criminal justice? As it relates to the law enforcement community, you know, there are several career advancement opportunities. It just all depends on what department you're in and what size of that department it is. You know, typically you'll start out as a patrol officer, then you can advance up into be a detective, where you're not patrolling the roads, you're actually doing criminal investigations. Or you could get into a specialty unit like SWAT or negotiations. Or you could get into the homicide unit or crimes against women or crimes against children or the robbery squad. You know, there are a lot of different specialized units that, again, depends on the size and type of the agency that you're with. And then you can get up into supervision if you want to put on that leadership role and that leadership hat. Every department you can advance your way up into sergeant, lieutenant, captain, major, however the structure is broken up. So there are a lot of different avenues. I mean, if you're in a harbor town, you know, maybe there's a marine patrol or there's an aviation patrol if you're a pilot. The big thing now we're seeing are drones. Agencies are setting up their own units and getting officers who are drone certified that they can use those. It just all depends on what your niche is, what you would like to get into, what really drives you and gives you purpose. And then you just need to set a goal and say, this is where I want to go, this is where I want to work, and figure out what you need to do to accomplish that.

There are many career advancement opportunities in criminal justice, such as advancing from patrol officer to detective or to a specialized unit like SWAT or negotiations. You can also advance up into supervision, such as sergeant, lieutenant, captain, major etc. depending on the department. It all depends on what your niche is and setting a goal of where you want to be.

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Career advancement opportunities in criminal justice vary depending on the department and its size. In the law enforcement community, starting as a patrol officer is common, followed by potential advancement to becoming a detective involved in criminal investigations. There are also specialized units like SWAT, negotiations, homicide, crimes against women or children, and the robbery squad. The availability of these units depends on the agency's size and type. Another path is moving into a supervisory role, such as sergeant, lieutenant, captain, or major, depending on the department's structure. Specialized units may exist for marine patrol or aviation patrol for those interested in harbor towns or piloting. Moreover, the emergence of drones has opened up opportunities for officers certified in drone operation. Ultimately, finding one's niche and setting specific goals is essential to determine the desired career path within criminal justice.

Hi Donald! Tell people about your background, expertise, and how you can help.

Former ATF Agent and FBI National Academy Graduate Offers Expertise in Ballistics and Security

Hello everybody. Don Serrano here and I was asked to introduce myself so here we go. I spent 26 years as a special agent with the Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco firearms and explosives. ATF during my time there I focused most of my time on Firearms investigations but I was also assigned to the FBI for several years to work on some terrorism cases. Well, at ATF actually was chosen. To attend the FBI National Academy? Shout out to all my session 242 classmates. The National Academy is 11-week leadership development training program. While I was there, I was actually recruited to come back and be a leadership fellow for the next year. I taught leadership to three different na sessions to State local and international law enforcement officers. When I retired from ATF in 2016, I went to work for the Of energy. Overseeing their security here in the Washington DC area where I helped streamline their investigative protocols and enhance their overall security postures left, the department of energy, and I'm working for the current company evidence IQ where we provide law enforcement agencies. Immediate actionable intelligence regarding the ballistics evidence that they recover from shooting scenes. I also have a consulting company Called Suk Ariza Consulting where I help small businesses, look at their security posture and provide them any investigative needs that they may have to say that. I am honored to be a part of any question is a huge understatement. I'm really looking to be able to take my 30-plus years of investigative experience and pass that knowledge along as others have passed along to meet. So I really look forward to hearing your questions.

I am Don Serrano and I was an ATF special agent for 26 years. During that time, I was chosen to attend the FBI National Academy and was later recruited to be a leadership fellow. After retiring from ATF, I worked for the Department of Energy overseeing security and now I work for Evidence IQ providing law enforcement agencies with actionable intelligence regarding ballistics evidence. I also have a consulting company called Suk Ariza Consulting which helps small businesses look at their security posture and provides them with investigative needs.

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Hello everyone, I'm Don Serrano. I have a background of 26 years as a special agent with the Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). During my time at ATF, I primarily focused on firearms investigations, but I also worked on terrorism cases while assigned to the FBI for several years. I had the opportunity to attend the FBI National Academy, a prestigious 11-week leadership development training program. After completing the program, I was recruited to return as a leadership fellow and taught leadership to law enforcement officers from various backgrounds.

Upon retiring from ATF in 2016, I joined the Department of Energy, where I oversaw security in the Washington DC area. During my time there, I streamlined investigative protocols and improved overall security measures. Currently, I work for Evidence IQ, a company that provides law enforcement agencies with immediate actionable intelligence related to ballistics evidence recovered from shooting scenes.

In addition, I run my own consulting company called Suk Ariza Consulting. Through this venture, I assist small businesses in evaluating their security posture and provide investigative support as needed.

I am truly honored to be part of any discussion or answer any questions. With over 30 years of investigative experience, I am eager to share my knowledge and learn from others. I look forward to hearing your questions.

What are three things you do to be productive?

To-do lists, priorities, and self-care: the keys to productivity

What are three things you do to be productive? Well, I'd say one of the first things I do is I make a to-do list. So at the end of the day, I mark down what I need to work on for tomorrow. And then when I get up in the morning and start working on that list, I make sure nothing is coming in overnight that I need to immediately work on. But I try to focus on those items that are on that to-do list that I can knock off relatively quick and get them off the list. Second thing I really try to do is stay focused on the priorities that I have. As other things come in, don't get sidetracked by, oh, this will only take ten minutes to do or this will only take an hour to do. Let me jump on that and knock it out of the way. Because that's going to sidetrack me from my initial tasks. And then this little one and then another little one is going to add in. And before you know it, your to-do list is done and you've screwed it all up. And then the third thing I like to do is take time for myself. Make sure that I step away and, you know, step away from the computer, go for a walk, go get a coffee, splash cold water on my face to make sure that you can re-center and get that restart if you need to in the middle of the day. And those are the things that I've come across and that I use to keep me on track and keep me most productive.

To stay productive, I make a to-do list and stick to it, stay focused on priorities and take time for myself by stepping away from the computer and doing something like going for a walk or getting a coffee.

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To be productive, I follow three key practices. Firstly, I create a to-do list at the end of each day, outlining the tasks I need to tackle the next day. In the morning, I prioritize these items and ensure there are no urgent tasks that came in overnight. I focus on completing the quick wins first to clear them off the list.

Secondly, I stay committed to my priorities. I avoid getting sidetracked by smaller tasks that may seem quick to complete but can derail my progress. By staying focused on my initial tasks, I prevent the accumulation of additional distractions that can disrupt my workflow.

Lastly, I make sure to take breaks and carve out time for myself. Stepping away from the computer, going for a walk, grabbing a coffee, or even splashing cold water on my face helps me re-center and recharge. These moments of pause allow me to reset and maintain productivity throughout the day.

By implementing these practices, I have found that I can stay on track and maximize my productivity.

What qualifications or skills are necessary to be successful in this field?

Communication, empathy, and composure: Key skills for success in this field

What qualifications or skills are necessary to be successful in this field? Well, there are several. One, of course, is communication. You have to be able to communicate with your partners, with individuals that you're speaking with, with your superiors. You gotta be able to, it's not just verbal communication. It's written communication. It's nonverbal communication. But I also think something that may be overlooked a lot is the skills of empathy, the skills of compassion, the skills of being able to relate to others. Because you're being called when somebody's at their worst. And you need to be able to empathize with them and sympathize with them and show compassion. You also have to have the skill of remaining your composure, you know, holding in your anger. If something terrible happens to a young child and you show up, you have to hold that anger back and that you may just wanna scream, but right then you can't. So there's a lot of skills that you need to have to be able to control and to be able to use in this profession. And a lot of those, on top of the defensive tactics and shooting and driving, all that is highly important. But some of the quote unquote soft skills, even though I don't like that term, soft skills, because those are just as important or even more important than some of the other ones. Because being able to communicate effectively can save your life, can save somebody else's lives. So that is very important. So being able to just relate to others, all these different things. Think outside the box of something that you can use to be able to make you a better person.

To be successful in this field, one must have excellent communication skills, empathy, compassion, composure, and the ability to think outside the box. Additionally, defensive tactics, shooting, and driving are all important skills to possess.

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To be successful in this field, there are several qualifications and skills that are necessary. Communication is essential, including verbal, written, and nonverbal communication. However, often overlooked are the skills of empathy and compassion. The ability to relate to others is crucial, especially when dealing with individuals who may be at their worst. Remaining composed and controlling one's emotions is also vital, even in challenging situations. Defensive tactics, shooting, and driving skills are important, but so-called soft skills play a significant role as well. Effective communication can save lives, making it just as important or even more important than other technical skills. Thinking outside the box and continuously improving oneself are additional qualities that can contribute to success in this field.

What are the main responsibilities of a criminal justice professional, and how do you prioritize them?

Prioritizing Responsibilities: Upholding the Law and Integrity

What are the main responsibilities of a criminal justice professional and how do you prioritize them? I would say in the criminal justice world there are several responsibilities that you may have to take into account. First and foremost is uphold the law. That's what our job is. We're out there to enforce the law, you know, ensure individuals aren't breaking it. Now you're not going to enforce every little statute because, you know, you just can't go around arresting everybody or writing everybody a ticket. But we're also there to serve. And you know, one thing that we always have to do, one thing I've always lived myself by and the priorities I have is do the right thing. You know, it's like the definition of integrity, do the right thing, especially when nobody is looking. So the priorities that we have to set up is making sure that we are holding ourself up to the highest standard that we can. Because right now in the criminal justice community, in the law enforcement arena, you know, there's a lot of stigma around what we're doing. Everything's being videotaped and every little misstep or every little thing that we do that's considered wrong is compounded. So first priority you have to have is do the right thing. Hold yourself to an extremely high standard. Don't get wrapped up in any of the political nonsense or the social media issues. You know, focus on doing your job, doing what you need to do. And actually the number one priority in the law enforcement community, make it home safe each night. That's your number one priority. You need to go out and do your job, but it's all for naught that if you don't make it home safe at the end of the night.

The main responsibility of a criminal justice professional is to uphold the law and serve their community. Additionally, they should prioritize doing the right thing, holding themselves to a high standard, and making it home safe each night.

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The main responsibilities of a criminal justice professional include upholding the law, serving the community, and doing the right thing. Upholding the law is a primary duty, but it doesn't mean enforcing every statute. Serving the community and maintaining integrity are crucial priorities. It's important to set high standards for oneself and prioritize doing what is right, even when nobody is watching. With the current climate surrounding law enforcement, it's essential to focus on the job at hand and not get caught up in political or social media distractions. Additionally, ensuring personal safety is the number one priority in the law enforcement community. While performing one's duties, making it home safely at the end of each night is paramount.

Was there ever a situation that you look back on that almost claimed your life?

Close Call: ATF Agent's Life Saved by Intuition and a Bulletproof Vest

Was there ever a situation that you look back on that almost claimed your life? Yes, when I was an agent with ATF in Detroit, we had just executed a search warrant on a house Along with an arrest warrant looking for an individual and we knew he was in there Searched around could not find him. So he figured maybe he escaped So being the newer agent, they sent me and my partner upstairs to start searching and it was extremely hot so the first mistake I made was I took my bulletproof vest off and We're searching around the room and I'm searching in a closet and I'm pulling Looking for mail and photos and evidence and anything Well, I get done with the closet and I turn around and a voice inside my head said Don check the closet again. I Stopped dead in my tracks the hair in the back of my neck went up. I turned around Drew my gun drew my flashlight went back into the closet and I missed in the corner. There was a little cutout Looked inside there saw a hand. I'm like, oh shit. I Got a body up here well until the hand starts to move I Draw down my pistol on the hand where the body would be. I start squeezing the trigger as I'm yelling commands to him Individual doesn't stop I can actually see the trigger or excuse me the hammer coming back on my six-hour I say screw this step out of the closet end up Calling my partner over and up getting the individual out and he said that when I Was in the closet searching he had the handgun which we found in there up against the plaster wall and he was gonna shoot me But he knew there was somebody else out there and he'd have to jump out of the third floor To get away. So the story is never ever ever take your bulletproof vest off

I almost lost my life when searching a house with the ATF. I had taken off my bulletproof vest and was searching in a closet when I heard a voice inside my head telling me to check it again. When I did, I found an individual with a handgun, ready to shoot me. I nearly pulled the trigger but luckily my partner was nearby, allowing us to safely apprehend the suspect.

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Yes, there was a situation that I look back on that almost claimed my life. During my time as an agent with ATF in Detroit, we executed a search warrant on a house, looking for an individual with an arrest warrant. We couldn't find him initially, so my partner and I were sent upstairs to continue searching.

It was extremely hot, and in a mistake, I took off my bulletproof vest. As we searched the room, I had a feeling to check the closet again. Something inside me made me stop and turn around. I drew my gun and flashlight, went back into the closet, and noticed a hand in a little cutout corner. I realized there was a person hiding there.

I aimed my pistol at the hand and started giving commands, but the individual didn't stop. I could see the hammer coming back on my firearm. In that moment, I decided to step out of the closet and call my partner over. We were able to apprehend the individual, who later revealed that he had a handgun against the plaster wall and had intended to shoot me. However, he knew there was someone else outside, and escaping would have required jumping from the third floor.

This experience taught me a valuable lesson: never, ever take off your bulletproof vest. It's a reminder of the importance of personal safety and being prepared for any situation.

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Donald Soranno is a retired special agent with 30+ yrs of experience in criminal investigations and corporate security. He served in the ATF, beginning in 1990 and worked his way up the ranks to become a Special Agent in Charge (SAC). He graduated from the FBI National Academy in 2010 and was a Leadership Fellow with the FBI Leadership Institute in 2012. Don holds a bachelor's in Criminal Justice from Ferris State, an MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, and obtained his Certified Protection Professional (CPP) credentials from ASIS. Don is currently the Senior Product Manager/SME with Evidence IQ and with their Ballistics IQ solution helps law enforcement agencies solve gun crimes quicker. 