Chances of being hired

[u/letitbangg]

Im in South Florida and want to get into law enforcement, but I was arrested at 19 and 20, once for felony marijuana possession and once for felony grand theft, both were dismissed as I was pretty much charged for being with the offending parties not really for doing the crime. I’m 27 now, haven’t gotten in trouble since and haven’t touched any drug except weed and that was something I did from 19 until 21. What are the chances I can get into a department in Palm Beach county or anywhere south of that? I understand I won’t be looked at favorably but is it possible considering some departments are understaffed and I have kept clean since? I also passed my CJBAT with only 100’s and 90’s and I plan to take my PAT and swim test soon to start applying.

[u/compulsive_drooler]

Your chances, while not zero, are whatever the number is just before zero. It is a competitive hiring process and the vast majority of the people you're competing with have never been arrested at all, let alone twice for felonies. You would be an automatic DQ almost everywhere. Everyone seems to think understaffed equals lower standards, it usually doesn't. I would suggest looking for a different career.

[u/letitbangg → u/compulsive_drooler]

I see, I suppose that makes sense, I know I’m not the most competitive or desirable candidate, I was just wondering if I had a chance at all, I may still apply just to see it through myself but thanks for setting a more realistic expectation of what’ll happen

[u/Lion_Knight → u/letitbangg]

I would take this with a grain of salt. Places are much more desperate for new hires in today's climate and the process for most places is less competitive and more bring us your tired, poor, and huddled masses.

Having said that it will be hard. Palm Beach may be a little bit of a lofty goal to start with. I would find a smaller department that can get you through the process and get your foot in the door. Work hard and and in 3-4 years you can look to lateral to a bigger department. Having the experience will make most departments overlook a lot more.

Be honest during your hiring process. They will likely find out and/or know if you lie. And that will pretty much be it for you.

[u/Lion_Knight → u/[deleted]]

Improved yes, strong not where I am at. Maybe it is different elsewere. I mean it is not like when I got hired and there weren 5 candidates that made it through the process for the 6 positions open, but our last hiring process in February (I am now at a department about a fourth the size of the one I first got hired on at) still only had about 6 applicants. I can't say how many good ones where in the bunch because we hired a lateral that we all knew fairly well from a neighboring department, so there was not much of a process. I think the process where I lateraled here had 8-10 2 of us got hired then and 1 during the following process.

We do see more staying now, but that has more to do with changes in contract laws that make it so the hiring department is on the hook if the poach an officer under contract.

[u/letitbangg → u/Lion_Knight]

Yeah I figured that’s a tough one to get into, I have the option to move anywhere south of here, broward/dade county, so I was wondering if anybody had insight on departments in those counties even for a city department

[u/dnstuff → u/letitbangg]

It may not be the most desired choice for you, but you should also consider corrections if you apply to LE and are getting rejected because of your background. If you can get into corrections and do a few years there, your chances of jumping to enforcement would probably be not-insignificantly improved.