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Main Page New here with some questions
(Click here to view the original thread on the MassCops Message Board)

Posted by: WA1DH

Hi, new member here. I just happened upon this site a little while ago. This is an excellent site and I must say there is quite a wealth of information here.

I'm 18 and studying criminal justice at my local community college. I'm very fascinated by the field and have been considering corrections as a starting point in my career. Ultimately I would like to go into law enforcement, but I think it would be rewarding to spend the first several years in corrections to get to see this side of the criminal justice system (as well as build my resume).

I've browsed through several pages in the forum, but still have a couple questions:

First off, I see comments here and there with regard to firearms and firearms training. The minimum age to apply to become a CO is 19, but you have to be 21 to apply for an LTC in MA. Can you become a CO without possessing an LTC (I only have an FID right now because I'm currently 1

?

Second, how competetive is it to get into the DOC? From what I read, it seems they are hurting for people. Will having an associates degree in criminal justice give me any greater chance of being hired?

Finally, if hired, how does the DOC determine where you are placed (as in which facility)? Do they try to place you close to your residence (I live in Bristol county), or anywhere at random? Do you ever have the option of transferring to another facility at any point in your career?

I apologize if my questions have been answered before. I read through everything the best I could before posting this. Hopefully DOC will still be hurting for people next year when I'm ready to apply! I'm trying to get my degree out of the way first.

Thanks,
Doug

Posted by: pahapoika

Can you become a CO without possessing an LTC

don't know if it's the same , but we were given department permits to carry department firearms while on duty. only ones i know that need their own LTC is CTU. tranpo takes home their department sidearms.

how competetive is it to get into the DOC.

now is a good time to take the test

Will having an associates degree in criminal justice give me any greater chance of being hired.

can't hurt and it's worth a couple extra bucks a year

how does the DOC determine where you are placed

"by the needs of the institution" think walpole or shirley max. you could luck out with some other institutions. unfortunately there's not much close to Bristol county although the bridgewater complex is heavy with people from the new bedford / fall river crowd.

find out if you have any cousins down there

Posted by: WA1DH

Thanks for the info, and thanks to those who PMed me. I'd love to take the current test, but like I said, I'm only 18 right now, so I'll miss the test by a month this time around (I turn 19 on April 14th). HRD site and the test posting says you must be 19 at the time of the test, not at the time of appointment.

If I'm reading things correctly, there has been a test every March and September since 2004. I went back through the old posts on here and made out a list of the prior test dates. I can only hope there will be one in September 08. I should have no problem with the (current) PAT, and I'm pretty close to being able to meet the old one, should they decide to change it back.

Doug

Posted by: csauce777

Quote:

Originally Posted by WA1DH

Thanks for the info, and thanks to those who PMed me. I'd love to take the current test, but like I said, I'm only 18 right now, so I'll miss the test by a month this time around (I turn 19 on April 14th). HRD site and the test posting says you must be 19 at the time of the test, not at the time of appointment.

If I'm reading things correctly, there has been a test every March and September since 2004. I went back through the old posts on here and made out a list of the prior test dates. I can only hope there will be one in September 08. I should have no problem with the (current) PAT, and I'm pretty close to being able to meet the old one, should they decide to change it back.

Doug

For starters...you write well, use correct punctuation, and know what a paragraph is. Thats more than can be said for many on this board

. Keep up the hard work, you'll be fine.

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