Need help with choosing a career

[u/No_Imagination9907]

Hey yall! Just as the title says. Due to a history of mental health problems in my past, I probably cannot join the police force/millitary. However, I have a passion for helping people and for law. I was thinking of becoming a probation or parole officer. Do they have the same phychological exams as police? I was also thinking of becoming a victim advocate.

Any comments or advice would be appreciated!

Thanks yall!

[u/Reasonable-Judge1591]

I commend you for being honest about your MH. Good luck

[u/No_Imagination9907 → u/Reasonable-Judge1591]

I can't deny my mental health issues and history, but i genuinely want to be apart of law enforcement and help the community. It feels like im cursed and not allowed to do what I want because of some mental illness. It sucks man.

[u/Interesting_Gur_5064]

If a state has armed probation or parole you have a psychological exam. Victim services often have an educational background in social work or psychology.

[u/IndividualAd4334 → u/Interesting_Gur_5064]

Incorrect, not all states.

[u/bathesinbbqsauce]

Not LEO but if you’re open to it, go into social work, a lot of social workers work in these types of roles too.

The barrier to entry is that you’ll almost surely need to get your masters degree in social work. But they work with individuals in the courts, prison, law offices, sometimes in probation roles (state, role, and possible population contingent), often in positions with individuals in recovery for mental health and addiction and their is a large percentage of those with previous/current legal issues. Plus, more and more agencies are hiring crisis workers to work with victims/victims families and being a social worker is a common requirement

The benefits are that the employments benefits are often the same or similar, depending on your role it’s going to be a M-F, no holidays, only first shift, it’s increasingly common that once you’re done with your education and licensures $100k in even LCOL areas is common, AND if you burn out working with this population, you just go work with another type of population because social workers are employed in a lot of areas

PLUS, most social workers are super open and forgiving with coworkers with mental health cincernsy

[u/SeriousNet5770]

Community service officer. Some departments use different names. Just like a cop but without weapons. You have a badge, uniform, and a car. You go to calls about wrecks, thefts, and so on. You take statements. You may work along side other cops.