LCSW jobs in law enforcment and the CIA/FBI

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TMS@1987

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Just wondering what kind of positions, if any, there may be.

I'm not looking for the flashy criminal profiler jobs, just wondering what opportunities are out there.

Thanks

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I'm pretty certain there are positions for LSWs in the juvenile justice system. In addition, I'm am sure that the role of someone who helps persons transition from prison to the real world would be well filled by a LSW.
 
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there are a lot of jobs for social workers in the forensic system. In prisons you can work either in the main part of the prison, primarily doing case management and parole planning for inmates. You can also work in specific mental health programs with prisoners who have mental illness. Also, there are a number of organizations out in the community that provide services for the recently incarcerated who are paroling.

Positions in the justice system (juvenile and adult) are pretty plentiful, and since a lot of social workers don't want to work with criminals, they tend to pay better and be easier to get than other positions in my experience.
 
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Being a poh poh I can tell you a few things.

1. In a general police environment there's not really a place for social workers. Most cops have to portray that role in the course of daily duties so having a background in it would be helpful, but you'd still need to be a cop.

2. Corrections. SW's abound in prisons for therapies and readjustment to life outside of the gray bar hotel. A SW background would be helpful for parole and probation officers. I don't know what the typical LCSW salary is, but I've seen our prisons advertise around 45k / yr for them which is a good living in AR particularly in the areas where the majority of the prisons are located - i.e. B.F.E.

3. I don't see a social work background as being adequate to be a criminal profiler or do anything with forensics.

4. Juvenile facilities are full of social workers and related individuals so there's an avenue for you also.

In summary, to practice as a social workers the corrections system is your best bet.


I don't see how the CIA or any other federal agency outside of the BOP could put you to work. The DOD would be a good place for you. Apply to a branch of the military for either civilian work, OR become a military officer.
 
Being a poh poh I can tell you a few things.

1. In a general police environment there's not really a place for social workers. Most cops have to portray that role in the course of daily duties so having a background in it would be helpful, but you'd still need to be a cop.

2. Corrections. SW's abound in prisons for therapies and readjustment to life outside of the gray bar hotel. A SW background would be helpful for parole and probation officers. I don't know what the typical LCSW salary is, but I've seen our prisons advertise around 45k / yr for them which is a good living in AR particularly in the areas where the majority of the prisons are located - i.e. B.F.E.

3. I don't see a social work background as being adequate to be a criminal profiler or do anything with forensics.

4. Juvenile facilities are full of social workers and related individuals so there's an avenue for you also.

In summary, to practice as a social workers the corrections system is your best bet.


I don't see how the CIA or any other federal agency outside of the BOP could put you to work. The DOD would be a good place for you. Apply to a branch of the military for either civilian work, OR become a military officer.


I don't see how you couldn't find a position within the FBI as even something fancy. As far as the CIA is concerned, unless you have extensive military experience with some sort of specialized skill, i.e. speaking Arabic, or you have a PhD in a professional field, you will not get in. As far as the FBI is concerned, I don't see why not. I am pursuing my MSW right now and will be immediately applying to the FBI. If you are someone who has their MSW you obviously know that you can Diagnose out of the DSM, this is a crucial piece to criminal profiling. With that being said you can't be a "criminal profiler" in the FBI without paying your dues. You have to apply to be a Special Agent, do 3 years, and then apply.

ArkansasRanger, I hate to see the Social Work degree downplayed so much. We have a lot of required coursework which of course vary from college to college, but are not limited to, Abnormal Psychology, Victims of Violence and Crime. If you go onto the fbijobs.gov website, there are Victim Specialist positions right now. What matters in the Federal Sector as far as criminal experience is not just 5 years experience as a beatcop and a criminal justice degree. They want diversified people. I have extensive experience in the active duty military with counter-terrorism, Bachelors in Social Work with Criminal Psychology, Minor, and finishing up my Masters of Social Work.

Acidicspecies, Just remember, don't walk in their thinking of what the college you went to told you that you are qualified for. As a social worker, you are an expert "talker", it is what we do for a living. Think about what you have talked about with your clients and integrate that into your resume.
 
Profiling....it doesn't exist in the way it does on TV. There are a number of jobs that are related, but they are far less glamorous and far more tedious to actually do. If you want to get into the mix, become a linguist. There is a severe shortage of American-born citizens with a background in arabic languages who can pass the background check.
 
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I have to say I was a bit surprised Arkansas Ranger to hear you say: "I don't see a social work background as being adequate to be a criminal profiler or do anything with forensics."

As a MSW student I can attest to the reality that not only is the field of social work developing and growing in new ways, a well trained social worker (who continually learns and expands their knowledge base) may be highly qualified to do advanced clinical/behavioral assessments. My impression is that you may be assessing a social workers qualifications/skill set from your personal experience (which, as an officer is undoubtedly very broad and rich) and may not accurately reflect the true possibilities that are out there for an MSW/LCSW.

On another note, as a USC MSW student I am very excited that our school is home to the first ever miltary Social Work program in the nation (with military grants exceeding 17M). My graduating year will see hundreds of qualified MSWs go "into the field" or stay here at home addressing the unique needs of military officers/personnel suffering from PTSD and an array of other issues.

I believe that today's MSW progams (not all, but some) prepare a master level social worker to do very well in a wide variety of fields...
 
Trojan, The military social work research programs are great at USC. I went to a clinically focused program myself, and have had extensive training with the DSM and multiple therapy modalities. Social Work is always looked at, "taking my kid away from me", profession. This is what police see.
 
Being a poh poh I can tell you a few things.

1. In a general police environment there's not really a place for social workers. Most cops have to portray that role in the course of daily duties so having a background in it would be helpful, but you'd still need to be a cop.

2. Corrections. SW's abound in prisons for therapies and readjustment to life outside of the gray bar hotel. A SW background would be helpful for parole and probation officers. I don't know what the typical LCSW salary is, but I've seen our prisons advertise around 45k / yr for them which is a good living in AR particularly in the areas where the majority of the prisons are located - i.e. B.F.E.

3. I don't see a social work background as being adequate to be a criminal profiler or do anything with forensics.

4. Juvenile facilities are full of social workers and related individuals so there's an avenue for you also.

In summary, to practice as a social workers the corrections system is your best bet.


I don't see how the CIA or any other federal agency outside of the BOP could put you to work. The DOD would be a good place for you. Apply to a branch of the military for either civilian work, OR become a military officer.




You're ignorant. Especially since you are a police officer, his is truely and utterly disappointing. I am so beyond disappointed actually that a "poh poh" said this. Hopefully you are just actually a dumb kid on the Internet trying to
boost his self esteem and not actually a police officer for the united States of America.
 
You're ignorant. Especially since you are a police officer, his is truely and utterly disappointing. I am so beyond disappointed actually that a "poh poh" said this. Hopefully you are just actually a dumb kid on the Internet trying to
boost his self esteem and not actually a police officer for the united States of America.
Strange that someone would create an account to attack a reasonable sounding post from 7 years ago.
:shrug:
 
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