Hiring Standards for Federal Law Enforcement

Michael D. White

Hiring standards for law enforcement officers at the federal level generally have been more stringent than at the local and state levels. In fact, several agencies, most notably the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), have traditionally set the benchmark for all law enforcement agencies to follow, especially in terms of basic entry requirements, education, work experience, and the rigor of the selection process. Because of low turnover and high demand, federal law enforcement positions are highly competitive, and only the most qualified applicants are selected for employment. At the federal level, there are at least 13 governmental departments (i.e., Departments of Justice, Defense, and Treasury), composed of approximately 50 law enforcement agencies, as well as a host of independent agencies (i.e., National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Nuclear Regulatory Commission) that employ thousands of individuals in hundreds of different law enforcement positions. Moreover, the shuffling of departments and agencies in 2002 ...

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