Can I Get a Career in the Criminal Justice Field With a Felony in Retail Theft?

by Ron White
Forget about a career in law enforcement if you have a felony conviction.


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If a judge convicts you of felony retail theft, the consequences will extend beyond your sentence. A criminal history also can jeopardize your career goals. This is especially true if you desire to work in criminal justice, a profession that places a premium on trustworthiness, good ethics and a clean criminal record. Before you enroll in a university police science degree program or start sending out resumes to police departments, you need to understand how a felony theft conviction will impact your chances of landing a job in law enforcement.


Police department hiring standards and some state laws disqualify you from consideration for police work if you have any felony conviction. In fact, some departments disqualify you for convictions on lesser offenses. Generally, considerations include the seriousness of the crime committed. However, some departments provide applicants with a chance to receive an exemption but only if a conviction occurred before the applicant was 18 years of age and only if it was more than five years ago. Additionally, you may qualify for police work if you receive a pardon that exempts your conviction. In North Carolina, you can run for sheriff despite a felony conviction, but you cannot carry a gun since felons are not allowed to own weapons.

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