Developing employability skills - personal profile and self-evaluation

Introduction

Criminology has been a very interesting field in my life since I was a toddler. All my life, I have drawn much interest in the field and that what compelled me to study a related subject in the GCSE as well the A level studies. During my college days, I happened to visit the nearest police station on a tour that was organized by our institution. Having noted how things were being run, my interest to work with the police soon rose. The experience I acquired during the tour was my eye-opener. I captured how people were being represented by the selected lawyers and how other legal processes were being carried out. I, therefore, promised myself that I would pursue a related career and ensure our people got the justice they deserved. In the administration of justice, the witnesses giving the shreds of evidence matters. When the evidence has been interfered with, the administration of justice is interfered with thus affecting the ruling.

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Besides, crime studies and how societies respond to crime activities increased my interest. Additionally, the ways set aside to prevent the crime happening in the societies as well motivated me to carry out studies in a related field. As for me, what makes people engage in criminal activities or rather the criminal behaviour is varying and differs from one person to another. Subsequently, the reasons for breaking the laws differ from individual to individual in our societies. Due to these variances, I wanted to explore them broadly to enhance my understanding. The understanding gained through my exploration was aimed at standing with the witnesses who give evidence on the reported crimes to ensure appropriate justice is administered.

My curiosity has to always work with the police service and the law offenders to ensure justice is given to them that deserve through supporting the witnesses giving evidence concerning the reported crime. Besides, being involved in the entire legal procession to enhance justice administration has been my ambition. To achieve this, I decided to enrol to a degree in criminology to help me make further studies to enhance the achievement of my interests. Besides, the criminology degree would strengthen me apply for any role in a related job, thus being able to achieve my goal.

In my A level studies on criminology and law in college, I noted that the course superseded my expectations which made the course to be more enjoyable. The workshops alongside the classes were organized in an interactive manner where we could hold lengthy discussions on criminology related issues. We worked as a team with the other students that were undertaking the related course. The discussions served a vital role in enhancing mind expansion on more matters related to criminology. The lecturers as well used to encourage us as students to voice our opinions which further enhanced our understanding through issues voiced by individual students. The lecturers were so good and effective in teaching, which enhanced understanding of the basic concepts in the field. There were seminars organized by the school which were to be carried out by the students alongside the coursework, which facilitated our report writing beside research. At first, the coursework and the reports alongside the research that individual students were expected to carry out was challenging, but with time, I learned to appreciate it. The course work, seminars and researches helped me to be more self-disciplined, and they also enhanced my focus to the course which enhanced my studies.

Learning about criminal behaviour and or investigating the crimes committed by the criminals as well as supporting the witnesses giving evidence on the crime was challenging and will always be challenging. Thus to enhance my understanding of the field and gain some experience concerning the criminology issues, I have worked as a volunteer over the summer period with local victim support charity. The decision I made on working with the victim support was so independent and was influenced by my assertiveness. During that period, I worked with current as well as the ex-offenders. There was untold workload in the police post; thus, I made my priorities well to handle what was essential and what would give me the exposure I needed to handle criminal issues. My role was to assist the current and ex-offenders in the process of behaviour rehabilitation. The opportunity to work with the local victim support charity enhanced the experience that I believe I could not have gotten it from elsewhere.

Additionally, after my college studies, I volunteered to work with another support group that mainly involved the crime witnesses. My main role was to support the witnesses to ensure they give their evidence without any fear. We worked closely with the court administration to ensure the witnesses don't get paid to alter their evidence which interferes with justice administration. Especially the vulnerable people in the society, for instance, the aged, disabled among other marginalized groups don't get appropriate justice due to limited witnesses support. Several crimes are committed on them, such as sexual harassment, and when reported, the shreds of evidence are interfered with which affects the ruling.

In the university, I was so selective with the campus I should select to further my studies on criminology. Luckily I got a university with a good reputation where I studied a course that would provide a critical outlook on issues related to crime and the behaviour of criminals which differs from individual to individual. My main aim was to study the legislation process, the effective offender's management, criminal justice concept and wider understanding of issues that associate to crime as well as criminality. I had identified what I needed to pursue my career. Thus, I consulted and was able to get the university that helped me to meet my career needs.

In the university, I got lectures that become helpful in delivering the content on my course. Besides, the course leader was also helpful as she enhanced my understanding of the course through her detailed explanation. Initially, I made several mistakes relating to my course simply because I didn't fully comprehend what was required. The mistakes I made engulfed me in stress but thank you to the course leader who explained the course in details helping me to manage my stress. The modules set on the course related to the real-life situations which enhanced my great understanding on the course thus being able to handle crime issues in the future.

Consequently, the materials utilized in the modules were of wide ranges which offered something more beyond the basics of the course discipline. Due to the well-set modules and a wide range of materials utilized in course coverage, the course became a bit difficult as I thought. However, with the determination I had and self-motivation, I managed to handle all the issues that arose in the course.

Generally, I feel that I have developed myself and matured in the course to be able to handle criminal issues. My experience and studies at the university will help me in a big way to meeting my field of specialization objectives and goals. On my main concern on the witness's support which is the basic thing that influences judgement, I believe I have gotten substantial exposure through working with the local victim support group and the court administration. In the future, when allowed to work with the witnesses support group or any related job role; I can adequately deliver quality services to ensure justice is given to them that deserve.

Current career aspirations in crime reduction and criminal justice-related fields

The system of criminal justice and crime reduction involves several agencies and administrations dealing with crime issues (Walters and Kremser 2016, p 315). They include the agencies related to law enforcement, the court services agencies alongside agencies charged with the role of detaining as well as supervising the lawbreakers. My current aspiration is to work with the law enforcement agencies to ensure legislation processes are followed without favour in the administration of justice. One of the main factors that interfere with justice administration is the lack of support among the crime witnesses. According to research, the witnesses on various reported criminal activities face a threat from the accused individual hindering them from rendering the correct evidence that can enhance justice administration. Some would receive death threats, especially if the reported crimes were linked to certain influential individuals. Most of the crime witnesses get to the point of getting traumatized and failing to show during the court proceedings because of fear of losing their lives. As a criminology graduate, I aspire to work with the law enforcement agencies to ensure the witnesses offering to give shreds of evidence on the committed crime are protected and supported to give the correct information. Protection and adequate support of the crime witnesses ensure they are safe and secure to give what they know concerning the committed crimes which will enhance justice acquisition.

Once I have helped in law enforcement processes through supporting the witnesses of the related crimes alongside other roles in the law enforcement process, I aspire to advance my studies in criminology and acquire a master's degree. Advancing my studies will help me to work as a director in the ministry of criminal justice, which now will help me oversee all other agencies related to crime reduction and criminal justice system. As the director, I will be able to run all the agencies ensuring justice is gotten to them that deserve and appropriate measures are taken on them that have committed crimes. Justice acquisition, among all without fear or favour, will enhance the reduction in criminal activities as people understand that once they have committed a crime, necessary measures will be taken on them.

Skills and qualities needed for a law enforcement officer

Law enforcement requires given skills and qualities that ensure a fair process of justice administration. For the occasion, law enforcement requires an individual to have physical strength alongside the aptitude that helps in catching law criminals (Bates and Hayes 2017, p. 143). Besides, they must have the ability to pass a background check that shows no record to criminal activity. Other skills that law enforcement officers should possess include the following.

Integrity

Law enforcement works hand in hand with honesty. Subsequently, it involves having a staunch commitment to ethical as well as moral values. Law enforcement officers should demonstrate integrity as they carry on their duties that ensure our communities are safe and that the lawbreakers get the appropriate measures to reduce and minimize crimes in our societies. The public usually develops trust with officers who show integrity in their work and can offer them information concerning something unlawful they have witnessed in the community. Such information given by the public to trusted officers can help in bringing order in the community and ensuring justice is achieved.

Adaptability

This is the ability to adjust and fit in various environments and conditions. As law enforcement is unpredictable and issues presenting in the community are varying, thus law enforcement officers should be able to adapt and adjust in varying conditions and environment. Adaptability is a vital skill as it helps them overcome the challenges that they may face in different situations as they carry out their daily roles.