In effect, officers are on duty twenty-four hours a day. Those interested in this work must have at least a high school diploma. High school students thinking of a police career should learn how to type, do clerical work, and use a computer. An associate degree, or better yet a bachelor's degree, in criminal justice or law enforcement is becoming increasingly important. All recruits undergo state-mandated academy training and serve a probationary period of three months to one year.
Police academies give recruits eight weeks to nine months of intense training.
Law enforcement remains a growing profession. The demand, especially in big cities, continues to be greater than the supply of qualified people. Future employment, however, may reflect technological and scientific changes taking place in police work. The prospects are best for those with a college background. Police officers usually work forty hours a week.