Overview
State governments offer a wide range of careers in security and protection that help maintain public safety. Professionals in these careers work across many areas of government, helping agencies maintain safe operations, conduct investigations, enforce laws and regulations, and respond to emerging threats and public safety challenges.
Individuals in these roles come from educational and professional backgrounds such as criminal justice, law enforcement, emergency management, homeland security and public administration. State employees working in this field often possess strong analytical, communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
What You Might Work On
In state government, professionals in this field often:
- Investigate suspicious or criminal activity
- Provide protection services to state residents, institutions and land
- Serve as first responders to emergency situations
- Collaborate with multiple law enforcement agencies to achieve their security goals
Is This a Good Fit?
While roles and responsibilities vary, you might enjoy this field if you:
- Want to use your analytical skills to solve problems
- Provide care to vulnerable populations
- Enjoy thinking on your feet
- Like being more physically active in a professional role
Where You Could Work
State government is broad — so where do you start?
One approach is to focus on a type of role. Another is to focus on a mission area or the kind of impact you want to make (i.e., in public health, education, transportation or elsewhere).
Keep in mind: mission areas often span multiple agencies, so you may find relevant roles in places you wouldn’t expect!
Professionals in this field work across many state agencies depending on mission area, including:
- Corrections: New Jersey Department of Corrections
- Policing: Virginia State Police
- Forensics: Iowa Department of Public Safety
Sample positions
Emergency Communications Dispatcher
| Employer / agency | Vermont Department of Public Safety |
| Location(s) | Westminster, Vermont |
| Mission context | Promote the detection and prevention of crime, participate in searches for lost and missing persons, and assist in cases of statewide or local disasters or emergencies. |
In this role, you may:
- Determine the nature, urgency, and jurisdiction of a report and either dispatches first responders or transfers the call to the appropriate jurisdiction
- Document information in Computer-Aided Dispatch software and provide updates via phone or radio as needed
- Provide guidance and assistance to the public in life-safety situations
- Coordinate appropriate responses to high-risk, high-stress operations with the objective of keeping all participants safe
Evidence Technician
| Employer / agency | Utah Department of Corrections – Law Enforcement Bureau |
| Location(s) | Draper, Utah |
| Mission context | Working Together | Transforming Lives | Protecting Communities |
In this role, you may:
- Maintain integrity of evidence by following policy and protocol of evidence collection, transportation, storage and required entries into reporting system
- Manage evidence to make available to agents and attorneys as required, i.e., court appearances and transfers for forensic examinations
- Package evidence according to best practices for specific types of evidence including electronics, firearms and narcotics
- Utilize data systems to track case progress, court dispositions and plea agreements that influence the status of evidence
Polygraph Examiner
| Employer / agency | Kentucky State Police |
| Location(s) | Frankfort, Kentucky |
| Mission context | Works to prevent, reduce, and deter crime and the fear of crime; enhance highway safety through education and enforcement; protect and safeguard individual rights; and provide leadership, training, technical, and operational support to the criminal justice community. |
In this role, you may:
- Schedule examinations as requested by investigators, conduct examinations and analyze results
- Use computerized equipment to conduct examinations
- Conduct pre-employment examinations
- Review and analyze investigative information
- Prepare reports
- Communicate with investigators
Probation & Parole Officer
| Employer / agency | New Mexico Corrections Department |
| Location(s) | Hobbs, New Mexico |
| Mission context | Strengthen New Mexico communities through effective community supervision, creating safe and professional institution environments and providing those entrusted to our care with opportunities for positive personal growth and self-development. |
In this role, you may:
- Conduct assessments and provide necessary counseling, housing, employment or educational referrals to facilitate success
- Supervise individuals based on the appropriate supervision level including but not limited to:
- Conduct regular face to face or phone meetings
- Field calls to individual’s residences or places of employment and education
- Conduct random drug testing of offenders
- Ensure court or parole board-imposed obligations are being met
