Criminal Justice Careers Interview: Fred Hunting

Criminal justice is a hot career right now and there are actually many careers besides a police officer available in this exciting field. Sure the cops can catch bad guys, but someone has to keep track of them afterwards. My Colleges and Careers would like to introduce you to a very important person in the San Diego Sheriff’s Department: Fred Hunting.

Fun Fact: Fred was once on the TV show Suddenly Susan!

MC&C: So what is your job title exactly?

FH: Sheriff’s licensing and registration interviewer.

MC&C: What do you do on a day to day basis?

FH: Interview and process drug and sex offenders into the State Registration System. I also interview and process members ofthe public through the licensing process for any of 32 different licenses (eg: State Concealed Weapons Permits, Taxi, Massage, etc.)

MC&C: How did you get into this career?

FH: I worked in marketing for Universal Studios Recreation in L.A. and when I moved to San Diego five years ago, I couldn’t find anything comparable. So I decided to think out of the box a bit and randomly ended up looking into law enforcement.

MC&C: Was there some type of training you had to do or any certification?

FH: When I was first hired I attended a post certified course related to emergency dispatch and 911. I worked in this area for my first year and then transferred to licensing and registration and learned the ropes of this division through on the job training.

MC&C: What is the most interesting thing about your job?

FH: The variety and the unexpected. In our lobby there are wealthy people applying for Concealed Weapons Permits or Business Establishment Licenses. There are also immigrant taxi drivers from all parts of the world. And, whether they know it or not, these people are sitting side by side with sex or drug offenders who have just been released from jail or prison. It is an incredibly crazy mix of people to deal with all day and it is never boring.

MC&C: Can you think of any awesome stories or crazy anecdotes from your career?

FH: Yes, but unfortunately, I can’t tell any of them — though there is a ton of interesting stuff! We have to maintain confidentiality of all the clients we serve and even anecdotal stories can’t be shared in a public forum.

MC&C: Are you ever scared of the people you have to supervise?

FH: There are armed sworn officers just an emergency button away at all times and even threatening individuals are aware of this fact and know that they are in a Sheriff’s building. I have never felt unsafe.

MC&C: What types of people do best in Criminal Justice fields similar to yours?

FH: People who can work with all types of individuals without judgment and those that have the ability to maintain confidentiality.

MC&C: What do you dislike about your job?

FH: Honestly there isn’t anything about it that I dislike. I enjoy it and actually like being at work.

MC&C: What levels of advancement are available within your field?

FH: Supervision and management of the registration process, and also general administration. For the licensing portion it, there is a licensing specialist path which involved in-the-field inspections of licensed establishments.

Thanks Fred! For more information about a career in the criminal justice field please visit My Colleges and Careers.