Students interested in serving and protecting their country might have a chance to apply that passion toward a job.
FAMU is the No. 1 recruiter for the U.S. Marshal Service’s Centralized Student Career Experience Program for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. CSCEP is a 16-week internship created to expose students to a potential career as a deputy U.S. Marshal.
The U.S. Marshal Service and the U.S. Department of Justice recruiters scouted 17 HBCUs in 1996 to participate in the program. Marshals are given the task of transporting witnesses, drug lords and prisoners. Marshals also protect the Supreme Court Justices.
“This is the only program where students don’t have to take the entrance exam,” said FAMU CSCEP Director Jacki Perkins. Perkins said, generally, minorities do not score well on the exam.
CSCEP is a program designed to increase minority participation in the U.S. Marshal Service. The program allows entry into the Marshal program without vast competition.
Students participating in the program are given all the responsibilities of a deputy marshal.
Marshall James Lockley, a graduate of FAMU’s Sociology and Criminal Justice program, was the first black man ever appointed to serve as a United States Marshal in Florida. Former President Bill Clinton appointed Lockley to the post in May 1994.
Lockley is credited for bringing the CSCEP program to FAMU. The program has produced many deputy marshals. Upon completion of the CSCEP program students are eligible to become deputy marshals.
Recruits for the program must be a 20-year-old U.S. Citizen, a junior or senior and have an overall GP. of 2.75. CSCEP is open to criminal justice, sociology, political science, psychology and other Liberal Arts students.
“We are trying to extend the program to other majors,” Perkins said.
She also said that more students should consider careers in law enforcement.
A U.S. marshal’s job relies heavily on an individual’s integrity.
“I was once offered one million dollars to free a prisoner,” said FAMU alumnus deputy Marshal Thaddeus Lee.
Lee assisted in the capture of a top-10 felon. America’s Most Wanted filmed the capture. Lee said morals and integrity play a major role in his job. Lee also said CSCEP is always looking for new recruits.
The only other program in Florida exists at Bethune-Cookman College.
“While we are proud to be No. 1 in recruitment, that is not our goal,” Perkins said. “We want to see more students participate in law enforcement.”
contact ciji charlton at famuannews@hotmail.com.