Accessing a final static variable using Field.get(...)

[Garann Means]

Hi,
I am trying to get access to four String constants elsewhere in my API. Which four constants is determined based on the input data. My code compiles, but throws a NullPointerException. This is what it looks like:

try {
oldCountOffenders = DORS05CB.class.getField("FIELD_CNT_OF_OFFENDERS_AT_" + oldClass);
newCountOffenders = DORS05CB.class.getField("FIELD_CNT_OF_OFFENDERS_AT_" + currentClass);
oldTotalWorkload  = DORS05CB.class.getField("FIELD_TOT_WORKLOAD_PTS_AT_" + oldClass);
newTotalWorkload  = DORS05CB.class.getField("FIELD_TOT_WORKLOAD_PTS_AT_" + currentClass);}
catch (NoSuchFieldException nsfe) {
System.out.println("Reflection failed.");
return RECORD_NOT_FOUND; 
}
try {
countOfOffendersAtOld = Integer.parseInt(rs.getString((String) oldCountOffenders.get(null)));
countOfOffendersAtNew = Integer.parseInt(rs.getString((String) newCountOffenders.get(null)));
totWorkLoadPointsAtOld = parse(rs.getString((String) oldTotalWorkload.get(null)));
totWorkLoadPointsAtNew = parse(rs.getString((String) newTotalWorkload.get(null)));
}
catch (IllegalArgumentException e) {
System.out.println("Field content unobtainable, Illegal Argument.");
return RECORD_NOT_FOUND; 
}
catch (IllegalAccessException e) {
System.out.println("Field content unobtainable, Illegal Access.");
return RECORD_NOT_FOUND; 
}

The first try block executes nicely. I get a NullPointer in the second. I have tried sending both "null" and "new String()" as parameters to Field.get(), neither with success.
The constants I'm trying to capture look like this:

private final static String CNT_OF_OFFENDERS_AT_MIN = "CLLVLMIN";
public final static String FIELD_CNT_OF_OFFENDERS_AT_MIN = NAME + "." + CNT_OF_OFFENDERS_AT_MIN;

Can anyone see what I'm doing wrong?
Many thanks,
g.
[ July 03, 2002: Message edited by: Garann Rose Means ]