Joining a Law Enforcement Academy
Law enforcement academies prepare students for jobs in law enforcement. Careers that incorporate these types of academies include: Police Officers, Deputy Sheriffs, State Troopers, and Correctional Officers. Each academy is different from the next one. Some academies offer basic training, others more intense training; while others offer state-of-the-art technology and training. Each academy is unique to its location, classes, and length of program.
Some of these academies include: the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, GA, Alabama Peace Officers Standards & Training Commission in Montgomery, AL, Arizona Law Enforcement Academy in Phoenix, AZ, San Diego Law Enforcement Training Center in San Diego, CA, and Fingerlakes Law Enforcement Academy in Canandaigua, NY. Each of these academies contributes to creating dedicated, well-educated and professional officers.
A thriving academy yields successful enforcement officers. Potential officers should contact several different academies to discover their curriculum and graduation rates. It would also be helpful to obtain graduate employment statistics. When selecting a local academy, it may be possible to speak with local law enforcement officials to find out which schools provide the best outcome.
Curriculum should be a key deciding factor when choosing the right academy. Basic programs include law, patrol operations, traffic enforcement education and investigation techniques. Some academies also offer courses in incident management and documentation, telephone procedures, and communication. Weapons handling and self defense should also be taught.
An academy's cost and program structure should also play a part in deciding on the right choice. Some schools require a 16 week program, while others may only require a 12 week program. Different academies may offer financing to help cover education costs. Academies that are a part of a community college may even offer some types of grants or scholarships. Grants are given by several organizations including: Office of Victims of Crimes, Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools, Office of National Drug Control Policy, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security, and Children's Bureau, and Divisions of Criminal Justice Services.
Potential students should visit several academies before making a final decision. He or she should keep their career goals in mind when selecting the right academy. Students should find out the daily schedules and program operations. Speaking to counselors and instructors can give the potential student more insight on how he or she would fit into campus life.
Federal Law Enforcement Programs
With almost 1% of the adult population of the United States currently incarcerated (1,404,503), it is clear that there is a never-ending demand for qualified people to work in law enforcement. From front line police officers to end of the line prison workers, having well-trained enforcers of the law is critical to keeping law and order. Providing education for these agents falls to federal law enforcement programs.
Types of Available Positions:
Policing: officers, sheriffs and deputies at the state and local level as well as Military Police.
Federal Agents: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Agency, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and IRS are just a few of the 88 Federal Agencies who offer employment for officers.
Prisons: wardens and correctional officers.
Probation Officers: employed by state and local governments.
National Security: Border Agents, Coast Guard, Air Marshals, Postal Inspectors, State Department, and Homeland Security.
Although the amount of education required for each position may vary, all applicants would be well-supported by courses obtained from one of the federal enforcement programs available.
FLETA is a great resource if you are thinking about getting an education which will lead to a job in Federal enforcement. FLETA (Federal Law Enforcement Training Accreditation) offers a comprehensive and transparent accreditation for institutions which offer federal law enforcement programs. With so many federal law programs to select from, using this website should help you narrow your choices.
The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC): 12 separate programs from Criminal Investigator Training Program to Uniformed Police Training Program.
Customs and Border Protection: three programs including the Basic Entry Specialist Training Program and the U.S. Border Patrol Spanish Task-Based Language Teaching Program.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) National Criminal Investigation Training Academy: Special Agent Basic Training Program and one other.
The Air Force Special Investigations Academy: offers a basic course.
U.S. Military Police School: civilian police academy.
The Department of Energy: Basic Security Police Officer Training.
TSA (Transportation Safety Agency): 3 air marshal courses including the Federal Air Marshal Training Program Part 1 and II.
U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Law Enforcement Academy: two programs including the Basic Boarding Officer Course.
U.S. Federal Reserve System: Basic Law Enforcing Courses.
U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Training Center: two courses including Basic Special Agent Course.
U.S. Postal Inspection Service: Basic Inspector Training, Postal Police Officer Basic Training and a Facilitator Program.
U.S. Secret Service, James J. Rowley Training Center: Special Agent Training Course and two others.
Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS): Special Agent Basic Training Program and an instructor course.