Term Effective: Fall 2012

The requirements for this program of study are effective beginning the semester shown above. If you began working on this program before the effective semester, you may not be affected by the changes. Consult with the program contact person or the department chair to determine your eligibility to complete the program under previous requirements.

Description:

The Law Enforcement Certificate of Achievement program provides practical and technical instruction to meet the requirements of various law enforcement agencies at the local, state and federal levels. The basic responsibilities of a law enforcement officer are to preserve the peace, prevent crime, protect life and property, enforce laws and detect and arrest violators of the law.

Job openings in the law enforcement field are excellent. Due to increased emphasis on law enforcement and homeland security, numerous positions have been developed. Many local, state and national departments are expanding their opportunities.

Employment may be found with a variety of state, local, and federal agencies. State and local law enforcement agencies include the: City Police and Sheriff's Departments, California Highway Patrol, California State Department of Justice, Fish and Game, District Attorney's Offices, and private security firms. Federal law enforcement agencies include the: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Agency, Drug Enforcement Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Protective Service, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, United States Customs Service, and United States Marshals Service.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this certificate, the student will be able to:

1. Apply the principles of proper law enforcement techniques as they relate to the prevention, detection, and investigation of crime;
2. valuate a situation in a cultural and/or social context and apply the appropriate law enforcement techniques to reach an acceptable response and resolution;
3. analyze incidents in the context of the criminal justice system assuring alignment with constitutional or statutory protections are necessary; and
4. evaluate and analyze a crime scene to ensure the proper recognition, identification, collection, preservation, and scientific analysis of physical evidence.

Students interested in a suggested order for taking classes in this program, can view the recommended course sequence. For students interested in an Associate degree, an Administration of Justice major is available. Students may also wish to further their education in the law enforcement field by transferring to a four-year university to pursue a baccalaureate degree. More information on the Administration of Justice program can be found on the Public Safety Department website. Some of the requirements in this certificate also apply to the Corrections Certificate of Achievement.

Certification Note:
Some public safety positions have legal requirements and background qualifications. Certain criminal violations may disqualify a candidate for certification. Please contact the Public Safety Department for more information.

Course Prerequisites and Advisories:

Courses in a program of study may have prerequisites or advisories; that is, courses that must or should be completed before taking that course. Please check for prerequisites or advisories by clicking on the course numbers in the Program Requirements section.

It is important that students who are completing an Associate Degree and desire to transfer to a four-year institution meet with a counselor to plan their lower division coursework. While many majors at SRJC are intended to align with lower division major preparation required by California public universities, specific lower-division major requirements vary among individual campuses. See a counselor, visit the Transfer Center, and check Guides For Transfer in Specific Majors, and ASSIST to review transfer preparation guides for specific schools and majors.

Notes:

In order to receive this certificate, all courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.
New students should consult an Administration of Justice Program Advisor.
Note: It is recommended that career Law Enforcement persons consider enrolling in District Police Campus Patrol courses for experience in the field . Interested students should contact the Districe Police Chief for more information.