Police Education and Training in Criminal Justice

Police and Law Enforcement Education

There is an increasing demand across the United States that Police Officers and Law Enforcement personnel have at minimum a two year post secondary education or Associate's Degree in Law Enforcement or Criminal Justice.  Police education and training is a major priority in every major city.  States have recently passed many new laws and regulations governing law enforcement procedures and citizens rights.  Police officers and detectives must have a clear understanding of these procedures, the knowledge and skills to enforce these new laws.  Police are also required to have a good education and understanding in the technology field of law enforcement.  Almost every police and investigator's car is equipped with computers and other high tech equipment. A police officer must have a basic understanding of forensics, evidence preservation and evidence collection.   

Criminal Justice System

The criminal justice academia is the study of police, law enforcement, police organizations, police administration, corrections, criminal courts and procedures. The criminal justice system in the United States purpose is to uphold and enforce the law, maintain social order or cohesion as prescribe by the law, deter and prevent crime, apprehend and process violators. The first part: maintaining social order or cohesion; is done by having a police presence in communities as a deterrent to crime. Second part: Law Enforcement; is the investigation of crimes, apprehension and arrest of suspected violators, and the third part is processing violators through the criminal court system. Criminal Justice also includes the study of police structure, criminal court procedures, correctional institutions, correctional administration, parole and probation. 

Why a Degree in Criminal Justice or Law Enforcement?

The Criminal Justice career field is becoming one of the fastest and most demanding careers in the United States and worldwide. A degree in criminal justice offers a wide range of career paths within the criminal justice system.  Here's a list of a few of the many opportunities: Police officer, Crime Scene Investigator, Homicide Detective, DEA and FBI Agent, Boarder Patrol Officer, Crime Analyst, Private Investigator, Corrections Officer, Prison Warden, Information Security Officer, Casino and Business Security Investigations and Protection, etc...

Outlook for Law Enforcement Careers

As reported by the Department of Labor (Occupation Handbook) the job outlook is as follows: Job opportunities in most local police departments will be excellent for qualified individuals; a good time to become a police officer.

• In fiscal year 2006, federal, state, and local governments spent an estimated $214 billion for police protection, corrections, and judicial and legal activities; this is a 5.1% increase over the previous year.
  
• In fiscal year 2006, state and local governments spent a combined 83% of all direct justice dollars; the federal government spent the rest.
  
• The federal government spent more than $36 billion on direct expenditures for criminal and civil justice in fiscal year 2006.
  
• State governments spent over $69 billion and local governments spent over $109 billion.

Employment change. Average employment growth is expected. Employment of police and detectives is expected to grow 11 percent over the 2006-16 decade, about as fast as the average for all occupations. A more security-conscious society and population growth will contribute to the increasing demand for police services.

Job prospects. Overall opportunities in local police departments will be excellent for individuals who meet the psychological, personal, and physical qualifications. In addition to openings from employment growth, many openings will be created by the need to replace workers who retire and those who leave local agencies for Federal jobs and private sector security jobs.

Job competition. There will be more competition for jobs in Federal and State law enforcement agencies than for jobs in local agencies. Less competition for jobs will occur in departments that offer relatively low salaries or those in urban communities where the crime rate is relatively high.

Military experience. Applicants with military or college training in police sciences will have the best opportunities in local and State departments.

Local, state, or federal opportunities. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree and several years of law enforcement or military experience, especially investigative experience, will have the best opportunities in Federal agencies.