Monday, 28 May 2012

Online Law Enforcement Certification and Certificate Programs

Those wishing to become certified law enforcement officers can do so at the state level. Law enforcement training certification programs are not offered online. However, certificate programs are readily available online for those who desire to understand the justice system and the behavior of a criminal. These lessons are not required for certification as a police officer, but they may help candidates gain entry to a training academy or advance in other law enforcement careers.

Online Law Enforcement Certificate Programs

There are many online undergraduate certificate programs available in law enforcement fields such as criminal justice and criminology. These programs cover the justice system at the juvenile and adult level, the behavior of a criminal, correctional facilities, rehabilitation methods, criminal psychology, criminal types and the societal impact of crime. Students learn theoretical concepts that can stop future criminal behavior. In addition, they study the history of crime and potential causes of criminal behavior.

Program Information and Requirements

Criminal justice certificate programs are available entirely online as well as in hybrid format (with some portions completed on campus). They can be taken in conjunction with a criminal justice bachelor's degree program on their own. They usually last between 10 and 20 credit-hours in length, depending on the depth of content in a given program. These programs can generally be completed at the desired pace of the student.
Courses are interactive, often encouraging students to communicate with instructors, who are often working professionals in the field, via e-mail. Content is often delivered through an online interface such as Blackboard. Students must have a computer that has access to the Internet.

List of Common Criminal Justice Certificate Program Courses

Students generally enroll in anywhere from three to six courses, depending on the length of the certificate program. There are no required general education courses. Sample classes are outlined below.

Sociology of Violent Behavior Course

Societal factors play a role in violence; these may include race, social class and religion. This class emphasizes the need for communities and government to improve living situations in hopes of decreasing violence.

Criminal Law Course

Students learn the history, theory and constitutional requirements of criminal law. They gain an understanding of the basic limitations and regulations of evidence. Enrollees also study basic criminal offense definitions.

Juvenile Delinquency Course

This class touches upon the history and societal impact of young criminals. Discussions and materials outline the basics of the juvenile justice system and society's response to juvenile offenders.

Legal System in the United States Course

This course covers constitutional laws, the process of making a law and the role the government plays in the criminal justice system. In addition, in teaches the legal rights of the various criminal processing institutions.

Career and Salary Information

Those with a certificate in a law enforcement field can often find an entry-level career as a private detective. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, between the years of 2008 and 2018, the number of private detectives nation wide is expected to increase by 22%. The average wage for a salaried private detective was $41,760 annually as of 2008.
The same source reports that some states hire police officers with only a certificate, while others require further schooling; academy training is also necessary. The average annual salary for patrol officers was $51,410 as of May 2008 (www.bls.gov).

Continuing Education

Some states require law enforcement officers to have a college degree. Those who wish to further their education can find criminal justice programs at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree levels. Other collegiate options include undergraduate-level paralegal and legal assistant degree programs.

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