Law Enforcement Academy Track
Are you interested in obtaining an Associate degree and completing a vocational certificate for the Law Enforcement Basic Recruit Academy?
The Law Enforcement Academy Track is a two-year degree program in a para-military format designed to provide the student with the skills, abilities, and education for a successful law enforcement career. This dual-track program will expose the student to a strong educational foundation in collegiate-level general education and major field criminal justice courses while receiving training in law enforcement structure and discipline. The student will learn to function as a member of a team through drill instruction and team-building exercises.
During this program, students will complete:
- An Associate in Science Degree in Criminal Justice
- The Law Enforcement Basic Recruit Academy
The final semester of the two-year degree program will include the Florida Law Enforcement Basic Recruit Academy. Participation in this final phase of training will be solely dependent on the student successfully completing the Selection Center process as required by all persons prior to entrance into the Basic Law Enforcement Recruit Academy. Upon successful completion of the Academy, the student will be required to pass the State of Florida Law Enforcement Officer Certification Examination.
Class Schedule:
7:45am-12:15pm
Monday - Thursday
First Year and a Half of the Program
40 Hours a Week
Monday - Friday
Last Six Months of the Program
This program is designed to prepare students to demonstrate the following outcomes:
- Articulate an understanding of the American Criminal Justice System and the working of the various local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the rules, principles, and doctrines of criminal law and apply these to the commencement of criminal proceedings, prosecution, and defense of charges, sentencing, and appeal.
- Explain the structures and functions of American Courts, the roles of attorneys, judges, and other personnel, and the development of corrections philosophy, theory, and practice.
- Summarize theories of the nature of a crime, the causes of criminal behavior and the methods of treating and preventing crime.
- Apply constitutional principles that protect the rights of citizens and regulate criminal justice agencies.
- Illustrate an understanding of and a commitment to the moral, ethical, and legal obligations of criminal justice professionals.
*Clock hours from Law Enforcement Academy will be converted and articulated to 12 college credits.
The following admission requirements are for the Basic Recruit Law Enforcement Academy, which is taken in the final semester of this track program. The application process for the Basic Recruit Academy, which is briefly outlined in these requirements, will be completed upon successful entry into the Track Program.
- Be at least 19 years of age by the time of academy completion.
- Be a citizen of the United States
- Have graduated from High School or have obtained a state-issued GED certificate or equivalent, as determined acceptable by the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission.
- Possess a valid driver's license. The applicant must have a valid Florida Driver License at the time of the Academy entry.
- Be of good moral character, as defined in the Selection Center Policy Manual.
- Not have been convicted of ANY felony, or of a misdemeanor involving perjury or false statements as the terms are defined by law, regardless of whether or not adjudication has been withheld.
- Not have been dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States.
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Not have falsified their application or personal history forms.
- Not have used marijuana for two years prior to application. This must have been a casual use (not more than 25 times).
- Not have ever used, transported, grown, manufactured or sold any illegal substance other than the marijuana exception as previously noted.
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Not have had a suspended driver license for three years prior to application.
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Other eligibility requirements are defined in greater depth in the Selection Center Policy Manual.
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Successfully pass the Basic Abilities Test (BAT) and Physical Abilities Test (PAT)
The Law Enforcement Academy Track Program is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once an application is turned in and it is determined that the applicate qualifies, they will receive a seat in the upcoming available class. Seats are limited.
Applications for each August can be submitted beginning January 1st of each year.
- Submit your application to Indian River State College
- Complete the Law Enforcement Academy Track Program application which can be found Here
- Once both have been completed, please contact Lisa Deleon (contact information is at the bottom of the page) to schedule an appointment to bring the application in, get interviewed and to verify the admissions process
Many different career paths exist within the criminal justice field. With both an A.S. in Criminal Justice and the Law Enforcement Academy, your career options greatly expand.
A few of the possible career options are:
| Career Opportunity | General Salary Range* |
|---|---|
| Police Patrol Officer | $35,682-$75,139 |
| Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff | $35,682-$75,139 |
*Salary ranges represent typical starting salaries to highly experienced workers. These ranges can differ depending on city, county, and state.
To learn more about pay ranges, growth, and local job posting,
please visit:
After graduation, attending advanced classes and/or joining an association can be one of the most important steps that you can make in your career development. These steps can provide everything from career advancement to industry recognition.
Below are a few of the industry-specific advanced classes and associations that can help you develop your career.
*You must be a certified law enforcement officer, correctional officer, or employee of a criminal justice agency to register for these classes.
