Law enforcement and police science programs prepare people to work as police and other security officers. Students learn how to prevent crime and practice crowd control. They also learn to handle evidence and talk to witnesses.

Unfortunately, crime is a part of our lives. Since the events of September 11, 2001, an even greater focus has been placed on preventing crime of a much larger scale - terrorism. As a result, more responsibility has been placed on local police and security forces. This makes the job of law enforcement both risky and rewarding.

In law enforcement and police science programs, your courses teach you about the criminal justice system. You learn how courts and prisons work. You learn about the police system as well as the parole and probation systems. In addition, you learn about different ways to deal with criminals besides imprisonment, including rehabilitation, counseling, and education. You also learn about human behavior by taking courses in sociology and psychology. You learn theories about why people commit crimes. Furthermore, you learn how to handle crime scenes and how to interview and interrogate suspects and witnesses.

Most law enforcement and police science programs are offered through community colleges. Typically you receive a two-year degree in preparation for entry into a police training academy. You are also prepared for entry-level work as public or private security or as entry-level corrections officers. However, you cannot become a police officer until you go through state-mandated policy academy training. This is where you gain hands-on experience with police dogs, weapons, and police vehicles.