RRCC is the only two-year Colorado Criminal Justice program to offer an AA in Victim Assistance (which transfers to social work, human services or counseling psychology degrees.)
Unique criminal justice courses such as sex assault, domestic violence, juvenile delinquency, criminal profiling, crime scene investigation, victimology, criminal investigation I, II, & III, crisis intervention, policing systems, violence against children, intro to forensic science, and criminalistics, etc. (All Criminal Justice 1010 and higher courses count toward the approved non-designated AA degree elective).
With a basic understanding of the law and the criminal justice system, criminal justice professionals may work in the prevention, enforcement and investigation field as police officers; in the corrections field in a variety of positions; or in the area of providing assistance to victims of violence and trauma.
Those in the profession tend to be physically fit, have strong critical thinking skills, and are able to deal with all kinds of people in crisis. All criminal justice professionals need to be computer literate and have strong writing skills.
In addition, the emergency public service department operates a Basic Law Enforcement Academy. This is an intensive, 17 to 18 week program that satisfies the training requirement for prospective or newly-hired law enforcement or parole officers or for any position in Colorado requiring state certification as a peace officer.
Requirements for the academy certificate exceed the Colorado Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) for entry level training with a local agency. Students include beginners as well as experienced officers who are seeking certification to work in Colorado.
The requirements needed to complete this certificate represent a good start on the two-year associate of applied science degree needed for entry-level positions with an increasing number of law enforcement agencies. Admission into the Academy is by separate application.
Law Enforcement Academy Careers:
- Police Officer
- Private Investigator
- Crime Scene Investigator
- Crime Scene Photographer
- FBI Agent
- Probation Officer
- Border Patrol Agent
- Loss Prevention Specialist