Online Classes for Police Officers

What Will I Learn in a Class for Police Officers?

Many online courses are offered for aspiring or working police officers. In these courses you can learn everything from policing fundamentals to cybersecurity to forensic techniques. Whether you are looking for a class or a degree, you can find it online, such as the following examples of courses:

Criminology

These courses help you understand the theories that make up criminology, crime statistics and trends, criminal law, and the distinctive characteristics of criminals and victims. You will also learn about types of crimes including white collar, property, organized, violent crime, sex crimes, and drug crime.

Conflict Resolution

Officers need to know how to apply emotional intelligence during disputes between individuals, small groups, or entire organizations. In a conflict resolution class you learn negotiation techniques, how to assess threats, and working with people in crisis.

Introduction to Criminal Justice

The criminal justice system is complex with multiple agencies and individuals involved. This introductory course helps you navigate the system from the point of view of the legal system, the policing system, and how an offender is processed. Victimology is often an important part of this course as well.

Crime Scene Analysis

Crime scene techniques have evolved significantly in the last few decades. These courses cover DNA basics, appropriate documentation of scenes, criminal profiling, shooting reconstruction, latent fingerprint analysis, investigation strategies, and more. Because crime scene analysis is often based on physical evidence, many classes require some level of onsite learning.

Contemporary Corrections

Corrections, or how offenders are managed, is a critical part of policing. Beginning courses in corrections help students understand working with inmates, changing offender behaviors, the correctional institute organization and how probation and parole works. Many courses also consider innovations in sentencing and alternatives to incarceration like Drug Court

Where Can I Find Police Officer Courses Online?

Because police work long hours, they need ample opportunities to learn online. You will find hundreds of online courses available on the internet from great universities. Some organizations, like the National Institute for Justice, make police officer training and classes free to the public. Courses taken at colleges and universities can lead to a certificate, associate degree, bachelor's degree or advanced graduate education.

How Do I Take Courses Online?

Depending on the provider of your course, you may need to use a specific browser and to disable your pop-up blockers. Programs that you might need to install could include Java and Flash. Most providers will have tech support through their websites where you can turn for assistance. Availability of some classes may follow a traditional semester pattern, while others might be offered on demand and started at any time.

What Other Resources are Available?

The amount of online information available for those wanting to learn about policing is virtually unlimited. Whether you are an active police officer, a future officer or simply interested in the field, you can find topics online to view. National organizations make many resources available to the general public so, once you've tried a few introductory classes, you'll have an even bigger selection. Be sure to check out federal sites, as well as your local and state police organizations, for resources and education programs.