Police Foundations - St. Lawrence CollegePolice Education in CanadaCrime and Fire Programs -- Community College Programs
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Police Foundations - St. Lawrence College St. Lawrence College's 2-year Police Foundations diploma is a career-oriented program designed for individuals who aspire to a career in policing or related areas, like private investigation or private security. Candidates will be trained in the academic, practical, and physical abilities to pass the various entrance assessments, examinations, and/or programs that police departments may require as part of their hiring process, particularly the Physical Readiness Evaluations for Police (PREP). The latter measures a candidate's physical, including hearing and vision, and fitness capabilities via profession-relevant exercises. Students will be provided 'with a well rounded education which prepares them to address the problems of the communities they serve in a flexible and effective manner.' Students will also have the opportunity to apply, practice, and enhance what they learn in the classroom via a work experience 'placement with police services.' However, 'to be eligible for field placement with a police service the interested student must meet rigid selection criteria that includes: passing all courses with a 3.2 Grade Point Average; current First Aid and C.P.R. certification; criminal records check; student behaviour that supports field placement opportunity; ability to successfully complete the police standards fitness test involving the PREP and shuttle run test; and a formal selection process by the host police service. Placement by the college with a police service is restricted by the number of opportunities available for placement.' To graduate from the Program students must complete all required courses as well as the PREP test and demonstrate that they possess 'skill in computer literacy and keyboarding' and 'commitment to community service through volunteer activities.' Graduates of the Program may pursue careers, career advancement, and/or educational opportunities in policing, corrections, security, and other related areas of the criminal justice system. Students should be aware, however, that having a criminal record could be an obstacle to finding employment in the Criminal Justice field as many employers are reluctant to hire those with a criminal history. Moreover, some careers may require further training or requirements beyond the diploma, as determined by individual employers. Most police departments, for example, require candidates to write assessment examinations, meet certain physical and psychological pre-requisites, have valid CPR, First Aid, and driver's license, and undergo recruit training. In Ontario, in accordance with the regulations established by Police Services, the recruitment process for police constables utilizes Criminal Record Check and Pardon Process, PREP, and Written Communication Tests (WCT). Career-wise, graduates may be employed in various positions across Canada, including working for educational or governmental institutions, private organizations, or for employers in the non-profit or private sector. For example, graduates may work in the areas of administration, corrections, crime prevention, criminal investigation, criminal law, government, insurance, law and law enforcement, national security, offender case management, policing, private and public investigation, public and private security, the courts, victim services, and young offenders, to name but a few. Potential employers for graduates include Canada Customs and Immigration, correctional facilities, federal and provincial law enforcement agencies, juvenile detention centres, military police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and various municipal police forces. Graduates of the Program may also pursue further educational opportunities, such as at the bachelor's level, in policing, related criminal justice fields, or other disciplines at various universities, colleges, and institutes across Canada and internationally, often with advanced standing of up to 60 credits. For instance, graduates can take advantage of the College's transfer agreement with Athabasca University by which the latter 'will award equivalency of the first two years of the Bachelor of Professional Arts-Criminal Justice Program.' To be eligible for admission to the Program, applicants must have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent, and complete a vision and hearing test. The latter 'is required to assist applicants to understand the requirements of the employer and how their results compare with these requirements.' Prospective students possessing relevant 'college diploma or university credits and/or life experience' may be eligible for advanced standing into the Program via Prior Learning Assessment (PLAR). All applicants must also be able to 'successfully cope with the program of instruction including field experience' and 'meet the public health requirements of the police or volunteer agency' for which the students will work or volunteer during the course of the Program. Furthermore, to qualify for a work experience placement or volunteer opportunity, students will be required to complete 'a security clearance.' Students who 'have come in conflict with the law by contravening a federal statute(s)' might 'not meet the security clearance.' The student will be responsible for meeting security requirements. In fact, 'to be considered for employment by a police service, an individual who has been criminally convicted under a federal statute (other than the Young Offenders Act) must obtain a pardon prior to submitting an application. There may be a fee required for the criminal history check.'
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