(Includes Auxiliary Law Enforcement Officer, Law Enforcement Officer, Correctional Officer and Crossover: Corrections to Law Enforcement)
(Click the above link to view the curriculum guide in PDF format.
The curriculum guide outlines each program and its course requirements).
Program Descriptions:
As the population of Florida increases,
the need for qualified law enforcement and correctional officers
must correspondingly increase to feed the need. Criminal justice
is a demanding profession, requiring the individual to have
a working knowledge of law and criminal offenses, and interpersonal
relations skills. Those who choose to enter criminal justice
as a career field must successfully complete a state certified
training program mandated by the state of Florida such as
Valencia's Criminal Justice Institute (CJI). Valencia's Criminal
Justice Institute is one of the most recognized criminal justice
academies in the state, and offers four training programs:
Correctional Officer -
Prepares individuals as correctional officers. Major areas
of study include weapons, basic law and legal procedures,
correctional operations, medical first responder techniques,
defensive tactics, investigation procedures, physical security
considerations and emergency preparedness techniques.
Law Enforcement Officer
- Prepares individuals for entry-level positions in law
enforcement, such as police officer and deputy sheriff.
Program content includes legal knowledge, patrol techniques,
defensive tactics, vehicle operations, weapons, investigations,
medical first responder techniques and the court system.
Crossover: Corrections to
Law Enforcement - Prepares individuals who
have completed the Correctional Officer program or who currently
are certified as correctional officers for entry-level positions
in law enforcement such as police officer and deputy sheriff.
This cross-training program allows for flexibility.
Auxiliary Law Enforcement
Officer - Prepares
individuals who have completed the Law Enforcement Volunteer
program for entry-level volunteer positions as law enforcement
auxiliary officers.
Note:In order to be a sworn officer in corrections or law enforcement, successful completin of either the Correctinoal Officer or the Law Enforcement Officer program, as well as, a passing greade on the State of Florida Certification Exam is required.
Typical Tasks may include:
investigating complaints, responding to traffic emergencies, driving patrol vehicles, detecting crimes, arresting violators, and issuing citations
overseeing individuals in jails and prisons
using computers to search for information on suspected criminals
Characteristics Needed to be Successful:
Honesty
Integrity
Desire and Dedication
Attitude
Academic Discipline
Potential Careers:
Police Officer
Deputy Sheriff
Law Enforcement Officer
Correctional Officer
Potential Employers:
Opportunities are excellent for the criminal justice profession. There are approximately 500 law enforcement and correctional agencies within the State of Florida, employing over 63,000 officers.
Potential Earnings:
Police Officers and Deputy Sheriffs - $35,000 per year
Orange County Corrections - $25,000 per year
Contact Information:
To learn more about
Valencia's Criminal Justice Academy programs, contact the
Criminal Justice Institute office at 407-582-8200 or visit
valenciacc.edu/cji
Students 
