The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office will be offering jobs to graduates of the new Corrections Academy at South Texas College. Once students complete the six-week academy and pass the corresponding Texas Commission on Law Enforcement licensing examination, their careers in law enforcement can start immediately.
“This is a full-time accelerated program that can help students start a career in law enforcement with a job secured. It’s a short commitment that will pay well for the amount of time they will be investing,” said Victor Valdez, STC’s Public Safety program chair. “Our program is designed to meet all the certification requirements so our students can immediately get a job. Additionally, the completion of the academy will award them nine college credits they can use toward an associate degree in law enforcement.”
The newly introduced Corrections Academy at South Texas College will begin classes on June 12. Classes are Monday through Friday at 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at STC’s Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence in Pharr.
To apply to STC’s Corrections Academy, all interested candidates must complete a polygraph test, a medical and psychological screening and a fingerprint submission. All of these are requirements to work at a city or county jail.
“All students will be subject to a criminal history check and background investigation up to the point when they finish the academy, but other than that we will essentially be hiring any student who passes the state exam after graduating the academy,” said Captain David Friedlein of the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office.
A Career Awaits
The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office currently has more than 40 positions open right now. On average, a corrections officer can earn a starting salary of $36,659 and obtain additional compensation according to their education.
“There’s many exciting opportunities in a correctional facility, from a correctional officer to investigator, but this can also be a stepping-stone to a career in law enforcement,” explained Friedlein. “There’s a lot of different opportunities and career paths available by being employed with us; they can get enough experience to move to dispatch or decide if they want to become a peace officer.”
STC’s Corrections Academy will give students an overview on how to properly register inmates’ information, including classes on administration and ethics and humanities that will help the students learn how to deal and de-escalate stressful situations by treating inmates fairly, objectively and humanely.
“Being a correctional officer is truly a public service where the main goal is to keep our community safe; we protect the integrity of our region by securing, while giving fair treatment to all those in custody,” said Friedlein.
Deadline to apply to STC’s first Corrections Academy is May 5.
STC will host two more academies in the fall and spring, for a total of five opportunities for enrollment throughout the year.
“We appreciate STC for working with us in this project that finally has come to a reality. STC has been an amazing long-time partner, we’re so excited to welcome their students on our team,” said Friedlein.