Lackawanna College operates an outstanding Police Academy which offers a wide array of programs and courses revolving around the field of law enforcement.  Lackawanna College is the only institution providing such programs in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Police Academy training is not only indispensable in itself but it can also serve as the basis for an individual earning as associate degree in Criminal Justice.

Among the programs conducted by Lackawanna College’s Police Academy are Act 120, In-Service for Police Officers, Act 235 Lethal Weapons Certification,  Sheriff’s and Constables’ Training.

• ACT 120
• IN SERVICE
• ACT 235
• CONSTABLES’ TRAINING
• CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEGREE
• LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACADEMY - BOCA

ACT 120

Under Pennsylvania Act 120, any person employed as a municipal police officer in the Commonwealth is required to have successfully completed a 785.5-hour course of instruction covering all areas of police work.

Lackawanna College provides that program for individuals hired by police departments or for citizens seeking full or part time employment in the police field.  Many police departments require that individuals complete the Act 120 before they are considered for employment.

The Act 120 curriculum covers  areas of law enforcement that are pertinent to municipal police officers, such as Criminal Law, Motor Vehicle Code, Rules of Criminal Procedures, Firearms, Self Defense, Driving and Ethics.

Lackawanna College, Scranton, offers the Act 120 Municipal Police Officers Training Program at its main campus in Scranton. The Police Academy offers a full time Act 120 Program, with students attending classes Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM with some weekends and evenings and lasts about 21 weeks. The part time Act 120 program consists of 2 nights a week 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM and Saturday or Sunday 8 AM to 4:30 PM and lasts about 12 months.

The satellite center in Hazleton (50 miles south of Scranton) offers 2 full time Act 120 classes - one starting in January and the other in July. Both of these classes run for 5 months Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM. The Hazleton Center also offers part time classes (Starting each September) running for 10 months on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM and Saturdays 8 AM to 4:30 PM., starting September and ending July of each year.

Act 120 Requirements

• Students must meet mandated physical, psychological and criminal history standards.
• Be 18 years of age.
• Participate in an oral interview.
• Have a valid, unrestricted Pennsylvania Driver's License.
• Submit to a PADL history check.

These requirements (just to name a few) must be met before a student is accepted into the program.

Current Schedule:

IN SERVICE 
Active municipal police officers and county detectives are required to take 12 hours of mandatory training each year.

ACT 235
The state requires that to be a certified security officer they must participate in a Lethal Weapons Training Program.  This is a 40 hour course that cover areas in Pennsylvania Crime Codes, unarmed self-defense and firearms. 

Lackawanna College also conducts recertification classes for those who have received Lethal Weapons Training, and runs for 8 hours.

CONSTABLES’ TRAINING
We offer training programs for constables and deputy constables.  The 80 hour Basic, 20 hour Continuing Education and 20 hour Basic and Advance Firearms.  These courses are mandated by the state.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEGREE
For any student completing the Act 120, Lackawanna College will provide 24 credits toward an Associate's degree without duplication of course work and also can earn their degree in a shorter time at considerable savings.