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The Hays County Sheriff’s Office Citizens Academy is now accepting applications for the 2026 spring basic class. Applications are due by Feb. 23, and the course will tentatively start on March 5.
The Citizens Academy is a 36-hour program designed to give the citizens of Hays County a working knowledge of the Hays County Sheriff’s Office and the criminal justice system. This free program includes 12 weeks of instruction by Hays County Sheriff’s Office staff and other guest speakers. Classes are held on Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Public Safety Building located at 810 S. Stagecoach Trail in San Marcos, directly behind the Government Center.
The objective of the Citizens Academy is to build a better understanding between citizens and the Sheriff’s Office through education. Topics presented during the Citizens Academy include Patrol Operations, Jail Operations, 9-1-1 Dispatch, Use of Force, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), Crisis Negotiations, Mental Health, Criminal Investigations, and more. Students can connect with instructors and staff, share their experiences, and both law enforcement officers and students gain a better understanding of the needs, wants, and realities of the criminal justice system and the communities we serve.
Students may have the opportunity to tour the Hays County Jail, the Juvenile Detention Center, and the Public Safety Building, including the state-of-the-art communications center. Students will also have an opportunity to ride along with a deputy as an observer during a regular patrol shift.
The class size is limited to 20 people per class. Applications may be obtained in person at the Public Safety Building or by emailing Deputy Mark Andrews at [email protected]. The application can also be downloaded from the website at www.hayscountytx.gov/citizens-academy.
Those accepted into the program can expect a welcome email and document packet to be emailed to them by Friday, Feb. 27.
A background check will be done and those persons with felony convictions, who are currently on parole or probation, or anyone who has been convicted for any offense involving moral turpitude are not eligible to attend. Applicants must be at least eighteen years of age and either reside or work in Hays County.
