NCJ Number
59061
Date Published
1979
Length
90 pages
Annotation
IN THIS LITERATURE REVIEW, THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ACCREDITATION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE DEVELOPMENT OF ACCREDITATION (WHICH DOCUMENTS THOSE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION THAT MEET ACCEPTABLE ACADEMIC STANDARDS) FOR THE AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IS REVIEWED IN TERMS OF ITS ORIGINS, THE FEDERAL ROLE, CRITIQUES OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM, EVALUATION CRITERIA, AND THE STATE OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION. EXPERIENCES IN THE FIELDS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND LAW ARE CONTRASTED TO DOCUMENT THE DISSIMILAR PATHS TAKEN IN DIFFERENT FIELDS OF STUDY. RECENT ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION TO DEVELOP ACCREDITATION STANDARDS ADMINISTERED AND CONTROLLED BY PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS. LAW, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS AN ESTABLISHED PROFESSION THAT LONG AGO ACHIEVED A MECHANISM OF SPECIALIZED ACCREDITATION CONTROLLED BY AN ORGANIZATION OF PRACTITIONERS. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE GROWTH OF CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN AN ACADEMIC SETTING AND THE MAJOR PROBLEM AREAS CONCERNING EVALUATION AND ACCREDITATION IN THESE FIELDS. OVERALL, THE MAJOR PROBLEMS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION STEM FROM BROAD SPECTRUM OF PROGRAMS COVERED. MOST PROFESSIONS DEFINE PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS AS THOSE AT THE GRADUATE OR BACCALAUREATE LEVEL. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE RANGE FROM 2-YEAR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS TO DOCTORATE-LEVEL PROGRAMS. CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION BELOW THE BACCALAUREATE LEVEL SHOULD BE DEEMPHASIZED OR REEVALUATED. REFERENCES FOLLOW EACH CHAPTER. (WJR)