NCJ Number
121273
Date Published
1989
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Few police agencies currently require college degrees of their officers, and the typical curricula of training academies for entry-level police officers continue to focus on crime-fighting skills and techniques.
Abstract
In fact, the movement for law enforcement did not begin in earnest in the United States until the mid-1960's, when Congress created the Law Enforcement Education Program in response to the 1967 recommendations of the Presidential Crime Commission. Concern about the unregulated program growth that followed resulted in the establishment of the National Advisory Commission on Higher Education for Police Officers. Its 1978 report concluded that police education was of generally poor quality and recommended several improvements. Research literature over the years indicates that higher educational standards have many benefits for police and the community. However, higher education may be academically difficult for some police officers and unappealing to those who chose police work in part because they did not wish to go to college. Despite these and other issues, police agencies should view a college degree as one screening mechanism that can contribute to improved police services. Thus, they should try to recruit and promote personnel with 4-year college degrees, including degrees in fields other than criminal justice. 20 references.