CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS AND THE POLICE - AN ARGUMENT FOR A LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION

• NCJ Number: 45536
• Author(s): L H BOWKER
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 18 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE WESTERN SOCIETY OF CRIMINOLOGY, SAN DIEGO, FEBRUARY 1978

Annotation

POLICE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS, WAYS IN WHICH THEY CAN BE MET, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH INTO THE EFFECTS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

STUDIES HAVE SHOWN MANY POSITIVE EFFECTS OF A COLLEGE EDUCATION ON POLICE OFFICERS, SUCH AS DECREASED AUTHORITARIANISM, GREATER ACCEPTANCE OF MINORITIES, MORE WILLINGNESS TO EXPERIMENT WITH NEW TECHNIQUES, AND LOWER TURNOVER. HOWEVER, AN IMPORTANT ASPECT WHICH MUST BE CONSIDERED IS THE NATURE OF THE EDUCATION. EVEN AMONG CRIMINAL JUSTICE MAJORS, THERE IS A WIDE VARIATION IN THE ORIENTATION OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS -- TECHNICAL, PROFESSIONAL, AND SOCIAL SCIENCE. SPECIAL NEEDS OF POLICE MUST BE CONSIDERED IN DETERMINING THE TYPE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM WHICH IS TO HAVE MAXIMUM IMPACT ON POLICE STUDENTS. STUDIES HAVE INDICATED THAT POLICE POSSESS MANY OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF AN ETHNIC MINORITY GROUP -- THEY ARE STEREOTYPED BY THE PUBLIC AND HAVE THEMSELVES A STEREOTYPED OUTLOOK ON THE WORLD, FEEL MISUNDERSTOOD, REGULARLY RECEIVE ABUSE, AND HAVE A STATUS INCONGRUENT WITH THEIR SELF-IMAGE. A STRONG EXTROPUNITIVE OCCUPATIONAL CULTURE RESULTS; INGROUP TIES ARE STRENGTHENED AND PREJUDICE AGAINST OTHER GROUPS DEVELOPS. THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT EDUCATION IS INVERSELY RELATED TO EXTROPUNITIVE BEHAVIOR, THEREFORE, CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON REDUCING THIS BEHAVIOR. PROGRAMS WILL BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS REGARD TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY FOSTER: (1) AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE SOCIAL SYSTEM IN GENERAL; (2) SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE OF THE SOCIAL FORCES PRODUCING CRIME AND POVERTY; (3) APPRECIATION OF DIFFERENT LIFE-STYLES, SUCH AS THOSE OF MINORITY GROUPS AND THE POOR; AND (4) AN ETHICAL, REFLEXIVE STANCE WITH RESPECT TO POLICE ACTIVITIES. THE AREAS OF CONCENTRATION WHICH CAN BEST FOSTER THESE POSITIVE ATTITUDES ARE SOCIOLOGY, PSYCHOLOGY, POLITICAL SCIENCE, HISTORY, CRIMINOLOGY, AND PHILOSOPHY, THESE COURSES ARE VERY CLOSE TO WHAT IS NORMALLY TAKEN TO BE A LIBERAL ARTS CURRICULUM. THE TECHNICAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF THE POLICE ARE BETTER MET IN POLICE ACADEMIES AND INSERVICE TRAINING PROGRAMS. FURTHER RESEARCH SHOULD BE CONDUCTED TO VERIFY THE EFFECTS OF VARIOUS PROGRAMS. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (VA)