NCJ Number
159592
Journal
CJ The Americas Volume: 8 Issue: 3 Dated: (June-July 1995) Pages: 1,6-10
Date Published
1995
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Police education is discussed with respect to recent trends and changing needs, with emphasis on the importance of considering new training models that will prepare all police personnel to exercise an increasing degree of discretion in an increasingly complex world.
Abstract
Many commissions have recommended college-level education as a requirement for police and further education as a requirement for promotion. Although some people remain unconvinced of the benefits of higher education for police, police educational levels have increased steadily over the past 20 years. Nevertheless, only about 14 percent of the police agencies surveyed by the Police Executive Research Forum require more than a high school diploma or its equivalent for entry; almost three-fourths lack policies requiring college education for promotion. Therefore, rethinking police education and training is essential. Police agencies should explore training options besides college-based programs. They should also focus on innovations in recruitment, linking of education to promotion, executive development and leadership training, alternative delivery systems, distance learning, interactive and simulator technology, and training that accommodates police officers' work schedules. Research findings published by NIJ and disseminated through NCJRS can advance the profession and improve policing. Scholarships funded by the Crime Act demonstrate the Federal commitment to higher education. Overall, the policing profession must consider higher education as the means to the goal of better policing and decide on the level of judgment, maturity, knowledge, and intellectual curiosity it expects of police personnel. The author is the NIJ Director. Reference notes