NCJ Number
64623
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 49 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1980) Pages: 19-24
Date Published
1980
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE VICE PRESIDENT OF JOHN JAY COLLEGE IN NEW YORK, N.Y., ANALYZES THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION FOR POLICE OFFICERS, WHICH FOUND THAT POLICE EDUCATION WAS OF LOW QUALITY.
Abstract
SPECIFIC REPORT FINDINGS POINT TO A LOW CALIBER OF FACULTY, AN OVERLY TECHNICAL COURSE CONTENT, AND TOO MUCH INFLUENCE BY POLICE DEPARTMENTS. THE COMMISSION'S REPORT RECOMMENDS AN END TO 2-YEAR DEGREES IN POLICE SCIENCE OR CRIMINAL JUSTICE, REPLACEMENT OF MANY OF THE PRESENT FACULTY BY PH.D.'S IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES OR LIBERAL ARTS, AND A PREFERENCE FOR LIBERAL ARTS OR SOCIAL SCIENCE GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION. TRADITIONALLY, THE STUDY OF CRIME OR CRIMINOLOGY OR THE PRACTICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE INTELLECTUAL TRACKS. IN ADDITION, THERE HAS BEEN A TENFOLD EXPANSION IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION SINCE 1964. IT IS CLEAR THAT CRIMINAL JUSTICE, LIKE FIELDS SUCH AS BUSINESS, EDUCATION, AND JOURNALISM, WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION AT THE UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL AND THAT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THAT EDUCATION WILL IN FACT BE COMPOSED OF TECHNICAL COURSES AS WELL AS APPLIED WORK IN THE FIELD. STUDENTS AIMING FOR A POLICE CAREER SHOULD HAVE COURSES IN CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURE, IN THE AREA OF INVESTIGATION, IN COUNSELING OR APPLIED BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE, AND IN THE TYPE OF CRIMINAL SYSTEMS GIVEN IN INTERN AND COMMUNITY LABORATORY COURSES. THE TEACHING OF POLICE EDUCATION MUST COME FROM WITHIN THE PROFESSION, FROM SCHOLARLY POLICE OFFICERS, AND WILL BE DETERMINED BY COOPERATION BETWEEN THE POLICE AND ACADEMICS. (AOP)