ISSUES AND TRENDS IN HIGH EDUCATION FOR POLICE OFFICERS

• NCJ Number: 53374
• Journal: CRIMINAL JUSTICE MONOGRAPH Volume: 18 Issue: 5 Dated: (1978) Pages: 9-19
• Author(s): D L CARTER
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: Sam Houston State University; Sam Houston State University
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Historical Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS PAPER TRACES THE HISTORY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT EDUCATION IN THREE STAGES, REVIEWS STUDIES TO ILLUSTRATE THE VALUE OF HIGHER EDUCATION FOR POLICE OFFICERS, AND CONSIDERS THE LIBERAL ARTS APPROACH VS. POLICE TRAINING.

Abstract

LAW ENFORCEMENT HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS CAN BE TRACED THROUGH THREE DISTINCT GENERATIONS OF DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING THE EARLY PERIOD MARKED BY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FIRST FORMAL TRAINING SCHOOL FOR POLICEMEN IN 1908 BY AUGUST VOLLMER AND THE 1915 PUBLICATION OF 'EUROPEAN POLICE SYSTEMS' WHICH ADVOCATED TRAINING PROGRAMS AND SUGGESTED TYPES OF INSTRUCTION OFFICERS SHOULD RECEIVE. THE SECOND GENERATION BEGAN IN 1929 WHEN THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO DEVELOPED THE FIRST UNIVERSITY CURRICULUM FOR POLICE TRAINING FOLLOWED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA'S FIRST DEGREE PROGRAM IN POLICE SCIENCE IN 1930. THE THIRD PERIOD, BEGINNING IN THE 1960'S AND INCLUDING THE PRESENT, WAS MARKED BY THE INCREASING CLAMOR FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR POLICE OFFICERS WITH ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE. VARIOUS MINIMUM EDUCATION STANDARDS WERE ESTABLISHED BY THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARDS AND GOALS IN 1967. THESE REQUIRED POLICE RECRUITS TO HAVE 2 YEARS OF COLLEGE BY 1975, 3 YEARS BY 1978, AND A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE BY 1982. CURRENT ISSUES IN THE POLICE-EDUCATION DEBATE CENTER AROUND THE NEED FOR ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE, THE TRUE EFFECT OF HIGHER EDUCATION ON POLICE PERFORMANCE, AND RAMIFICATIONS OF A COLLEGE-EDUCATED POLICE FORCE. HOWEVER, THERE IS A CONTINUING TREND IN POLICE DEVELOPMENT TOWARD HIGHER EDUCATION FOR OFFICERS. FUTURE LAW ENFORCEMENT EDUCATION WILL PROBABLY INCLUDE GREATER SPECIALIZATION, PARTICULARLY IN TECHNICAL AREAS, GREATER UTILIZATION OF TECHNIQUES FROM OTHER DISCIPLINES, AND GREATER EMPHASIS ON LIBERAL ARTS ORIENTATION IN CURRICULUM. AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS WITH MASTER'S AND DOCTORATE DEGREES IS LIKELY AS WELL AS DEVELOPMENT OF POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMS FOR POLICE. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--DAG)