NCJ Number
77065
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 9 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1981) Pages: 19-23
Date Published
1981
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Issues bearing upon the effective teaching of behavioral arts and sciences to law enforcement students are discussed.
Abstract
A psychology of crime, police, and corrections is emerging, with all the concomitant criminal justice behavioral arts and science subareas. Because of the interdisciplinary character of the typical criminal justice faculty, behavioral arts and science courses can be taught within criminal justice departments. Behavioral studies for law enforcement students should continue to be interdisciplinary, relying on substantial input from a variety of behavioral arts and science disciplines, while retaining the perspective of law enforcement and other appropriate criminal justice areas. A balance of academic and experiential expertise should be required of criminal justice educators. The teaching of helping skills invariably requires appropriate modeling by the instructor. Adequate interpersonal skills are critical in preparing the law enforcement student for professional criminal justice service. Such skills can help students and practitioners to better understand and relate to themselves, their agencies, colleagues and supervisors, the offender, individual citizens, and the community at large. References are provided. (Author abstract modified)