NCJ Number
189071
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Education Volume: 12 Issue: 1 Dated: Spring 2001 Pages: 213-228
Editor(s)
N. Prabha Unnithan
Date Published
2001
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This article discusses reasons why there is a need, currently unmet, for criminal justice instructors within colleges and universities to teach patrol officer problem solutions courses and describes results of a student survey conducted in Spring 1999.
Abstract
This article presented arguments to support the idea of problem solution instruction for patrol officers within college and university criminal justice courses. Patrol officers encounter complex, interconnected sets of problems and need effective problem solutions in incident-based policing and other responses to calls for service. It was argued that it was unreasonable and unnecessary to expect patrol officers to routinely develop new problem solutions when they should be expected to know and use proven solutions and effective problem solving. The student survey consisted of 14 students, all males and included no present or former law enforcement officers. Survey findings indicated that the 14 students who had taken this type of course strongly believed that such a course can be extremely valuable and there is enough subject matter for such a course. The article reflected that courses such as problem solutions and problem solving educate officers so they may develop the capacity to use knowledge to solve problems. Tables and references