NCJ Number
139447
Journal
Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice Volume: 8 Issue: 3 Dated: (August 1992) Pages: 235-256
Date Published
1992
Length
22 pages
Annotation
Law enforcement education and training for the 21st century must teach police officers how to deal with population growth, racial diversity, and increased ethnicity in society.
Abstract
As society becomes increasingly multicultural and multilingual, law enforcement policymakers and police executives must acknowledge the importance of training. Studies indicate that State statutory training requirements basically serve as minimum prerequisites for certifying and licensing police officers; they do not address the sufficiency or job-relatedness of such training. The National Law Enforcement Training Research Project looked at the diversity of State law enforcement training requirements and delivery systems. Data were obtained from a 1990 mail survey of law enforcement standards and training agencies in all 50 States. Analysis revealed that training for most full-time law enforcement officers was mandated in all 50 States. Only 38 percent of respondents, however, required training for an elected sheriff. Mandated training was delivered by several different methods in each State; 82 percent relied on the State training academy, while 34 percent used both the State training academy and community colleges. About 60 percent of respondents had a departmental training academy, and 26 percent reported the use of other training facilities. Future directions in law enforcement training are examined in terms of social changes, higher education for police officers, and police professionalism and competence. 34 references