NCJ Number
67
Date Published
1969
Length
40 pages
Annotation
BOOKLET FOR USE AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER INFORMATION GUIDE.
Abstract
IT WAS DESIGNED PRIMARILY FOR STUDENTS WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN A CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TO ASSIST SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND TEACHERS IN ANSWERING QUESTIONS RAISED BY STUDENTS ABOUT A LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER. THERE IS A CRITICAL NEED FOR QUALIFIED YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN IN THE VARIOUS FIELDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. SOME OF THE FACTORS WHICH ACCOUNT FOR THIS NEED ARE RAPID POPULATION GROWTH, HIGHER POLICE RECRUITMENT STANDARDS, INCREASES IN CRIME, AND EARLY RETIREMENT OF POLICEMEN. DESPITE THE CRITICAL NEED FOR NEW PEACE OFFICERS THE ENTRANCE STANDARDS ARE HIGH AND WILL BECOME EVEN HIGHER. LAW ENFORCEMENT TODAY IS CHANGING TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEEDS OF A CHANGING SOCIETY. THE MODERN POLICE PROFESSION EMPHASIZES A HIGH LEVEL OF TRAINING AND EDUCATION. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND THE SOCIAL SCIENCES ARE STRESSED WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE COMPLEXITY OF TODAY'S SOCIETY AND THE ROLE OF THE POLICE IN PREVENTING AND CONTROLLING CRIME. THERE HAS BEEN A DRAMATIC GROWTH IN NEW COLLEGE PROGRAMS, YET THE DEMAND FOR QUALIFIED POLICE APPLICANTS STILL OUTPACES THE SUPPLY. A LARGE NUMBER OF AGENCIES NOW SELECT ONLY APPLICANTS WHO HAVE HAD COLLEGE TRAINING. MANY AGENCIES REQUIRE THE APPLICANT TO POSSESS AT LEAST AN ASSOCIATE IN ARTS DEGREE AND OTHERS REQUIRE A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE.