NCJ Number
237434
Journal
Critical Issues in Justice and Politics Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: June 2009 Pages: 1-20
Date Published
June 2009
Length
20 pages
Annotation
The following study contributes to the growing body of literature regarding police education.
Abstract
A previous education study of Minnesota officers was conducted by the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training in 1990. In May of 2008, using a list of all full-time licensed municipal and county Minnesota peace officers (N=9,386), Hilal and Erickson replicated a majority of the 1990 study by distributing a self-administered survey to a random sample population of 1,099 officers, with a response rate of 57 percent (N=627). The purpose was to answer four main research questions involving educational levels of peace officers, perceived agency support for education, perceptions of officers regarding the 4-year degree requirement for licensure, and the employment of female and minority officers. Comparisons of the 2008 data to the 1990 data are made. Results indicate that current Minnesota peace officers have increased their level of education and attendance at all levels of higher education, perceptions of agency support remain mixed, current support for a 4-year degree requirement has decreased, and female or minority officers continue to be employed as peace officers at increasing numbers. (Published Abstract)