NCJ Number
59448
Date Published
1978
Length
67 pages
Annotation
THIS OVERVIEW OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION COURSE OFFERINGS, PLACEMENT, FACULTY PREPARATION, AND RESEARCH EMPHASIS IS BASED ON 542 QUESTIONNAIRES RECEIVED FROM FULL- AND PART-TIME CRIMINAL JUSTICE FACULTY MEMBERS.
Abstract
THE RESPONDENTS REPRESENTED INSTITUTIONS OFFERING B.A. PROGRAMS (45.76 PRCENT OF REPLIES), M.A. PROGRAMS (20.42 PERCENT), COMMUNITY COLLEGES (26.29 PERCENT), AND DOCTORAL PROGRAMS (7.51 PERCENT). ALTHOUGH 70 LISTED THEIR HIGHEST DEGREE AS A MASTERS AND 44 THEIR HIGHEST DEGREE AS A DOCTORATE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, MOST OF THE FACULTY MEMBERS HAD EITHER LAW DEGREES OR DEGREES IN POLITICAL SCIENCE, SOCIOLOGY, PSYCHOLOGY, EDUCATION, PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, OR ANOTHER FIELD. MOST PROGRAMS WERE IN THE ARTS AND SCIENCES PORTION OF THE INSTITUTION AND MOST RESPONDENTS FELT THIS WOULD CONTINUE TO BE THE APPROPRIATE PLACEMENT. GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH PRACTICING CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL WERE DESIGNATED THE MOST IMPORTANT PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP. RESPONDENTS GENERALLY FELT THAT IN 10 YEARS THE PRINCIPAL SOURCE OF NEW FACULTY WILL BE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM ITSELF, AND THAT PROGRAMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEMAND WELL-PREPARED TEACHERS (NATIONALLY, 39.7 PERCENT OF FACULTY AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING HAVE DOCTORATES, COMPARED TO 52.58 IN THE SURVEYED CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS). GREATER COMMITMENT TO RESEARCH AT THE GRADUATE AND 4-YEAR COLLEGE LEVEL WAS PREDICTED. ALL FELT THE CORE CURRICULUM SHOULD CONTAIN AN INTRODUCTORY COURSE, CRIMINOLOGY, CRIMINAL LAW, CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, ELEMENTARY STATISTICS, JUDICIAL PROCESS, AND CORRECTIONS. THEY ALSO FELT FEDERAL FUNDING HAD BEEN A MIXED BLESSING. THIS STATISTICAL AND NARRATIVE SUMMARY CONTAINS NOTES, REFERENCES, AND TABLES. (GLR)