NCJ Number
58472
Date Published
1977
Length
12 pages
Annotation
WHILE THE NUMBER OF GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS WILL DECLINE AS FEDERAL FUNDS ARE CUT, THE PROFESSION, ACCORDING TO THIS 1977 PAPER, MUST TAKE STEPS TO ENSURE THE QUALITY OF SURVIVING PROGRAMS.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH MOST PROGRAMS ARE PROBABLY DOING A CREDITABLE JOB AND SERVING STUDENTS WELL, THERE ARE TOO MANY PROGRAMS WHICH ARE INEFFECTIVE. THESE WASTEFUL PROGRAMS WILL PROBABLY CEASE TO EXIST AS MONEY DWINDLES, AND STUDENTS REALIZE THE PROGRAMS MEAN NOTHING. THEREFORE, THE CHALLENGE WILL BE ONE OF UPGRADING THE QUALITY OF MARGINAL PROGRAMS AND REVITALIZING NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED PROGRAMS. SUCH AN EFFORT WILL REQUIRE COLLECTIVE ACTION ON THE PART OF THE PROFESSION THROUGH SUCH ORGANIZATIONS AS THE ACADEMY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SCIENCES WHICH IS DEVELOPING AN ACCREDITATION PROCESS FOR SUCH PROGRAMS. THE ACADEMY HAS ESTABLISHED A COUNCIL ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE HIGHER EDUCATION MADE UP OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM SUCH GROUPS AS THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CRIMINOLOGY, THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, AND THE AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION. SUCH AN EFFORT, HOWEVER, REPRESENTS ONLY A CAUTIOUS FIRST STEP TOWARD ACCREDITATION ACCORDING TO PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS. THE CONCEPT OF POLICE PROFESIONALISM (PROBABLY FIRST EXPRESSED BY O. W. WILSON AND V. A. LEONARD) HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AND ENCOURAGED BY VARIOUS FEDERAL ACTIONS SUCH AS THE G.I. BILL WHICH PROVIDES MONEY FOR STUDENTS. ULTIMATELY, THE SUCCESS OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS CAN BEST BE MEASURED BY STUDENTS, THE AGENCIES WHO HIRE THE STUDENTS, AND THE PUBLIC WHICH BENEFITS FROM SUCH PROGRAMS. WHILE THERE IS A NEED FOR COURSES ON ADMINISTRATION, RESEARCH, AND THEORY, THE BULK OF UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE WORK SHOULD FOCUS ON PREPARING THE STUDENT TO FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY IN THE COMPLEX CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. NO REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (KCP).