NCJ Number
19636
Date Published
1974
Length
205 pages
Annotation
AN ASSESSMENT WHICH INCLUDES BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE CENTER, A DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS OF CURRICULA, AN ANALYSIS OF INTERVIEWS WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL AND A COST ANALYSIS.
Abstract
THE WASHINGTON CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTER (WCJETC) HAS OFFERED CONTINUOUS TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR PERSONNEL IN ALL PARTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE GOALS OF THE CENTER ARE TO TEST THE FEASIBILITY OF CONDUCTING MULTIDISCIPLINARY TRAINING ON AN ONGOING BASIS, TO PROMOTE INTEGRATION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN WASHINGTON, AND TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE TRAINING ORIENTED TOWARD EACH DISCIPLINE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. IN EVALUATING THE WCJETC, SEVERAL TYPES OF INFORMATION WERE GATHERED, INCLUDING: INTERVIEWS WITH PROGRAM DESIGNERS AND ADMINISTRATORS, DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSIS OF CURRICULA, COSTS OF VARIOUS TRAINING MODES, QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ATTENDING THE MOST RECENT BASIC ADADEMY CLASS, AND INTERVIEWS WITH 300 CRIMINAL JUSTICE PRACTITIONERS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT, WITH SOME QUALIFICATIONS, THE CENTER CAN BE SAID TO HAVE MET EACH OF ITS GOALS. THE EXPERIMENT SHOWED THAT MULTIDISCIPLINARY TRAINING WAS FEASIBLE, THAT INCREASED WILLINGNESS TO COMMUNICATE WAS DEMONSTRATED BY THOSE TAKING INTERDISCIPLINARY COURSES, AND THAT MOST OF ITS TRAINING PROGRAMS WERE SUCCESSFUL IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT COSTS OF THE TRAINING WERE HIGH, BUT THIS WAS MAINLY A RESULT OF THE PROGRAM'S EXPERIMENTAL NATURE AND THE NECESSITY OF OPERATING THROUGH A SERIES OF EXTREMELY SHORT-TERM GRANTS.