NCJ Number
48543
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 5 Dated: (1977) Pages: 165-169
Date Published
1977
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE RATIONALE AND CONTENT FOR AN EXPANDED CRIMINAL JUSTICE CURRICULUM BASED ON AN EXAMINATION OF THE KINDS OF BEHAVIOR PERCEIVED AS NEEDING TO BE CONTROLLED AND THE MEANS OF CONTROLLING SUCH BEHAVIOR ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
MANY OF THE CURRENT COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY 2- AND 4-YEAR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS ARE THE MOST RECENT PART OF THE EVOLUTIONARY STAGE OF PROGRAMS ORIGINALLY LIMITED TO POLICE ADMINISTRATION OR CORRECTIONS. THE EXPANSION TO AN EVEN BROADER CONCERN COVERING ALL FACETS OF SOCIAL CONTROL IS EXAMINED IN ACCORD WITH THE MANDATES IN THE ACCREDITATION GUIDELINES OF MANY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT SUCH A DEVELOPMENT PROCEED WHILE STOPPING SHORT OF DELVING INTO ALL COMMUNITY INTERACTION OR SOCIAL ECOLOGY. THIS FINAL EVOLUTIONARY STAGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE CURRICULUMS WOULD INCLUDE CONSIDERATION OF ALL MEANS BY WHICH ALL BEHAVIOR IS CONTROLLED IN SOCIETY. IT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE SUCH SUBTOPICS AS THE SELECTION OF BEHAVIORS TO BE CONTROLLED AND THE INDIVIDUAL'S DESIRE TO MINIMIZE CONTROLS VERSUS A COMMUNITY'S DISPOSITION TO MINIMIZE RISK-POSING BEHAVIORS. SUBJECT AREAS OF SUCH A SOCIAL CONTROL CURRICULUM WOULD INCLUDE: SOURCES AND NATURE OF BEHAVIOR; SELECTION OF BEHAVIORS FOR SOCIAL CONTROL; CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM; NONCRIMINAL JUSTICE, LEGAL SOCIAL CONTROL SYSTEMS; AND NONLEGAL SOCIAL CONTROL SYSTEMS. IN ADDITION TO A FUNDAMENTAL UNDERSTANDING OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, THE GRADUATES OF SUCH A PROGRAM WOULD GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF A BROAD RANGE OF BEHAVIOR AND THE NONCRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM MEANS OF CONTROLLING RISK-POSING BEHAVIOR. AN INTERDISCIPLINARY FACULTY IS RECOMMENDED FOR SUCH A CURRICULUM. (RCB)