NCJ Number
45776
Journal
SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH Volume: 11 Issue: 4 Dated: (FALL 1977) Pages: 214-228
Date Published
1977
Length
15 pages
Annotation
THEORETICAL VERSUS APPLIED EDUCATION, CREDIT FOR LIFE EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION VERSUS TRAINING, AND THE QUALITY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION IS AN EMERGING FIELD OF STUDY WHICH IS EXPERIENCING MANY OF THE COMMON DIFFICULTIES OF ACADEMIC GROWTH. DURING THE PAST 10 TO 15 YEARS SEVERAL DILEMMAS HAVE ARISEN REGARDING THIS NEW ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE. THE ISSUE OF THEORETICAL VERSUS APPLIED EDUCATION IS NOT NEW, BUT THE DEBATE IS PARTICULARLY INTENSE IN THE FIELD OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE. A MAJOR PROBLEM IS THE FIELD'S LACK OF A STRONG THEORETICAL BASE, AND THE DISCIPLINES OF SOCIOLOGY, PSYCHOLOGY, AND CRIMINOLOGY HAVE BEEN CALLED UPON INSTEAD TO POOL THEIR THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE AS IT APPLIES TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE. THOSE WHO FAVOR THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE STATE THAT IN TODAY'S CHANGING WORLD, PRACTITIONERS WHO CAN GENERALIZE FROM THEORETICAL CONCEPTS TO SOLVE PARTICULAR PROBLEMS ARE NEEDED. THE APPLIED KNOWLEDGE SUPPORTERS FAVOR LEARNING IMMEDIATELY USEFUL SKILLS. THE QUESTION OF GRANTING CREDIT FOR LIFE EXPERIENCE OR POLICE ACADEMY TRAINING BRINGS ABOUT ANOTHER SPLIT BETWEEN THOSE WHO FEEL THAT POLICE TRAINING HAS SO IMPROVED THAT IT IS OF SUFFICIENT QUALITY TO JUSTIFY ACADEMIC CREDIT AND THOSE WHO OBJECT TO ANY WEAKENING OF TRADITIONAL ACADEMIC STANDARDS. THE QUALITY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION IS ALSO OF CONCERN. SUCH CURRICULUMS ARE DESCRIBED AS DEFICIENT IN THREE RESPECTS: (1) MOST INCLUDE TOO MANY PROFESSIONALLY ORIENTED COURSES; (2) THE WORK REQUIRED IN THE COURSE IS OF INFERIOR QUALITY; AND (3) THEIR FOCUS IS TOO NARROW. INSTEAD OF GIVING A BROAD OVERVIEW OF THE ENTIRE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, MANY OF THE COURSES FOCUS ON ONE ASPECT. THIS PROBLEM IS OFTEN BLAMED ON HASTY OVEREXPANSION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FEDERAL FUNDING. TO IMPROVE THEIR PROGRAMS, INDIVIDUALS CONCERNED WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION MUST CONVINCE COLLEGE ADMINISTRATORS THAT THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM IS A VIABLE ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE. THE SAME CARE AND ATTENTION MUST BE GIVEN TO THE DESIGN OF CURRICULUM AND SELECTION OF FACULTY AS IS GIVEN TO ANY OTHER DISCIPLINE. (GLR)