NCJ Number
58351
Date Published
1978
Length
198 pages
Annotation
MATERIALS DEVELOPED AS A BASIS FOR CURRICULUM PLANNING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER ARE PRESENTED, EMPHASIZING PROGRAM GOALS, CURRICULUM DESIGN, AND BASIC STANDARDS.
Abstract
THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA HAS BEEN OFFERING COURSES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORRECTIONS SINCE THE MID-1960S. THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER, ESTABLISHED IN 1975 TO OVERSEE AND COORDINATE THE UNIVERSITY'S EFFORT, HAS ANALYZED THOSE MATERIALS DEVELOPED FOR CURRICULUM PLANNING. THE CENTER FINDS THAT DUE TO STEADY POPULATION GROWTH, PARTICULARLY IN URBAN AREAS, DEMAND HAS INCREASED FOR NEW PEOPLE TO STAFF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES THROUGHOUT ALASKA. SINCE PERSONNEL WILL BE IN DEMAND ESPECIALLY IN THE ALASKAN INTERIOR AND SOUTHCENTRAL REGIONS, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES SHOULD BE PLANNED ACCORDINGLY. IN SPITE OF GEOGRAPHIC SIZE, THE ALASKAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS SMALL AND HIGHLY CENTRALIZED; ALL PERSONS EMPLOYED IN THE POSTARREST ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL LAW, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, ARE STATE EMPLOYEES. DESPITE THE CENTRALIZED NATURE OF THE SYSTEM, LOCAL UNITS HAVE CONSIDERABLE LATITUDE IN OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT, POSSIBLY NECESSITATED BY GEOGRAPHIC CONSIDERATIONS. BETWEEN 1977 AND 1990, ALASKAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES WILL NEED AN ESTIMATED 3,554 NEW EMPLOYEES; APPROXIMATELY 87 NEW POLICE OFFICERS WILL BE HIRED EACH YEAR. THE UNIVERSITY'S BASIC PROGRAM HAS A BROAD PROFESSIONAL JUSTICE ORIENTATION THAT ENCOMPASES BOTH THE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL ASPECTS OF THE JUSTICE FIELD. THIS APPROACH OPENS UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO THOSE STUDENTS WHO HAVE EITHER A POLICY OR CAREER INTEREST IN PARALEGAL AREAS AND PROVIDES EXPANDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE STUDY OF LAW AS A SOCIAL DEVICE. FOOTNOTES AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. CRIMINAL JUSTICE POSITIONS IN ALASKA AND A STUDY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE COURSES ARE APPENDED. (LWM)